Today I joined the VMware communities podcast. The topic of this podcast was VMware View and John Dodge of VMware was on the phone. I’ve heard some interesting things today, which I think are worth sharing.

• Win7 support? In the next release. Read the rest of this entry »

Today Citrix announced XenApp 6, which will be available starting March 24th. XenApp6 will only be available on Windows 2008 R2 (x64 only). Alongside XenApp 6, Citrix will also make available XenApp 5 Feature Pack 3 for Windows Server 2003 and 2008. 

XenApp 6 offers major new enhancements that simplify computing for IT, including easier central management, enhanced enterprise scalability and seamless integration with Microsoft technologies like App-V and Windows Server 2008 R2. XenApp 6 also improves productivity for end users with extensive new high-definition HDX™ technology enhancements and simplified self-service access to apps from any device, including PCs, Macs, laptops and smart phones.

Read the entire XenApp 6 announcement.

Reasons to upgrade (IMHO):

• AppCenter simplifies application management with a single, more intuitive console.
• HDX RealTime collaboration enables real-time audio and video collaboration using Microsoft Office Communicator and VoIP softphones.
• HDX Plug-n-Play for Windows portable USB devices ensures a seamless user experience with expanded USB support for POS interfaces, webcams, microphones, scanners and more.
• App-V integration enables IT to manage and deliver both Citrix and Microsoft virtual applications on demand from a single point with Microsoft App-V.

Reasons NOT to upgrade:

• Windows 2008 R2 = x64 only! You might have (a) business critical application(s) which won’t work on a 64-bit OS.

VMware released VMware View 4.0.1 yesterday:

What’s New in View Manager 4.0.1

VMware View 4.0.1 is a maintenance release that resolves some known issues in the previous releases. For details, see the Resolved Issues section.

This release includes the following new features.

Localization of VMware View

The View Client and online help for View Client are now available in Japanese, French, German, and simplified Chinese. The View Manager Administration Guide, View Manager Release Notes, Getting Started with VMware View document, View Upgrade Guide, and View Architecture Planning Guide are also available in these languages.

VirtualCenter 2.5 Update 6 and ESX 3.5 Update 5 Support

View Manager 4.0.1 includes support for VirtualCenter 2.5 Update 6 and ESX 3.5 Update 5.

Enhancements to the PCoIP Display Protocol

PCoIP now supports the following features:

• Virtual Printing, which allows end users to use local or network printers from a View desktop without requiring that additional print drivers be installed in the View desktop.
• Single sign-on support for third party providers such as Sentillion and Imprivata.
• View Client supports international keyboards when using PCoIP.

For PCoIP-related bug fixes, see the View Client Resolved Issues section.

NetApp just announced the release of the Rapid Cloning utility (RCU):

NetApp is proud to announce the release of the Rapid Cloning Utility 3.0.  This release brings many new features to assist virtual data center administrators with managing their server and desktop environments to further reduce management overhead associated with traditional storage deployments.

Here is a list of some of the new or expanded features and support for RCU 3.0:

• VMware vSphere 4.0 support  
• VMware vApp support
• Data ONTAP 7.3.2, 7.3.3, and 8.0 7-mode support
• MultiStore support (requires Data ONTAP 7.3.3)
• 64-bit platform support
• Automatic import wizard into VMware View 4
• Create export file for Citrix XenDesktop 4.0
• Re-deploy VMs from a baseline image
• Create clones in qTree-based datastores
• Create clones in designated VM folders
• vCenter alert for misaligned source VM
• ‘Add storage system’ wizard with option to change attributes
• API enhanced to create, destroy and resize datastores, as well as re-deploy VMs
• Select virtual hard drive type (thin or thick) for clones
• Match guest host name to VM name when using a Customer Sysprep Answer File
• Clone nvram with VM
• Improved security for NFS datastore export

Read the rest of the announcement of the release of NetApp Rapid Cloning Utility.

The “Project Virtual Reality Check” team just released a new whitepaper: “Hyper-V 2008R2, vSphere 4, XenServer 5.5 on Intel ‘Nehalem’ Xeon 5500“. 

 “If you are looking for an independent advise and a ‘Reality Check’ in relation to Virtualizing Terminal Server and Desktop workloads, if you are curious about the impact of different hypervisors and the performance differences with various hardware and if you are searching for best practices for your virtual Desktops … Project VRC whitepapers are a must read!”

• Highlights, performance differences and best practice conclusions for Terminal Services workloads on:
  • Bare metal Terminal Services; 2003/2008/x86/x64
  • Hypervisors: Citrix  XenServer 5.5, Microsoft Windows Server 2008R2 ‘Hyper-V’ and VMware vSphere 4.0
  • Performance impact using different HP Proliant state-of-the-art hardware using Intel Xeon ‘Nehalem’ x5500  Read the rest of this entry »