Server virtualization firm, Parallels, has been deployed by provider of hosting services in Europe, Cobweb, as a provider to use Parallels Automation with the hosted Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. Serguei Beloussov, CEO of Parallels noted, ''We are pleased that Cobweb is using the full potential of our Parallels Automation solution to centrally manage a wide variety of hosting services. This deployment demonstrates how Parallels Open Platform is helping service providers deliver advanced business applications using the software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery model.''

Parallels announced that its Parallels Desktop for Mac has sold more than one million copies. The software enables Mac users to run Windows, Linux or any other operating system and their critical applications at the same time as Mac OS X on any Intel-powered Apple computer. Parallels Desktop for Mac's success has made Parallels noted in desktop virtualization. The software is available in 10 languages -- Chinese, Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, and Spanish.

Parallels said Wednesday that its Desktop virtualization widgetry for the Mac, which lets Intel-based Apples run Windows or Linux along with Mac OS X, has sold more than a million copies, a nice chunk of the Macs out there. It is the largest-selling Mac utility and gives Mac users access to all those Windows programs it?s starved for.

Liquid Web launched a Microsoft Windows virtual private server (VPS) offering powered by Parallels Virtuozzo Containers. The offering will be delivered from Liquid Web's two fully owned and operated mid-western datacenters. This represents an expanded partnership with Parallels, who already supplies Liquid Web with Parallels Plesk Control Panel software, which is bundled with all Windows dedicated server offerings.

The rapid rise of virtualization technology made it a vital component of any Enterprise IT strategy. And the technology triggered dramatic changes in product offerings and business practices to support virtualized operational models. These breakneck speed developments lead to a plethora of solutions, with the attendant confusion that typically surrounds fast moving technologies. In this session Brian Stevens outlined trends in virtualization technologies and examined their potential impact on, and benefits for, future Enterprise IT deployments. Topics included tradeoffs between open source and proprietary solutions, hardware integration efforts, deployment models, and long-term, high-volume serviceability/security considerations.

Citrix and Microsoft announced the availability of Citrix Branch Repeater , an innovative new line of branch office appliances developed and marketed as part of a strategic alliance between the two companies. By staging the delivery of applications and Windows services closer to branch office users, Citrix Branch Repeater helps make branch office computing faster and more cost-effective for companies of all sizes.

rPath announced that virtual appliances intended for the Citrix Ready designation can be developed using rBuilder and the rPath Appliance Platform. A virtual appliance is an application combined with a streamlined operating system, offered in a format that runs in virtualized environments. Using rBuilder, a developer can create a virtual appliance for Citrix XenServer and submit it to Citrix for verification. The Citrix Ready designation is awarded to third party products that have successfully met the verification criteria set by Citrix. The verification process includes an extensive series of tests to ensure consistency and completeness of the virtual appliance before it is certified.

AppSense announced that AppSense Environment Manager, the user environment management solution, supports Citrix XenDesktop desktop delivery solution. AppSense complements XenDesktop functionality by enabling desktop policy and personalization management, accelerating and simplifying enterprise migration and management of VDI environments. User environment management provides the only scalable and cost-effective solution for delivering corporate policy and personalized settings on-demand to large groups of users and computers.

Desktone announced that the Desktone Virtual-D Platform will support Citrix XenServer. The Virtual-D Platform is designed specifically to enable service providers to offer hosted, subscription-based virtual desktops. It is a solution that integrates all desktop virtualization layers through a single, automated self-service platform, it helps enterprises quickly realize the full benefits of centralized virtual desktops without having to build and deploy the infrastructure internally. It reduces enterprise desktop TCO, transforming computing costs from fixed CAPEX to variable OPEX.

Caringo announced an ambitious project by the San Diego Supercomputer Center at the University of California San Diego to bring Redlining grids to UC campuses which are stored in a Caringo CAStor cluster. The implementation has started with a CAStor clustered storage pool that is initially tasked with archiving The Redlining Archives of California's Exclusionary Spaces (T-RACES).

Citrix is supposed to trot out XenDesktop - its virtual Windows desktop trick - any minute now and when it does the UK firm AppSense is supposed to be there to make the Xen widgetry useful. See, the way it works every time you restart XenDesktop you start with a clean slate, according to AppSense VP of corporate and product strategy Martin Ingram. You'll lose your personalized settings and corporate policies but for the intervention of AppSense Environment Manager, used before with other Citrix products and extended to support the XenDesktop Virtual Desktop Infrastructure.

Sun, which lost some traction selling x86 servers when AMD flubbed the Barcelona - and had to run hurry up and pull some Intel quad-based machines together last year - finally got to announce its first AMD quad machines this week in the shadow of HP and Dell. Eight of them, rack-mount and blade systems, including the new two-socket 1U Sun Fire X4140 and the 2U, very Web 2.0, Sun Fire X4240, and the industry's only 2U four-socket Barcelona-based server, the Sun Fire X4440.

Double-Take announced the availability of its Virtual Recovery Assistant, a new enhancement to Double-Take for Windows that simplifies the process of migrating to VMware ESX virtual machines by automating the provisioning of the virtual environment and reducing end-user downtime associated with traditional physical-to-virtual (P2V) migration products. The new feature can also be used to automate the protection of workloads running on physical servers, moving them to virtual machines automatically in the event of a server outage or site-wide disaster.

Just making the window as it was closing - which is supposed to suggest that it was only taking the step after much soul-searching - the US Patent and Trademark Office filed a Notice of Appeal with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. If it goes ahead it will ask the appeals court to overturn that district court summary judgment last month in favor of GlaxoSmithKline telling the agency it couldn't implement its controversial new rules.

Select Technologies, a division of WeP Solutions, has entered into a distribution tie up with VMWare - to extend virtualization strategy and outline product road map. VMware's expertise lies in offering virtualization platform IT Infrastructure, enabling higher level of protection for business critical systems and data for small and medium business enterprises. According to WeP, this will be mutually beneficial as Select Technologies also focuses on the SMB segment primarily.

SAVVIS announced the appointment of Dennis Brouwer as Vice President, Network Business Line Management. Reporting to James Whitemore, Chief Marketing Officer, Brouwer is responsible for providing company-wide strategic marketing leadership and product strategy formulation to drive revenue, margin and market share related to the network business line.

LeftHand Networks announced that its iSCSI SANs are now Citrix Ready vendor verified with Citrix XenServer 4.1. LeftHand Networks iSCSI SANs complement Citrix XenServer 4.1, providing customers with highly available server and storage solutions for their data center environments. Powered by SAN/iQ storage software, LeftHand Networks' iSCSI SAN solutions deliver a rich, fully-integrated feature set, advanced data protection, centralized management and a best-in-class solution for optimizing performance and manageability in virtual server environments.

F5 Networks announced that Shopzilla has deployed F5 Acopia ARX intelligent file virtualization systems as the foundation of its file storage management strategy. Shopzilla is leveraging the F5 Acopia ARX system's unrivaled data migration, global namespace, and data replication capabilities in order to maintain fast response times and uninterrupted access for its more than 20 million visitors each month.

BMC Software announced that customer adoption of its Business Service Management platform continues to escalate, in part because it provides customers with virtualization management solutions designed to simultaneously manage mission-critical applications across both virtual and physical IT environments. Currently, only BMC delivers fully-integrated, native virtualization management solutions that unify the control and management of both environments into a single view. This ability allows customers to manage risk and ROI across the full lifecycle of virtual data centers, including both distributed and mainframe environments. Other vendor offerings have been limited to managing virtual machines, often without reference to ramifications that virtualization has on the processes and management of the larger infrastructure.

Check Point announced the availability of ZoneAlarm ForceField, a comprehensive, virtualized browser security solution enabling consumers to bank and shop online, or surf the Internet without fear or limitation. Virtualized browsing places a two-way 'bubble of security' around the browser, preventing drive-by-downloads, unwanted malware and other Web threats from damaging users' PCs or from stealing users' private information.

Dell is going to try to cut the energy consumption of its laptops and desktops by up to 25% between now and 2010 to avoid millions of tons of CO2 emissions, comparing its pledge to HP's, which is supposed to cut relative its 2005 levels. It says Dell OptiPlex desktop are down nearly 50% since 2005 and Latitude laptops are down 16% since 2006.

Emulex announced that its LightPulse Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) were selected as the storage area network (SAN) connectivity solution of choice in two end users' server virtualization projects that utilize EMC networked storage systems. Home Interiors & Gifts and Molex Incorporated selected Emulex HBAs based on ease of administration, reliability and customer confidence in support for future evolution of the SAN architecture.

The applications for system virtualization technology in IT infrastructure are well known, including resource optimization and migration ease. But virtualization technology has broader applications in non-IT computer systems, including embedded and hand-held devices. This paper surveys the motivations for system virtualization outside of the IT server space, and presents several system architectures for both fielded and in development systems that use system virtualization in unique ways. The systems include instances that require co-deployment of multiple virtualized guests with security-critical applications, and embedded applications that benefit from a heterogeneous OS architecture.

Azul Systems announced the availability of the Vega 3 Series appliances, which provides a way for companies to run, process, and manage Java applications for their business critical needs. Compared to the company's pioneering first generation Network Attached Processing product, the Vega 3 products represent a fivefold improvement in performance demonstrating Azul's commitment and execution on an aggressive product roadmap. This new solution, packaged in compact 5U or 14U appliance form factors, makes it easier for Enterprises in the E-Commerce, Financial Services, Web Hosting, and Telecommunications markets to maximize transactional volumes and minimize downtime, while decreasing overall response time. The Vega 3 Series provides companies with opportunities to run their businesses in environmentally-friendly ways by aiding datacenter virtualization initiatives and reducing power consumption costs yet still consistently improving the performance of applications.

HP CEO Mark Hurd finally did something that Wall Street didn't like - he's buying EDS, the IT infrastructure outsourcing outfit founded in 1962 by one-time presidential hopeful and outsourcing pioneer Ross Perot, for around $13.9 billion cash - a venture that some people think is poor use of money better spent elsewhere. It's Hurd's first really big deal and they don?t like it that EDS has been in turnaround mode for years. They don't like its laggard un-IBM margins, or its puny operating profits, or that it has had and looks to have practically zip organic growth, or that HP is paying a roughly 32.5% premium.

As virtualization becomes more mainstream, managing multiple virtual machine implementations across multiple platforms is posing a serious challenge. While virtualization can undoubtedly be a panacea to all data center problems, it also can lead to a number of issues, including increased security threats, lack of management visibility and reduced virtual machine control.

Certeon announced it has joined the VMware Technology Alliance Partner (TAP) Select Program. Certeon's aCelera virtual appliance delivers application acceleration when accessing applications across a distributed enterprise and is an ideal complement to VMware Infrastructure.

BakBone has taken VMware data protection to the next level by offering a solution that protects both individual and entire groups of VMware ESX Servers. The newest release of BakBone's flagship data protection solution, NetVault: Backup 8.1, supports individual ESX Servers as well as full virtual data centers, all integrated and managed from the NetVault: Backup GUI. Unlike many other offerings, users do not need to create and run scripts, giving BakBone customers the flexibility to deploy data protection in virtual environments and manage the solution under one umbrella.

After a $1.5 million angel round, Desktone, which was started in 2006 by Eric Pulier, who also started SOA Software, US Interactive and IVT, picked up $17 million in first-round funding about a year ago from Highland Capital Partners, SoftBank Capital, Citrix Systems and the China-based Tangee International. SoftBank as well as Deutsche Telekom could become service providers. Ruda says the brains behind the technology is Paul Gaffney, the former CIO of Staples. The company has maybe 40 people, more than half of them in Shanghai doing development, which explains Tangee's involvement.

Leostream announced it has raised US $3 million in a first round of venture capital funding led by Meakem Becker Venture Capital of Pittsburgh, PA. Leostream will use the proceeds from its sale of Series A shares for the expansion of sales and marketing.

VMware announced a new certification program for thin client devices. Thin clients that have small footprints and price tags - because they use centralized servers for most of their processing power - provide a cost-effective alternative to standard PCs when used in conjunction with VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure. VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is a comprehensive desktop virtualization solution that replaces traditional PCs with virtual machines that are centralized in the datacenter and available to users from any device.

VMware announced a new suite of professional services that help IT departments implement, manage, and optimize virtual desktops. Using proven best practices based on VMware Infrastructure methodology, customers and partners gain valuable insight on how to increase employee productivity, reduce IT costs, and improve security in their desktop computing environments.

VMware unveiled a new integrated desktop solution offering superior performance, especially over wide area networks (WANs), that leverages VMware's Virtual Desktop Infrastructure platform with Sun Microsystems' Sun Ray Software and virtual display clients. Ideal for use with remote users, enterprise branch offices, and offshore developers, this solution beats the competition in performance and user experience, according to customers.

Building on its standing over competitors in storage virtualization implementations worldwide, Hitachi Data Systems Corporation introduced enhancements to the Hitachi Universal Storage Platform V and Universal Storage Platform VM. With this announcement, Hitachi is delivering an advanced, market-proven storage services platform that enables customers to gain reductions in capital and operational expenditures, improved storage utilization and efficiency, and lower environmental footprints across their entire storage infrastructure.

Citrix Systems announced its new NetScaler MPX line of web application delivery systems. The new NetScaler solutions feature a parallel multi-core system architecture that increases datacenter capacity and delivers 2.5 times more web applications with the same infrastructure footprint. Citrix NetScaler MPX also provides unmatched performance when delivering applications that demand the highest security and best end-user experience.

Qumranet, announced the general availability of Solid ICE - virtualization software that enables corporations to reduce the costs, complexities and risks of desktop PC deployment and management. By centrally hosting desktops in KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) on servers in the corporate data center, Solid ICE (Independent Computing Environment) gives IT administrators' greater control over desktop image management, provisioning management, policy enforcement and security.

Scalent Systems announced that it is one of the select finalists for 'Best Virtualization Product' in the European IT industry's Techworld Awards (formerly Network Awards). The Techworld Awards have recognized great products in the industry for over thirteen years. Scalent shares the top spot with VMware, Parallels, and other industry vendors. Scalent's infrastructure virtualization software provides real time data center management, automation, and virtualization. The Scalent V/OE software enables data centers to react in real-time to changing business needs by shifting workloads and connectivity: by changing what servers are running and how those servers are connected to network and storage.

There is considerable attention being paid to service oriented architectures (SOA) and their promise of leveraging new and existing application components - services - in composite applications that may span multiple business units within an organization. While the construction, or enablement, of these services is well defined, what is often left as an assumption is that once deployed, the service will simply be available. The reality is that if consideration is not given to the reliability, availability and recoverability of your services, then you may find yourself leaping from the frying pan and into the fire. This presentation will discuss the use of service virtualization and grid technology to enable service execution. Using existing grid technologies, organizations can achieve guaranteed, horizontal scaling of service execution across the entire computing infrastructure, regardless of demand. The result is an infrastructure for deploying, managing and scaling services that delivers the confidence that, when called, your service will be available.

HP introduced new mobile thin client hardware, extended software offerings and deeper industry alliances that strengthen the industry's broadest portfolio of virtual business technology solutions. The new HP 2533t Mobile Thin Client combines the best of HP's thin client and business notebook technologies to enhance data security and improve both ease of use and reliability. These professional innovations provide customers peace of mind to focus on business, while the company's plans to expand its Remote Graphics Software technology will provide one of the richest media experiences available among client virtualization solutions.

Citrix says its XenDesktop, now in beta - which virtualizes Windows desktops in the data center and delivers them on-demand via Citrix' proprietary ICA protocol to office workers - will start shipping May 20 priced to start at $75 per concurrent user for small firms with 50-100 users.