Virtual Iron Server Virtualization and Management Solutions Available on HP ProLiant Servers

Business Wire, Oct 16, 2007

LOWELL, Mass. -- Virtual Iron Software (www.virtualiron.com), the leading provider of server virtualization and virtual infrastructure management software based on the Xen[R] open source hypervisor, today announced the general availability of its fully featured solution pre-configured on select HP ProLiant servers. The pre-configured solutions are available immediately through Tech Data's Advanced Infrastructure Solutions (AIS) Division and its network of value-added resellers in North America. They offer ready-to-use, enterprise-class virtualization and management capabilities to help users cut operating costs, streamline data center management and reduce server counts and power, cooling and space requirements.

The three bundles include the HP ProLiant DL380 G5, DL385 G5 and server blades for the new HP BladeSystem c3000 enclosure pre-configured with Virtual Iron Version 4 Extended Enterprise Edition. The solutions support server consolidation and complete management of multiple Windows and Linux operating systems on a single node or across multiple servers or blade enclosures. The combinations are designed for easy deployment and management and enable value-added resellers to provide cost-effective and efficiently managed data center solutions that provide higher performance and more reliable service levels.

"This pre-configured HP and Virtual Iron solution bundle enables value-added resellers to present their end-user customers with a complete, enterprise-class virtual infrastructure capability that is the industry's easiest to use and manage," said Bill Simpson, vice president of channel strategy and sales for Virtual Iron. "These solutions respond directly to the requirements of demanding customers looking for production-ready solutions for server virtualization and virtual infrastructure management."

Virtual Iron 4.0 provides enterprise-class server virtualization and virtual infrastructure management capabilities at a fraction of the cost of comparable alternatives. It includes LiveConvert[TM], an automated X2V conversion software solution powered by PlateSpin that enables customers to easily migrate workloads (data, applications, and operating systems) across physical, virtual, blade and image-based infrastructures in any direction. The Virtual Iron 4.0 platform combines the latest version of the Xen open source hypervisor with advanced virtualization services and policy-based automation capabilities such as LiveMigrate[TM], LiveRecovery[TM] and LiveCapacity[TM]. It also takes full advantage of the latest hardware-assisted virtualization capabilities from AMD and Intel to deliver near native performance.

The software offers large memory support (up to 128 GB), large SMP capabilities (up to 8 virtual CPUs) and the ability to virtualize server platforms with up to 32 physical CPUs. Unlike other virtualization solutions, Virtual Iron also offers LiveProvisioning[TM], a "zero touch" automated deployment capability that eliminates the need for physical installation or management of virtualization software on virtualized physical servers. In addition, Virtual Iron's unique shared storage architecture eliminates the need for complex, proprietary clustered file systems when migrating workloads. This further expands and simplifies users' ability to support advanced use cases such as high availability, disaster recovery and capacity management.

The HP ProLiant DL380 G5, the world's best selling server, and DL385 G5, deliver enterprise-class reliability and manageability, proven performance and support a variety of rack deployments and applications. The HP BladeSystem c3000 Enclosure is a versatile, all-in-one BladeSystem built uniquely for small sites to deliver big business results. It allows users to consolidate server, storage (NAS or iSCSI), network, power and management capabilities in an all-in-one infrastructure. All three systems include hardware virtualization extensions from Intel or AMD for additional improvements in virtualization performance.

"HP ProLiant servers are engineered for optimal performance as a virtualization platform," said Paul Gottsegen, vice president, marketing, Industry Standard Servers, HP. "Adding pre-configured bundles with Virtual Iron's software enhances our virtualization portfolio and ensures the applications our customers rely on to run their business are available 24x7."

Tech Data's Advanced Infrastructure Solutions (AIS) Division combines a high-touch, consultative sales approach with the distributor's extensive technical expertise and broad product knowledge to help value-added resellers capitalize on the demand for mid-market and enterprise-level server, storage and software solutions. With Virtual Iron, Tech Data provides consultative solution sales support for qualified value-added resellers focused on the latest enterprise server, storage and other data center infrastructure solutions.

"Server virtualization is an exciting growth opportunity for VARs, enabling them to present end-users with compelling cost savings and enhanced data center management capabilities," said Amy Belcher, Tech Data's director of marketing, Advanced Infrastructure Solutions. "Virtual Iron is committed to the channel and working with Tech Data, our business partners and VARs to deliver their solutions to businesses nationwide. Partnering with an established and respected industry leader like HP helps VARs introduce these new solutions to their end-user customers."