VMware, Inc., the global leader in virtual infrastructure software for Intel-based systems, today announced the VMware VirtualCenter Suite for Blade Servers, an integrated software suite that brings virtualization to blade servers. The low-cost, high-density nature of blade servers makes them an ideal platform for deploying a virtual infrastructure. By layering the suite on top of blade servers, administrators can transform a blade chassis into a highly utilized and scalable virtual computing appliance with mainframe-class resource management. The VirtualCenter Suite for Blade Servers consists of VMware VirtualCenter, VMware ESX Server with Virtual SMP and the company's groundbreaking VMotion technology that enables the movement of live, stateful virtual machines from one blade to another while maintaining continuous service availability. Enterprises that deploy the VirtualCenter Suite for Blade Servers will realize an unprecedented optimization of their blade server infrastructure. The VirtualCenter Suite for Blade Servers is ideal for server consolidation, disaster recovery and data center operations that require high density and demanding operational efficiencies. Customers can expect to achieve: * Mainframe-class Resource Flexibility and Utilization: -- Increased server densities up to 225 servers per blade chassis -- Greater blade server utilization rates up to 80% -- Flexible and dynamic resource management both within an individual blade and across the chassis using VMotion * Rapid Resource Provisioning: -- Instant provisioning of blades -- Decreased application deployment and lifecycle time * Unprecedented Hardware Availability: -- Elimination of scheduled downtime for blade hardware upgrades and maintenance -- Zero downtime migration of virtual machines between blade servers and standard rack-mounted servers -- Optimization of mixed blade server infrastructure in and across chassis, based on changing demands and service level agreements (SLAs) "Enterprises want to maintain the benefits of virtualization as they adopt blade servers," said Michael Mullany, vice president of marketing at VMware. "VMware has worked with our key partners to bring virtual infrastructure to industry leading blade servers. Together, they provide unparalleled server density and rapid resource provisioning and provide the perfect foundation for the next generation datacenter." "Customers are increasingly looking to virtualization solutions for agility and cost benefits. HP ProLiant BL p-Class blade servers are an ideal platform for virtualization, in addition to providing security and scalability," said Nick van der Zweep, director of utility computing, Enterprise Systems Group at HP. "The inherent benefits of blades are augmented when coupled with VMware ESX Server running VirtualCenter and VMotion. Managing a rack or chassis of blades as a single pool of resources yields increased utilization rates and enhanced performance and availability. With our offering of industry-leading ProLiant blade servers together with VMware, customers are able to choose the most cost-effective solution for their computing needs." "VMware and IBM have had a long relationship providing virtualization solutions for high-performance xSeries SMP platforms, and the new VirtualCenter Suite for Blade Servers now supports IBM's scaleout computing strategy with BladeCenter," said Jeff Benck, vice president of eServer BladeCenter at IBM. "VMware's VMotion technology coupled with BladeCenter's integrated solution environment enables customers to create an On-Demand infrastructure where they can dynamically allocate server capacity and optimize resources to reduce Total Cost of Ownership."