Industry News And Articles
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How to Effectively Use Cloud Computing
By Jay Litkey
February 12, 2010
"Cloud computing" is a term that's been latched onto with a vengeance. The basic premise of "data center on demand" is pretty sexy, but cloud computing is not a new concept. The vision of the on-demand data center has existed for years and is often described as the "holy grail" of data center architectures—always sought after but remaining out of reach. Here, Knowledge Center contributor Jay Litkey explains what enterprises need to consider to effectively use cloud computing.
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Virtual Sprawl Is Not the Real Problem
By David M. Lynch
February 9, 2010As organizations ramp up their adoption of server virtualization, more and more are experiencing bottlenecks that slow them down, as well as the need for additional and unplanned funding, usually created by virtual sprawl.
But while sprawl is the direct cause of unplanned expenses, it is not the real problem. Rather it's a symptom of something else. While attacking it directly may provide some short-term relief, like salve on an uncomfortable rash, it will come right back if the root causes are not eliminated. This article identifies the true source of virtual sprawl and demonstrates how it can be eradicated by treating the cause rather than the symptom.
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2010: The year of virtualization management, not just adoption
Article Contributed by David M. Lynch, VP of marketing for Embotics
December 14, 2009What do Virtualization and Cloud executives think about 2010? Find out in this VMblog.com series exclusive.
2010: The year of virtualization management, not just adoption
We saw an increase across the board in the overall level of virtualization adoption in the datacenter in 2009, and all indications are that this will continue in 2010, and probably even accelerate as the economy starts to recover.
But growth comes with its own set of "growing pains." As virtual environments get larger, they get more and more difficult to manage - especially if multiple VirtualCenters or vCenters are used. Some of the more typical symptoms that our customers see include virtual sprawl becoming a bigger and bigger problem, administration workloads increasing and costs starting to escalate
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Administrative Fatigue Leads to Virtual Machine Sprawl
by Mike Vizard
December 9, 2009According to research published by Embotics, a provider of virtualization management software, a major cause of virtual machine sprawl is the simple fact that as many as 30 percent of the virtual machines deployed in any given enterprise are redundant.
The reason there are so many redundant virtual machines unnecessarily taking up so much disk space comes down to what Embotics vice president of marketing David Lynch calls “administrative fatigue.”
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2010 Prediction: Jay Litkey, Embotics
by Jay Litkey
December 8, 20092010: A year of complexity
As I predicted last year, despite the economy, 2009 saw an increase in the overall level of virtualization in the datacenter, and the emergence of “virtual first” policies. This will continue in 2010, and even accelerate as the economy starts to recover. As the size of the virtual datacenter increases, sprawl will become a bigger and bigger problem, and a larger percentage of VMs will be in production environments rather than in development or lab environments.
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Virtualization Party: Over Imbibing Can Create Costly Consequences
By Ann All - IT Business Edge
December 1, 2009Virtualization is a lot like drinking at a college keg party. At first, you hang back, exercise caution and see how you handle it. If you enjoy positive effects (easier to talk to people, makes you a better -- or at least less inhibited -- dancer), you go back for more. Your concern about downsides fades with every drink. You may end up stumbling into the bandstand in front of a packed dance floor or making a similar beer-addled move. If you're unlucky, you'll lose your wallet, your keys or your lunch. If you're really unlucky, you could lose every shred of self respect you have.
The point is, there are consequences. It's a similar story with virtualization.
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Five virtualization sprawl warning signs
Rick Vanover, Contributor
December 1, 2009Virtualization sprawl can negate the many benefits of virtualization, which include cost savings, operational efficiencies and consolidation. Virtualization is a fundamental shift in how infrastructures are architected, provisioned, managed and operated, but virtual machine (VM) sprawl can create bigger virtualization infrastructure problems down the line. In this tip, I explain virtualization sprawl and how to protect against it
What is virtualization sprawl?
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The Costs Of Virtual Sprawl
By Dan Woods - Forbes
November 30, 2009The flexibility of virtualization has led to overspending.
As companies have adopted virtualization, it has become easier and easier to create virtual servers. What used to take weeks can be done in minutes. But now the bill is coming due and companies are dealing with virtual server sprawl. JargonSpy talked recently with Jay Litkey, president and chief executive of Embotics, a company that creates software products for managing virtualized data centers. Litkey says businesses have become drunk with their new powers and are creating virtualized assets without consideration of the expenses related to these virtual assets. -
Reasons Why vCenter/VirtualCenter is an Insufficient Management Platform for Virtual Environments
by David M. Lynch
November 29, 2009VMware provides a virtualization management product for its virtual environment, and yet, for a lot of enterprises, this is not enough. What is driving organizations to augment vCenter/VirtualCenter, management systems, and is this something you should be considering? This article looks at the top five reasons organizations are adding third-party virtualization management systems to their overall architectures.
For most organizations today, the reasons to invest in third-party virtualization management systems are pragmatic and relate to addressing some of the shortcomings of vCenter and/or VirtualCenter. While in many ways there are as many variants of feature needs as there are organizations, there are some definite feature groupings emerging.
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Questioning cloud computing for the finance industry
by David M. Lynch
November 19, 2009First things first: Can you handle your internal virtual environment?
The financial industry, as well as the market at large, has latched onto the term “cloud computing” with a vengeance, and you have to admit that the basic premise (datacenter on-demand) is pretty sexy. However, all may not be as it seems.
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Embotics goes modular with VM controls
by Kevin White
October 21, 2009New system in step with VM adoption maturity
Embotics has moved to modularise its virtual machine (VM) management software so it can better suit the varying needs of companies as they move through different phases of virtualisation adoption.
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VMware shops move to rein in VM sprawl
By Alex Barrett, News Director
August 27, 2009Without proper controls in place, some IT professionals that deploy virtualization can quickly become victims of their own success, struggling to keep pace with demand for new virtual machines (VMs).
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Embotics V-Commander 3
by Dan Kusnetzky
August 26, 2009After dealing with the increasingly typical file format blues, David Lynch of Embotics and I had the opportunity to review the important details of the launch of version three of V-Commander, Embotics management tool for virtualized environments. I’ve spoken with David in the past (see Embotics V-Commander 2.0 and Challenges of lifecycle management of virtual systems) and always enjoy our conversations.
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Embotics Eases Management of Virtual Environments
By Jeffrey Burt
August 24, 2009Embotics is rolling out Version 3.0 of its V-Commander offering for the automation and management of virtual environments, with the idea of driving down operational costs and increasing automation of the infrastructure. V-Commander also comes in three modules, enabling enterprises to pick and choose which features to buy when they need them.
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Embotics launches V-Commander 3.0
By Chris Talbot
August 24, 2009Embotics has released the latest version of its V-Commander automation, management and control product. V-Commander 3.0 offers customers more modularity and flexibility in installing the solution.
Embotics is offering the new version to customers in three modules, which allows customers to get the control elements they need them without having to buy the full solution.
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Embotics ramps auto-virtualisation with new modules
By Maxwell Cooter
August 24, 2009Canadian virtualisation specialist Embotics has released the latest version of its V-Commander product in three modules, offering claimed greater flexibility to its users.
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Managing to Prevent Virtual Sprawl: Q & A with Jay Litkey
By VSM News Staff
August 6, 2009Interview with Jay Litkey, CEO of Embotics
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Manage Virtualization to Reduce Compliance Risk
By Alan Radding
August 6, 2009IT infrastructure virtualization is hot. Companies large and small are racing to virtualize their servers, storage, desktops, and networks in an effort to simplify and consolidate, mainly for the purpose of saving money.
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The Machine Is Now the Data . . . How Does That Affect Compliance?
By Eric Chiu
July 3, 2009Five questions that CIOs should ask virtualization vendors as it relates to compliance
In IT terms, virtualization is cool. The rewards include cost savings, agility, and flexibility. Enterprises reap the benefits of virtualization through a much more efficient use of IT personnel and resources, faster delivery time of applications, higher availability/service levels, and additional capabilities such as high availability and disaster recovery. No wonder data centers worldwide are being transformed by going virtual.
Now for the bad news:
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Automating IT processes for virtual machines
By Andi Mann, Contributor
April 30, 2009Many organizations have discovered that virtualization has introduced several new management problems. Virtualization adds complexity to an environment with new technologies, new platforms, new vendors and new tools; all of which require new training and new skills. Unfortunately, a majority of organizations report that they simply do not have the sufficient skills to manage their virtual systems, which is a major roadblock to maintaining and expanding their virtual server deployments.
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Difference between physical and virtual servers
by David Lynch, Vice President of Marketing, Embotics
December 16, 2008Unlike most technologies that go through a rigorous inspection and validation process, server virtualization for the most part, snuck in the back door of the data center while no one was looking as an operations tool generating a significant ROI through the savings associated with server consolidation.
But server virtualization is a technology that impacts pretty much all aspects of a data center, and it's only now that some of these impacts are being felt. This is a three part article that looks at the impact of server virtualization on data center management, security and compliance and suggests corresponding best practices to combat these issues.
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New security issues raised by server virtualization
by David Lynch, Vice President of Marketing, Embotics
December 16, 2008This is part two of a three part article that looks at the impact of server virtualization on datacenter management, security and compliance. Part one looked at the differences between physical and virtual servers, and the impact of this on the datacenter. This article will look at the new security issues.
Many organizations are relying on the IT policies, processes and toolsets established in the “pre-virtual” datacenter to manage and protect virtual servers, which makes sense. However, virtualized environments do face the same operational threats and risks as traditional servers. But, there are also some specific security implications that must be considered.
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Best practices for controlling and managing virtual machines
by David Lynch, vice president of marketing, Embotics
December 16, 2008This is the final segment of a three part article that looks at the impact of server virtualization on datacenter management, security and compliance and suggests best practices to control and manage the virtual datacenter.
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Virtual Machines Are Not Free
By Alex Bakman
August 14, 2008Recovering the costs of virtualization projects.
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Virtualization's dirty little secrets
Tom Kaneshige
April 27, 2008San Francisco - Everyone knows that server virtualization shaves hardware clutter in the datacenter, boosts workloads, brings disaster recovery flexibility, slashes costs and basically saves the planet from nasty carbon emissions. But here's the dirty little secret: Many pitfalls await server virtualization adopters, and a stumble can ruin all your virtual dreams.
The sheer number of potential missteps has Doug Dineley, executive editor of the InfoWorld Test Center, shaking his head. "Virtualization offers irresistible benefits, and also the opportunity to drown." -
Risky Business
David M. Lynch
April 23, 2008Anyone who has experienced server sprawl knows how expensive it is in terms of resources. But when it comes to the virtual world there is another aspect that must be considered -- security.
Many organizations treat virtual servers similar to how they treat physical servers, and while they have a lot in common, there are some significant and risk-inducing differences. -
Building and managing a VM library
Anil Desai
March 30, 2008
The problem with creating virtual machines (VMs) is that there's no problem. In some ways, it's too easy to create, move, copy and track VMs, which poses a problem: As a result, many organizations have discovered that managing VM deployments requires significant planning. One solution is to create a VM library, a collection of IT-approved, certified, ready-to-go templates for new VMs.
Of course, best practice recommendations from an ivory tower are often difficult to implement in the real world. In this tip, I'll focus on creating a VM library and how it can help alleviate some of the pains of virtualization management by using Microsoft's System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM). -
How virtualization impacts IT staff, security and change management
By Cameron Sturdevant searchServerVirtualization
February 11, 2008There is little doubt that virtualization can offer tangible benefits, such as finally making it possible to do more with less. But adopting server virtualization technology isn't all roses for an IT organization. In this tip, I spell out why server virtualization creates three specific challenges: breaking down IT department fiefdoms; possible increases in security vulnerabilities; and greater complexity in change management.
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How to Tame Virtualization Sprawl
By Cameron Sturdevant
February 11, 2008
The benefits of virtualization are eroded when virtual machines go unchecked. VM sprawl—the creation of VMs without regard for ongoing utilization monitoring, desired-state configuration management, or an automated process for correlating VM and physical host performance characteristics—can be remediated in a cost-effective manner if IT managers get the balance right between ease of VM creation and management oversight.
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Virtual Software Appliances: Why They Could End Deployment Hell
By Laurianne McLaughlin
January 7, 2008
Will the way you buy and deploy enterprise software change again? Analysts say yes, and it's thanks to virtualization technology. We're not talking about software-as-a-service (SaaS). Many enterprises still don't like SaaS, but now there's an up-and-coming alternative, virtualized software appliances, that deserves attention. Here's why it might not be long before you buy software pre-packaged in a virtual machine.
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Virtualization in the Enterprise Survey: Your Virtualized State in 2008
By Laurianne McLaughlin
January 1, 2008You're knee-deep in virtualization, and you love the ROI that you've seen so far. But you're also grappling with tough technical and political challenges posed by today's hottest technology, according to CIO's first survey on virtualization. The top challenges?
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Virtual Machine Sprawl Will Challenge IT Management Skills
By Charles Babcock, Information Week,
December 18, 2007Controlling virtual machine "sprawl" is a problem that's beginning to be addressed by tools like startup Embotics' V-Commander.
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Comparing Virtualization Approaches
By Anil Desai, VirtualStrategy Magazine,
December 18, 2007
Server virtualization technology has become so commonplace in most IT environments that it’s tempting to use it as a cure-all for all that ails IT. Consider it the magic snake oil of the data center. The truth, however, is that virtualization technology should be considered an IT tool like any other. Just as you wouldn’t use clustering for all of your enterprise applications, you shouldn’t always run first to virtualization. In this article, I’ll present information about various approaches to virtualization and how you can determine the most appropriate option for each of your workloads.
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Security concerns cloud virtualization deployments
By Denise Dubie, Network World,
November 20, 2007
IT managers worry the intangible boundaries in virtual environments might not keep out the bad guys
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Benchmarking How Well You Manage Virtualization
By Laurianne McLaughlin
November 19, 2007Are you running a superior virtualization effort? You're going to need the measurements to prove it. A recent study by IDC examines metrics that IT leaders can use to benchmark how well they're managing virtualization.
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Virtualization ready to heat up in 2008s
By James M. Connolly
November 19, 2007
VM Sprawl. Hypervisor holes. Rogue virtual machines. Network traffic gone bad. What are the biggest virtualization security risks now and how can you combat them? It's time to separate fact from fiction and get down to work.
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How to Find and Fix 10 Real Security Threats on Your Virtual Servers
By Laurianne McLaughlin
November 13, 2007VM Sprawl. Hypervisor holes. Rogue virtual machines. Network traffic gone bad. What are the biggest virtualization security risks now and how can you combat them? It's time to separate fact from fiction and get down to work.
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What does it take to manage virtual servers?
By Denise Dubie, Network World
October 31, 2007Virtualization demands IT managers take a closer look at management processes, tools
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What does it take to manage virtual servers?
By David F. Carr
October 25, 2007
Consolidation adds flexibility in provisioning and allocating resources, but experts warn of virtual server sprawl.
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Interview: IDC Research on the Growth of Virtualization
By Charlie Leffingwell
October 14, 2007The transcript of a podcast interview with IDC’s Stephen Elliot, originally posted on August 17, 2007.
