NEWS ANALYSIS: VMware has launched a new version of vCenter Ops Suite, which makes it easier for IT managers to put together the server and network infrastructure for private and public cloud service deployments.
VMware's
latest stab at accelerating customer cloud adoption comes in the form of VMware
vCenter Operations Management Suite, which is the newest piece of VMware's
comprehensive management portfolio.
The
vCenter Operations Management Suite is designed to simplify and automate the
operations of virtual and cloud environments. Ideally, the product will make it
easier for enterprise IT managers to create IT services that are cloud-based.
The
concepts behind vCenter Operations Management Suite mirror much of what
Microsoft is promising to deliver with the forthcoming Microsoft System Center
2012, a product that focuses on provisioning and managing private and public
cloud platforms that offer IT services.
It seems
that VMware has correctly identified that system management is one of the key
elements for effectively deploying cloud-based services. "The highly
dynamic nature of cloud infrastructure has outpaced traditional operations
management disciplines, requiring customers to think differently about how to
manage their virtual and cloud environments," Rob Smoot, director, product
marketing, Enterprise Management, VMware, said in a statement.
That
sentiment is shared by Microsoft as well, at least as far as developing
management tools that make it easier to manage and deploy cloud technologies,
as evidenced by Microsoft's claims as to what
System
Center 2012 will offer IT managers.
Obviously,
the key to success with developing private and public cloud services is having
the proper tools that can deliver provisioning and automation capabilities.
"The VMware vCenter Operations Management Suite provides customers with
greater visibility 'under the hood' of their infrastructures, and it provides
the actionable intelligence customers need to optimize efficiency, enable
compliance and proactively manage service levels," Smoot said in his
statement.
One of
the most notable capabilities offered by vCenter Operations Management Suite is
the inclusion of analytics and metrics. Not only are IT managers able to deploy
and manage cloud offerings built in the VMware ecosystem, but those managers
will now be able monitor service levels and calculate loads over time, as well
as look for inefficiencies. The metrics delivered by vCenter Operations
Management Suite should prove very useful for IT managers looking for
elasticity in operations and for judging scale-up or scale-down as determined
by business needs.
It is
obvious that vCenter Operations Management Suite may reduce the need for third-party
tools, especially those that monitor and report on VMware ecosystem functions.
That said, the new suite does incorporate tools that were offered previously as
add-ons for VMware's earlier vCenter Operations products. Notable is the
Chargeback Manager tool that produces forecasts of future expenditures when
current conditions are left as they are, compared with the savings recouped
from making adjustments.
While
many of the goals set forth for vCenter Operations Management Suite compare
with Microsoft's hopes for System Center 2012, one notable difference is that
Microsoft is pitching System Center 2012 as hypervisor-agnostic, meaning IT
managers can choose whatever hypervisor technology they feel best fits their
environment. That means Microsoft's future offering may be a competitive
product for vCenter Operations Management Suite, especially since System Center
2012 will support VMware's own hypervisor technology.
General
availability of vCenter Operations Management Suite begins now, with various
licensing rates beginning at $50 per virtual machine.
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Frank J. Ohlhorst is the Executive Technology Editor for eWeek Channel Insider and brings with him over 20 years of experience in the Information Technology field.He began his career as a network administrator and applications program in the private sector for two years before joining a computer consulting firm as a programmer analyst. In 1988 Frank founded a computer consulting company, which specialized in network design, implementation, and support, along with custom accounting applications developed in a variety of programming languages.In 1991, Frank took a position with the United States Department of Energy as a Network Manager for multiple DOE Area Offices with locations at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPL), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), FermiLAB and the Ames Area Office (AMESAO). Frank's duties included managing the site networks, associated staff and the inter-network links between the area offices. He also served at the Computer Security Officer (CSO) for multiple DOE sites. Frank joined CMP Technology's Channel group in 1999 as a Technical Editor assigned to the CRN Test Center, within a year, Frank became the Senior Technical Editor, and was responsible for designing product testing methodologies, assigning product reviews, roundups and bakeoffs to the CRN Test Center staff.In 2003, Frank was named Technology Editor of CRN. In that capacity, he ensured that CRN maintained a clearer focus on technology and increased the integration of the Test Center's review content into both CRN's print and web properties. He also contributed to Netseminar's, hosted sessions at CMP's Xchange Channel trade shows and helped to develop new methods of content delivery, Such as CRN-TV.In September of 2004, Frank became the Director of the CRN Test Center and was charged with increasing the Test Center's contributions to CMP's Channel Web online presence and CMP's latest monthly publication, Digital Connect, a magazine geared towards the home integrator. He also continued to contribute to CMP's Netseminar series, Xchange events, industry conferences and CRN-TV.In January of 2007, CMP Launched CRNtech, a monthly publication focused on technology for the channel, with a mailed audience of 70,000 qualified readers. Frank was instrumental in the development and design of CRNTech and was the editorial director of the publication as well as its primary contributor. He also maintained the edit calendar, and hosted quarterly CRNTech Live events.In June 2007, Frank was named Senior Technology Analyst and became responsible for the technical focus and edit calendars of all the Channel Group's publications, including CRN, CRNTech, and VARBusiness, along with the Channel Group's specialized publications Solutions Inc., Government VAR, TechBuilder and various custom publications. Frank joined Ziff Davis Enterprise in September of 2007 and focuses on creating editorial content geared towards the purveyors of Information Technology products and services. Frank writes comparative reviews, channel analysis pieces and participates in many of Ziff Davis Enterprise's tradeshows and webinars. He has received several awards for his writing and editing, including back to back best review of the year awards, and a president's award for CRN-TV. Frank speaks at many industry conferences, is a contributor to several IT Books, holds several records for online hits and has several industry certifications, including Novell's CNE, Microsoft's MCP.Frank can be reached at frank.ohlhorst@ziffdavisenterprise.com
