BladeLogic and SWsoft are preparing to offer more virtualization tools to their customers.
Virtualization – the ability to run multiple applications and operating systems on a single server — has become a popular way of cutting cooling, power, space and other costs associated with large data centers.
Starting April 23, BladeLogic will add a new virtualization module to its Operations Manager software. This suite of software is designed to manage and control different software products that businesses run in the data center.
BladeLogics Virtualization Manager will work with VMwares ESX Server technology to enable IT administrators to monitor, control and make configuration changes within physical and virtualization environments, said Vance Loiselle, vice president of marketing for the Lexington, Mass. company.
The additional module will allow administrators to monitor all the virtual machines contained within a single physical machine. The suite will also allow administrators to monitor the memory, networking CPU reservations and storage information.
The updated software suite also allows businesses to set and synchronize various policies and configurations, as well as built-in auditing capabilities, Loiselle said.
The updated version of Operations Manager is shipping now and costs an additional $600 for existing BladeLogic customers. For new customers, the software suite will cost $2,000 per physical machine.
Other companies that offer data center and other management software are also bundling various virtualization capabilities into their software offerings. One example is ClearCube, which creates technology that allows businesses to manage their server-based computing environments.
The latest version of ClearCubes management software also works with VMwares technology to better monitor and control server-based computing environments.
In addition to BladeLogic,SWsoft, a virtualization provider that competes with the likes of VMware, is looking to entice new customers and small businesses with a low-cost version of its Virtuozzo software.
The Herndon, Va., company plans to offer its Virtuozzo Enterprise Starter Pack April 25 at a cost of $1,198. This offering works with servers that support either one or two microprocessors, and it will allow users to create up to four virtual environments.
The pack, which also offers a one-year “silver” maintenance and support contract, works with either Microsoft Windows or Linux and comes with monitoring, backup, recovery and provisioning capabilities.