F5 Networks (NASDAQ: FFIV), the global leader in application delivery networking (ADN), today announced a new F5 Management Pack solution for Microsoft System Centre Operations Manager that allows joint F5 and Microsoft customers to dynamically manage application delivery in virtual environments. F5 also updated its Application Ready Solution portfolio to support Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V, and System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2.
The F5 solutions announced today offer optimisation and increased availability for virtual environments, enabling IT staff to make better decisions regarding applications running in the virtual environment, and automating virtual machine management.
"The benefits offered by application delivery controllers (ADCs) apply to all applications, whether they're deployed on physical or virtual servers," said Calvin Rowland, VP of Application Partner Programs at F5. "One of the primary challenges faced by companies who deploy applications on virtual servers is the management of those virtual machines. F5's solution for System Centre Virtual Machine Manager is designed with virtual environments in mind, enabling customers to realise significant business value through faster rollout times, cost savings, and flexibility."
Dynamic administration of virtualised server infrastructure
F5 has added performance and resource optimisation (PRO) capabilities to the F5 Management Pack, introduced in April 2009. The PRO-enabled Management Pack, in combination with Microsoft System Centre Operations Manager and System Centre Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2, provides customers with enhanced visibility into both the application delivery network and the server environment, enabling IT teams to proactively monitor and dynamically manage application delivery as network or user conditions change. In addition, the F5 Management Pack now proactively offers tips to improve application delivery.
"Microsoft is pleased to see F5 embrace our vision for the dynamic data centre, and deliver its PRO-enabled Management Pack to offer seamless integration with System Centre Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2," said Dai Vu, Director, Virtualisation Solutions Marketing, Server and Tools Business at Microsoft Corp. "Our joint customers will benefit from F5's new management capabilities that allow them to better understand and meet the needs of end-users that rely on specific applications."
Building on F5's robust portfolio of application ready solutions for Microsoft
This announcement comes as part of a series of updates for the existing suite of F5 Application Ready Solutions for Microsoft Windows Server, including solutions for IIS, Remote Desktop Services (RDS), Hyper-V, and System Centre Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2. Leveraging the Live Migration feature of Hyper-V, F5 solutions also include configuration guidance to perform the network-level changes required to move virtual machines between hosts without taking them offline.
Availability:
More information about F5 and Microsoft virtualisation solutions working in concert can be found at www.f5.com/solutions/applications/microsoft/virtualization.
The F5 PRO-enabled Management Pack is a free download from F5's DevCentralsm community. PRO-enabled Management Pack downloads, documentation, FAQs, TechTips, and more can be found at http://devcentral.f5.com/mpack.
Additional materials:
* Introduction to the F5 PRO-enabled Management Pack - DevCentral blog post
* F5 PRO-enabled Management Pack overview - Datasheet
* Virtual Machine Manager and SharePoint demo - Video
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