VMWare expands channel

VMware has added four new motherboard manufacturers to the list of companies offering the embedded version of its ESX server virtualisation software, says ChannelWeb.

VMware said, at the Computex Taipei 2008 international IT conference in Taiwan, that VMware ESX and VMware ESXi, the embedded version of ESX, are expected to be available on servers and/or server motherboards from ASUSTeK Computer; Gigabyte Technology; Inventec; and the Tyan division of Mitac International, all based in Taiwan.

Prior to this, server vendors including Dell, Fujitsu and Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Super Micro Computer had started offering ESXi as an option to some of their servers, said Ben Matheson, senior director of product management at VMware.

HP has unveiled its ProLiant BL2x220c G5 which contains the components for two separate servers in a single blade server unit, says vnunet.com.

The vendor said the device is designed for applications such as cloud computing and Web-based services, which require large amounts of computing muscle with relatively low energy consumption.

HP claims that the new servers are up to 60% more efficient than other blade server offerings, and up to three times denser than a comparable rack-mount server.

Ashton, Leigh & Wigan (ALW) has appointed CSA Waverley to deliver a major project to virtualise server and storage environments as part of a long-term vision to build an independent disaster recovery site, says eHealthInsider.

CSA Waverley says the system aims to reduce the organisation's hard server estate by 90%. ALW wanted a more agile server and storage environment to help exceed service delivery expectations of primary care trust staff and GPs.

The organisation has identified key aspirations for service delivery and business continuity at the heart of its ICT strategy and is looking to improve power consumption, manageability, serviceability and, ultimately, its carbon footprint.