VMware, Intel in cahoots

Johannesburg, 04 Sept 2009

VMware has signed an agreement with Intel to expand the reach of VMware vSphere 4 to small and medium enterprise (SME) customers.

According to VMware, the agreement will see Intel distribute VMware vSphere 4 to its reseller channel in the hope of accelerating the adoption of the virtualisation platform within the SME space.

This enhanced relationship, says VMware, expands the Intel Enabled Server Acceleration Alliance certification agreement previously signed by the companies.

Carl Eschenbach, executive vice-president of worldwide field operations at VMware, says, “Combining VMware vSphere 4 with Intel server products through Intel's channel will help reseller and system integrator partners deliver virtualisation solutions faster and at a lower cost, while extending the critical business benefits of virtualisation to an even larger number of customers.”

GM of Intel's Enterprise Platforms and Services Division, Lisa Graff, notes, “This agreement will enable the channel to meet the growing demand by SMEs for the improved efficiency, greater control and increased flexibility that virtualisation offers.”

According to VMware, the agreement supports Intel's strategy to proliferate virtualisation technology on the recently announced Intel Xeon Processor 5500 series into SME markets. In addition, says the company, it provides resellers with low-cost high availability solutions, including the three new VMware vSphere 4 product editions for SMEs that enable always-on IT.

A blind market virtualisation study of 416 IT professionals, entitled 'Management Insight Technologies in North America and Europe', has shown VMware is the preferred brand among 64% of the SMEs surveyed.