VMTN Blog

A new Expert Session is up over at VMworld.com. The expert sessions are a two-week online event, where a featured speaker puts up a pre-recorded presentation and then takes questions from the online audience. You can think of it like a slow-motion webinar.

From March 17-28, rPath CEO Billy Marshall will be with us to talk about "Virtualization 2.2: Software Applications as Virtual Appliances."

Learn why data center customers should be demanding that software providers deliver applications as virtual appliances to run in their VMware virtualized environments. Virtual appliances simplify installation and configuration, increase reliability and reduce the need for support. Like any virtual machine, virtual appliances are compatible with all standard x86 computers, run in isolation, encapsulate the complete required computing environment, and run independently of underlying hardware. Maintainable virtual appliances created with rPath technology also eliminate manual updates and patches by the user and are optimized for your virtualized servers.

I think the biggest issue with deployment of all appliances -- physical or virtual -- is if you trust your vendor to update this black box with the latest bug and security fixes. A solution provider like rPath provides real value to ISVs for this reason -- aside from the form-factor optimization of having "Just Enough OS" inside the virtual appliance.

Previous expert sessions include discussions around chargeback and green data centers. Free registration at VMworld.com is required and also gives you access to some VMworld session materials. Go on over and take a look.