Chaos rules

Last few days have been mad, I am heads down on the report and to be honest getting stuck on some of the more complex models, but drawing pictures helps.

Yesterday was a write off, I had the dentist, doctors for the kids jabs, British Gas doing an inspection, school. And the day was trashed because the nurse got up late, was behind with her work. That small thing made my whole day one of catch-up, and re-assign appointments. The Journalist were OK, and I made the vendor briefing, but I do not want another day like that.

Hyper-v worth the Hype?


I thought the 2nd August was 180 days for when Hyper-v will be released, but I am picking up noises that suggest it is next month, but I may be wrong on that. Hyper-v is a basic hypervisor, and as such lacks some of the more advanced features that Vmware, Citrix (XENserver), VirtualIron, etc have. I believe that the link up with Citrix demonstrates that Microsoft is going after the SMB sector with Hyper-v and leaving XenServer to complete in the enterprise market with VMware, while it works on making Hyper-v as technically capable as its rivals that is.

Vmware with it price bundles is attempting to move into the SMB space, however, what Vmware provides in terms of capability it lacks is a clear understanding of the market, and how to deliver to the SMB sector. Smaller vendors such as VirtualIron and Parallels have created a good reputation in certain SMB markets, but they lack the funding to raise virtualisation profile. Therefore, I believe that as Microsoft winds up its PR message, this can be used by the smaller vendors to ride on the coat-tails and enjoy more success.

Windows server 2008, is a very good product and I think this will become more widely used as the business case evidence is released to support Microsoft's claims of reduced management time and hence cost savings. As for Vista, well 2008 and Vista desktop is an argument from a support perspective, but with talk of Microsoft seven (vista replacement) due in 2009 time frame I think many may hold fire (if they can), which will mean organisations if their refresh is due in 2009, 2010 will have a dilemma use Vista or stay on XP. Evidence is mixed on this, but I believe Vista will more widely adopted in conjunction with 2008, but not in every case.

BHX and a coffee, with the internet on the go

Off to visit Citrix today in Germany, so early start to the airport, this is the bit I like the best, short travel to meet vendors with an interesting story to tell.

Windows Server 2008 points the way to Microsoft’s future approach

Windows Server 2008 is a surprisingly diverse product, with some very small new enhancements that could be easily overlooked, and some large high profile additions that Microsoft is certainly not allowing anybody, including the media, to overlook. However, what is the balanced view on Windows Server 2008.
Firstly, it will have by 2 August an inbuilt Hypervisor – a Hypervisor enables the virtualisation of the commodity server hardware so that it can support the execution of multiple Virtual Machines. Hyper-V, as it is known, is not the most technically advanced Hypervisor on the market, that award goes to Vmware, but it is a very good basic Hypervisor with a couple of interesting features: The ability to execute a Xen based Virtual Machine, and the concept of synthetic device drivers – the synthetic device drivers are the new high performance device drivers that are available with Hyper-V, rather than emulating an existing hardware device Microsoft exposes a new hardware device that has been designed for optimal performance in a virtualised environment.
One of the smaller and easier to overlook features of Windows Server 2008 is the ability to have a finer grained password policy, which may sound dull, but consider the IT department that is supporting ‘C’-level executives who do not necessarily have the time, or inclination, to maintain a complex alphanumeric 10 character password that is forced to be changed every 30 days. This finer control allows for these users to have different rules to say a database administrator, which enables IT to ensure that password policies are designed appropriately for the role/purpose of the account.
The other big feature of Windows Server 2008 is the introduction of server core, a stripped down operating system. This according to Microsoft requires up to 40% less patches to be applied, and occupies significantly less disk space than for the full Windows Server 2008. I consider this to be a major advancement, which will enable organisations to install server core on systems such file and print servers, reducing the maintenance required, and hence the operational cost.
Other features that are worthy of a mention at this stage include; role-based installation of features, simplified clustering using the wizard concept, read-only domain controllers, modified boot process that brings the firewall up earlier and so reduces the window of vulnerability, and the use of Network Access Protection (NAP) so a health policy can be set for anything connected to the network.
I consider that unlike its code base cousin, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 actually provides the system administrators with the capabilities needed to make their operational lives easier. I are not predicting a massive up-take for Windows Server 2008 this year, but I believe that as organisations plan to refresh its technology Windows Server 2008 will be selected because it has been designed to make management simpler, and hence reduce operational costs.

Home Home in the office

Back home today, working on the out-line for the sections in the report, good job I have done some of it: as I have four calls with PR agencies and vendors today, so half the day lost.

The good thing is that I am in charge of my own work load, so if it is a hot and sunny day, I may well be in the garden, and catch-up when it is wet and windy (we are talking about a British summer here).

Tripwire, cool and useful – not something you hear everyday

In the world of server virtualisation one of the biggest challenges is the problem of ensuring all the virtual machines are operating according to a strict set of policies. Tripwire have developed, in conjunction with VMware, a Hyper-V solution will be available shortly, a free downloadable tool that will allow organisation’s to set policies and to test how the current environment conform to them.

I am a believer in the fact that one signal of a maturing market is when the eco-system includes free-ware, and many tools to help solve problems that only become apparent when technologies are used in live production situations. Virtualisation is rapidly moving in this direction, although it still has some way to go before you could class it as a mature technology.

Virtualisation prices soften as competition grows

The day after we have been in the office and you are back to working from home is a big contrast, you go from seeing lots of other people, to working on your own. Now do not get me wrong, working from home is a big plus and it is more environmentally friendly, as before I had up to a 3 hour daily commute, now I go to Hull once a fortnight, and every where else is by train, plane, or a teleconference so no travel involved. Today was going to be a day working on a consultancy project, but that fell through, so I will be reviewing a technology audit.

Vmware – Feeling the heat from Microsoft

As I predicted last year, and have been saying at speaking events for the pat 12 months, this year (2008) will see prices soften in the virtualisation space, especially from Vmware. Because the Hyper-V imminent launch (2nd August is latest date) will see the Microsoft marketing band-wagon push this technology to the SMB sector, which have been put off server virtualisation by the up-front cost of implementing Vmware, or the uncertainty of using open source. However, Citrix acquisition of XenSource, Oracle’s OVM (based on Xen) and Microsoft have changed the game. Vmware is now trying to build its reputation with the SMBs as a ready to use, cost effective solution to deploying added-value from server virtualisation.
Watch this space, as over the next 12 months Vmware will be creating a new position for its self as it differentiates its self from Microsoft in the virtualisation wars of 2009