From Virtualization.Info:

VMware finally made the move that everybody predicted and was awaited for a long time: releasing its hypervisor for free.

During the Q2 2008 earnings call the company announced that before the end of July it will release the Update 2 for VMware Infrastructure 3.5 and that will give away the lightweight edition of the product, ESX 3i, for free.

The new 3i edition was introduced at the end of the last year.

It doesn’t change the characteristics of the hypervisor but fundamentally chances a part of its architecture, dropping the Console Operating System (COS) and reducing the overall system footprint to 32Mb.

The change allowed several OEMs to preload this edition of the hypervisor into their servers, through internal USB keys, Solid-State Drives (SSD) or hidden partition in the primary hard drives.

virtualization.info has learned some additional details about the move:

• VI 3.5 and ESX 3i will continue to share a the large majority of the code base (so there will be an ESX 3i Update 2). There will be no delays on the release of both products.


• ESX 3i will continue to have the same features that has today, without additional limitations


• ESX 3i will continue to have the same APIs, allowing anybody to develop free or commercial alternatives to VirtualCenter (despite some features like VMotion cannot be replicated because of the VMware SDK limitations).


• VMware will not require the purchase of any software & support subscription to access the product. Customer will be able to get the code without any restriction.


• The customers that purchased the current version of ESX 3i directly from the VMware online store will be eligible for a rebate.


• The ESX version that includes the Console Operating System (COS) will not be faded out (at least in the short timeframe). Most VMware customers are currently using that version and the company will support them for a long time.


• VMware Server will not be faded out (as many could suppose). The company still sees the product as a valuable proposition for a different kind of audience.

You can read the full post here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

In what it seems to be the Top 10 things you must read about VMware series, Eric Siebert wrote the top 10 about VMware Networking:

1-VI3 Networking – Concepts and Components: A VMworld 2007 presentation (you will need to sign-in) describing the VI3 network architecture and how to properly configure it.

2-VI3 Networking - Advanced Configurations and Troubleshooting: A VMworld 2007 presentation (you will need to sign-in) on advanced virtual networking topics with tips for troubleshooting problems.

3-VMware ESX Server 3 802.1Q VLAN Solutions: Provides concepts and configuration tips for using 802.1Q VLAN tagging with your vSwitch configurations.

4-Integrating Virtual Machines into the Cisco Data Center Architecture: A white paper written by Cisco on ESX server networking architecture and integration with Cisco network devices.

5-Networking Performance in VMware ESX Server 3.5: A white paper from VMware comparing virtual to physical networking performance.

6-Network Throughput in a Virtual Infrastructure: A white paper from VMware that outlines the considerations that affect network throughput.

7-ESX3 Networking Internals: A VMware TSX 2007 presentation on the internals of how ESX vSwitches function.

8-High Performance ESX Networking: A VMware TSX 2007 presentation on ESX network design considerations.

9-How To Configure Networking from the Service Console Command Line: A VMware KB article on setting up networking via the CLI.

10-Server Virtualization – Network Implications and Best Practices: A presentation from Cisco on network virtualization architecture and design considerations for Cisco networks to support virtual environments.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

"I've just uploaded version 1.2

There are over a dozen corrections, updates, and a few small additions. Many thanks to everyone who has emailed me since the last release, particularly Simon Price and Peter Vroomen."

You can download the vmreference card here.

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

What is new?

1. VMware High Availability (HA): VirtualCenter 2.5 Update 1 extends support for VMware High Availability (HA) to ESX Server 3i hosts.

2. Hardware Enablement: 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Jumbo Frames, etc.

3. Support for Microsoft Cluster Service (MSCS): VMware ESX Server 3.5 Update 1 supports Microsoft Cluster Service.

More release notes here

Download the products here

Posted by Gabriel Maciel

Forbes Guthrie has released a reference card for the VMware 3 / 3.5 environment. It covers the ESX Install, 3i, Storage, Networking, MSCS Clustering, Resources, Backups, ESX Host, VMs, Web Access, Virtual Center and License Server.

You can can find your copy here.

Posted By Gabriel Maciel