Sun's Evolving VDI Strategy
Sun has offered an early concept of VDI since 1999 with the
Sun Ray Software and Sun Ray devices. Over the years the solution has evolved to support other operating systems beyond Solaris as well as roll in other devices or connections. Today's offering with Sun VDI Software
2.0 uses VMware's ESX as the hypervisor for guests on Sun Ray devices. But what have they been working on lately?
Sun xVM VDI 3.0 is now in private beta. This release represents the first end-to-end solution from device to hypervisor for VDI solution-seekers. And Sun xVM VDI 3.0 also supports the use of the Sun 7000 series unified storage (Amber Road), so not only do we have a VDI solution from one vendor from device, to broker, to hypervisor, but Sun is making the backend storage available as well. Keeping score here, that is a four-point solution.
For the hypervisor, Sun xVM VDI 3.0 can run on xVM VirtualBox or VMware ESX, so there is some flexibility for organizations that have already deployed the 2.0 release. The VirtualBox-based hypervisor solutions have some additional management and performance options available with the ZFS storage available from the Amber Road storage systems.
Could this release be a game-changer for VDI? It just might. The truth is, Sun makes good software. They have a strong VDI solution, and these are positive steps forward.
Are you in the Early Access program for Sun xVM VDI 3.0? I'm very interested to your take on the new features.
E-mail me with your comments on the product.
Posted by Rick Vanover on 02/05/2009 at 12:47 PM