New Content Online

Our second print issue is on the streets; those of you with subscriptions should have your copies by now. For others, I wanted to give you a rundown on some of my favorite stuff (we put all the print copy online).

If you're considering ESXi, VMware's embedded hypervisor, you'll definitely want to check out this myth-busting article by Andrew Kutz. He pops the hype bubble surrounding ESXi. He likes ESXi -- a lot, in fact -- but it's not exactly on a par with flight as a history-changing technology.

Our fantastic cover story package tackles the hardware side of the virtualization industry. I've mentioned before how virtualization is of equal importance to both hardware and software companies, making it unique in that sense. Editor-in-Chief Doug Barney took on the gargantuan task of writing about the major hardware vendors and their different approaches to virtualization. We have limited space in print, so we've put greatly expanded versions of his stories online. Check out his coverage of IBM, Sun, HP and Dell. It's simply the most exhaustive coverage of hardware OEMs and their virtual strategies you'll find in one place anywhere.

Those of you fairly new to virtualization will want to look over Peter Varhol's piece comparing three commercial server virtualization products -- VMware ESX, Citrix XenServer and Virtual Iron. Peter, as always, has interesting insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each, giving you a head-start in your search for the right product for your environment.

One story you absolutely don't want to miss is Greg Shield's column on disaster recovery strategies with virtualization. DR, in my opinion, is the single most important reason to implement virtualization. Greg, our 'Virtual Architect', shows you different levels of DR at different price points, letting you choose the solution that best fits your budget.

Also featured is a case study about how The George Washington University went to a full-scale VMware setup, and how the school is saving money by taking advantage of the technology. I love case studies, because they show you how this stuff works in the real world.

There's lots and lots more, as well. I'm awfully proud of this issue, and the folks who helped put it together (Doug, Tom and Wendy, this means you!) Please let me know what you think of our coverage -- and don't be afraid to tell me what we can do better.

Posted by Keith Ward on 06/09/2008 at 12:48 PM