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Introducing VMware® vSphere™ 4

VMware vSphere 4 is the industry's first cloud operating system, transforming datacenters into dramatically simplified environments to enable the next generation of flexible, reliable IT services. VMware vSphere components include:

• VMware ESX™ and VMware ESXi
• VMware vCenter™ Server Agent, which allows central management using VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vStorage Virtual Availability Machine File System (VMFS), VMware Virtual SMP, VMware vCenter™ Update Manager, VMware VMotion™, VMware Storage VMotion, VMware High Availability (HA), VMware Distributed Resource Schedule (DRS) with VMware Distributed Power Management (DPM), VMware vStorage Thin Provisioning, VMware Data Recovery, VMware vShield Zones, VMware Fault Tolerance, VMware Host Profiles, VMware vNetwork Distributed Switch, VMware Hot Add, VMware vStorage APIs / VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB)Provide individual isolated virtual desktops to end users that look and feel like their normal desktop.

VMware vCenter Server is also a critical component of vSphere deployments, enabling central management and providing access to many of the features of vSphere. VMware vCenter Server is purchased separately.

What's New in VMware vSphere

vSphere 4 is the next generation of VMware's industry leading virtualization platform. New features in vSphere include:

• VMware Data Recovery - provides simple, cost effective, agentless backup and recovery for virtual machines.
• VMware Fault Tolerance - provides continuous availability, without any data loss or downtime, to any application, in the event of hardware failures.
• VMware Hot Add - enables CPU and memory to be added to virtual machines when needed without disruption or downtime.
• VMware Host Profiles (available through VMware vCenter Server) - standardizes and automates configuration of vSphere hosts by capturing a reference host configuration and ensuring compliance for resource, networking, storage and security settings.
• VMware vStorage Thin Provisioning - provides dynamic allocation of storage capacity, allowing storage purchases to be deferred until they are really required, reducing storage spending by up to 50 percent.
• VMware vNetwork Distributed Switch - simplifies and enhances the provisioning, administration and control of virtual machine networking in vSphere environments. It also enables third-party distributed virtual switches such as the Cisco Nexus 1000v to be used in vSphere environments, providing network administrators with familiar interfaces to control quality of service at the virtual machine level.
• VMware vShield Zones - simplifies application security by enforcing corporate security policies at the application level in a shared environment, while still maintaining trust and network segmentation of users and sensitive data.

VMware vSphere Editions

Editions are available for small businesses as well as for larger organizations and enterprises. For organizations requiring smaller deployments, there are two editions available: vSphere Essentials and vSphere Essentials Plus. For larger and enterprise deployments, four versions of vSphere are available: vSphere Standard, vSphere Advanced, vSphere Enterprise, and vSphere Enterprise Plus.

Customers may select from these versions depending on their specific requirements for capabilities for server consolidation, availability, automated resource management, and simplified operations.

vSphere Standard

vSphere Standard provides an entry-level solution for basic consolidation of applications to slash hardware costs while accelerating application deployment. vSphere Standard includes:

• VMware ESXi and VMware ESX (deployment-time choice)
• VMware vStorage VMFS
• Four-way virtual SMP
• VMware vCenter Server Agent
• VMware vStorage APIs / VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB)
• VMware vCenter Update Manager
• VMware HA
• VMware vStorage Thin Provisioning

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vSphere Advanced

vSphere Advanced provides a strategic consolidation solution that protects all applications against planned and unplanned downtime to provide superior application availability. vSphere Advanced includes:

• VMware ESXi and VMware ESX (deployment-time choice)
• VMware vStorage VMFS
• Four-way virtual SMP
• VMware vCenter Server Agent
• VMware vStorage APIs / VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB)
• VMware vCenter Update Manager
• VMware High Availability (HA)
• VMware vStorage Thin Provisioning
• VMware VMotion
• VMware Hot Add
• VMware Fault Tolerance
• VMware Data Recovery
• VMware vShield Zones

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vSphere Enterprise

vSphere Enterprise provides key features for minimizing downtime, protecting data and automating resource management. vSphere Enterprise includes:

• VMware ESXi and VMware ESX (deployment-time choice)
• VMware vStorage VMFS
• Four-way virtual SMP
• VMware vCenter Server Agent
• VMware vStorage APIs / VCB
• VMware vCenter Update Manager
• VMware HA
• VMware vStorage Thin Provisioning
• VMware VMotion
• VMware Hot Add
• VMware Fault Tolerance
• VMware Data Recovery
• VMware vShield Zones
• VMware Storage VMotion
• VMware DRS
• VMware DPM

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vSphere Enterprise Plus

vSphere Enterprise Plus includes the full range of vSphere features for transforming datacenters into dramatically simplified cloud computing environments providing the next generation of flexible, reliable IT services. vSphere Enterprise Plus includes:

• VMware ESXi and VMware ESX (deployment-time choice)
• VMware vStorage VMFS
• Eight-way virtual SMP
• VMware vCenter Server Agent
• VMware vStorage APIs / VCB
• VMware vCenter Update Manager
• VMware HA
• VMware vStorage Thin Provisioning
• VMware VMotion
• VMware Hot Add
• VMware Fault Tolerance
• VMware Data Recovery
• VMware vShield Zones
• VMware Storage VMotion
• VMware DRS
• VMware DPM
• VMware vNetwork Distributed Switch
• VMware Host Profiles

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VMware vSphere Editions for Small Business

vSphere Essentials and vSphere Essentials Plus are both targeted to smaller deployments. They provide all-in-one license solutions and include licenses for three physical servers (up to two processors each) and a central management server. Both editions are self-contained solutions and may not be decoupled or combined with other vSphere editions.

vSphere Essentials

vSphere Essentials provides an all-in-one solution for small offices to virtualize three physical servers for consolidating and managing applications to reduce hardware and operating costs with a low up-front investment. vSphere Essentials includes:

• VMware ESXi and VMware ESX (deployment-time choice)
• VMware vStorage VMFS
• Four-way virtual SMP
• VMware vCenter Server Agent
• VMware vStorage APIs / VCB
• VMware vCenter Update Manager
• VMware vCenter Server for Essentials

vSphere Essentials Plus

vSphere Essentials Plus provides an all-in-one solution for small offices to virtualize three physical servers to reduce hardware costs while ensuring superior application availability and data protection. vSphere Essentials Plus includes:

• VMware ESXi and VMware ESX (deployment-time choice)
• VMware vStorage VMFS
• Four-way Virtual SMP
• VMware vCenter Server Agent
• VMware vStorage APIs / VMware Consolidated Backup (VCB)
• VMware vCenter Update Manager
• VMware HA
• VMware Data Recovery
• VMware vCenter Server for Essentials

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VMware vSphere Acceleration Kits

VMware provides Acceleration Kits to simplify the initial purchase and deployment of vSphere and VMware vCenter Server. Each Acceleration Kit consists of a number of licenses for vSphere, along with a license for one instance of a VMware vCenter Server.

There are also Acceleration Kits to assist in upgrading from previous versions of VMware virtual infrastructure to various editions of vSphere 4.

Choose the vSphere Acceleration option to serve your needs:

Advanced for 6 Processors Acceleration Kit

Consolidation and availability solution bundle with central management at significant savings. Includes:

• vSphere Advanced for 6 processors
• 1 vCenter Server Foundation

Advanced with Training Acceleration Kit

Consolidation and availability solution bundle with central management and training. Includes:

• vSphere Advanced for 6 processors
• 1 vCenter Server Foundation
• 30 PSO credits

Enterprise for 6 Processors Acceleration Kit

Enterprise cloud services solution bundle with central management at significant savings for 6 processors. Includes:

• vSphere Enterprise for 6 processors
• 1 vCenter Server Standard

Enterprise for 8 Processors Acceleration Kit

Enterprise cloud services solution bundle with central management at significant savings for 8 processors. Includes:

• vSphere Enterprise for 8 processors
• 1 vCenter Server Standard

VMware vCenter Server
Virtual Infrastructure Management Software for the Responsive Enterprise

VMware vCenter Server (previously known as VMware VirtualCenter Server) provides a scalable and extensible platform that forms the foundation for virtualization management. VMware vCenter Server, formerly VMware VirtualCenter, centrally manages VMware vSphere environments allowing IT administrators dramatically improved control over the virtual environment compared to other management platforms. VMware vCenter Server:

• Provides centralized control and visibility at every level of virtual infrastructure
• Unlocks the power of vSphere through proactive management
• Is a scalable and extensible management platform with a broad partner ecosystem

VMware vCenter Server is the central management tool for configuring, provisioning and managing distributed virtual IT environments. Purchased separately, it is required for managing vSphere hosts and enabling many of the features. VMware vCenter Server is licensed per instance, and environments comprising of ESX hosts that form one logical datacenter typically require only one instance of VMware vCenter Server. VMware vCenter Server is available in the following editions:

• VMware vCenter Server for Essentials: Integrated into the vSphere Essentials and Essentials Plus editions for small office deployments.
• VMware vCenter Server Foundation: Provides powerful management tools for smaller environments (up to three vSphere hosts) looking to rapidly provision, monitor and control virtual machines.
• VMware vCenter Server Standard: Provides large scale management of vSphere deployments for rapid provisioning, monitoring, orchestration and control of virtual machines

Each of the three vCenter editions -- VMware vCenter Server Foundation, VMware vCenter Server Standard and VMware vCenter Server for Essentials -- include the following key components:

• A management server, the universal hub for provisioning, monitoring and configuring virtualized environments.
• A database server that stores persistent configuration data and performance information.
• A search engine that allows administrators to search the entire object inventory of multiple VMware vCenter Servers from one place.
• The vSphere Client that provides administrators with a feature-rich console for accessing one or more VMware vCenter Servers simultaneously.
• The VMware vCenter Web Access portal that provides remote access from any system.
• VMware vCenter APIs and a .NET Extension that allow integration between VMware vCenter Server and other tools, and support customized plug-ins to the vSphere Client.

In addition to these components, VMware vCenter Server Standard includes the following additional features:

• VMware vCenter Orchestrator, an IT process automation engine that gives administrators the tools they need to better automate the environment.
• VMware vCenter Server Linked Mode that enables a common inventory view across multiple instances of VMware vCenter Server.

VMware vCenter Lab Manager
Accelerate Software Development and Testing with Virtual Lab Automation

Provision complex development and test environments in seconds, rather than days, with VMware vCenter Lab Manager. You'll be able to shave man-months off software development cycles through rapid, automated setup and teardown of even the most complex multi-machine environments. On-demand access to a shared library of complex system environments will give your developers and testers instant use of the resources they need, while leaving IT in administrative control. You'll also save money by pooling servers, networking, storage and other resources that can be shared across development and test teams.

• Rapidly Set Up Multiple Test and Development Environments
  Automate the setup, capture, storage and sharing of multi-machine software configurations with VMware vCenter Lab Manager. Development and test teams can access them on-demand through a self-service portal. With its shared library and shared pool of virtualized servers, VMware vCenter Lab Manager lets you efficiently move and share multi-machine configurations across software development and test teams and facilities.
  
• Provision any Environment with a Single Click of the Mouse
  With the single click of your mouse, you can provision new machines nearly instantly with VMware vCenter Lab Manager. Eliminate the painstaking multi-hour process of gathering machines, installing operating systems, installing and configuring applications and establishing inter-machine connections. Now software developers and QA engineers can fulfill their own provisioning needs, leaving IT in control of user management, storage quotas and server deployment policies—achieving the best of both worlds.
  
• Reduce Test Lab Capital and Operating Costs
  Allocate resources on an as-needed basis instead of maintaining multiple static systems that are only used sporadically. VMware vCenter Lab Manager lets you pool and share resources between development and test teams for maximum utilization—and increased cost savings.
  
• Capture and Reproduce Software Defects—Every Time
  Quickly reproduce software defects and resolve them earlier in the software lifecycle—and ensure higher quality software and systems. VMware vCenter Lab Manager enables “closed loop” defect reporting and resolution through its unique ability to “snapshot” complex multi-machine configurations in an error state, capture them to the library, and make them available for sharing—and troubleshooting—across development and test teams.
  
• Ensure Secure, Flexible Outsourcing
  Give your outsourced partners secure, remote access to your software lab – and maintain your flexibility to rapidly add, remove or replace outsourced resources as your needs change. Your intellectual property remains securely in vCenter Lab Manager’s environment, and you eliminate time-consuming and costly replication of equipment in your partner’s labs.

VMware Workstation 6
Powerful Virtual Machine Software for Technical Professional

VMware Workstation 6 is the gold-standard virtualization software for desktop and laptop computers, with the richest feature set and broadest platform support available. VMware Workstation enables users to create and host multiple virtual machines on a single desktop, expanding the power of desktop systems for IT administrators; software development and test engineers; technical sales, training and support staff; and PC enthusiasts. VMware Workstation 6 is packed with new features including support for Windows Vista, multiple monitors and high-speed USB 2.0 devices, as well as the ability to create portable, secure virtual machines.

What's in version 6:

• Support for Windows Vista
  Use Windows Vista as guest and host operating system
• Multiple monitor display
  You can configure a VM to span multiple monitors, or multiple VMs to each display on separate monitors
• Support for USB 2.0 devices
  You can now use peripherals that require high-speed performance in your VMs, such as iPods and fast storage devices
• ACE authoring capabilities*
  You now have the ability to create and run digital rights enabled virtual machines (called ACEs), including Pocket ACEs for easy, secure transport of your VMs on a thumbdrive
• Headless mode
  You can run VMs in the background without the Workstation UI
• Remote Access
  Remotely access the console of a VM without requiring installation of anything (e.g., VNC or RDP) in the guest operating system
• VMware Converter Included
  Effortlessly create a new VM by pointing to a PC hard drive
• Integrated Virtual Debugger
  Workstation integrates with Visual Studio and Eclipse so you can deploy, run, and debug programs in a VM directly from your preferred IDE

VMware ACE
The Assured Computing Environment for the Enterprise

VMware ACE is an enterprise solution for IT desktop managers who want to rapidly provision standardized and secure PC environments throughout the extended enterprise. VMware ACE installs easily, improving the manageability, security and cost-effectiveness of any industry standard PC.

VMware ACE enables IT desktop managers to apply enterprise IT policies to a virtual machine containing an operating system, enterprise applications, and data to create an isolated PC environment known as an "assured computing environment". VMware assured computing environments are self-policing, protect enterprise data, and enable safe access to enterprise resources.

How is VMware ACE used in enterprise?

• Provision enterprise-standard PC environments on unmanaged remote PCs.
• Provision time-limited, locked-down PC environments on unmanaged guest PCs.
• Encrypt and protect sensitive enterprise and personally identifiable information on mobile PCs.
• Provision standardized, hardware-independent PC environments on any enterprise PC.

VMware View (formerly VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure -- VDI)
Manage and Control Desktops from a Central Location

Deliver rich, personalized virtual desktops to any device with all the benefits of centralized enterprise desktop management. The VMware View portfolio of products lets IT run virtual desktops in the datacenter while giving end users a single view of all their applications and data in a familiar, personalized environment on any device at any location. Get greater flexibility, reliability, efficiency and security managing desktops and applications from the datacenter.

• Lower costs by centralizing management, administration and resources
• Increase security by moving data from desktop devices into the datacenter
• Improve business agility with faster provisioning and user flexibility with universal access