VMworld 2009 opens up discussion to virtualisation partners

Last week’s VMworld event in Cannes highlighted a number of ‘hot topics’ for virtualisation solution providers.
Virtualisation continues to be touted as a “recession-proof technology”. Explains Marc Groetelaars, director EMEA North Partner Organisation at VMware: “It’s hard to escape the economic downturn at the moment and this has put the spotlight firmly on cost-savings, consolidation and optimisation. Resellers will be very keen to understand how best to help customers get the best return on their investment and the consultancy opportunities around these kind of engagements.”
Another hot topic at the show was that of virtual desktops: Customers are increasingly standardising on virtual infrastructure at the server level, and as they become comfortable with the architecture they are investigating how they can extend this approach to the delivery of desktops.
“The same cost and management efficiencies which virtualisation brings to server estates can be realised for desktops, and VDI is seeing significant momentum in the channel,” says Groetelaars. “We launched our vClient initiative at VMworld 2008 in Las Vegas, and already our technology eco-system is delivering hardware, software and storage technologies which allow channel partners to build out virtual desktop solutions. For the channel desktop virtualisation is not only an exciting technology movement in its own right, but offers an opportunity to re-engage with existing customers who perhaps have so far only looked as far as server virtualisation.”
Cloud computing was also on many people’s lips at the VMWorld. Building on VMware’s vCloud announcements, there are countless hosting and managed service providers now offering cloud platforms built on virtual infrastructure. “Virtualisation represents the best way of fulfilling the huge opportunity around cloud computing, giving customers the opportunity to extend their own IT operations seamlessly between their internal virtual datacentres and external virtual cloud platforms,” adds Groetelaars.
“Demand for virtualisation has exploded in the last eighteen months,” says Mike Wheeler, commercial director of Prolinx, a VMware Premier Partner. “The opportunity has gone beyond server consolidation, and customers are now looking for us to deliver solutions around business continuity, disaster recovery and desktop virtualisation. VMworld gives us an opportunity to find out about the latest technologies we can offer customers and the best ways of engaging with them in order to maximise our opportunities.”