Vyatta is a free router software running on Debian-Linux. A couple of days ago Vyatte released it's version 2 (Vyatte Community Edition).

Vyatte routers provide the same functionality as CISCO routers except:

- it run's on any standard hardware
- the router software (Vyatta) is free

The latest version suppports T1/E1, T3 interfaces from Sangoma (same cards we can use in phoneCUBE)

Vyatta has changed the networking world by developing the first commercially supported, open-source router & firewall solution. Vyatta combines the features, performance and reliability of an enterprise router & firewall with the cost savings, flexibility and security of open source.

Introduce new levels of economics, choice, and control into our client's network:

Economics: Save 50% or more over proprietary products! Leverage industry standard x86 servers and off-the-shelf components.

Choice: Vyatta is available as ready-to-use software and integrated software/hardware appliances. You choose which fits your need.

Control: Source code availability & community influence allow for faster feature integration and the freedom to build your own custom solutions.

Pls. let me know your thoughts about it. Vyatta looks like a very interesting alternative to CISCO... :-)

Download: Datasheet

Website: www.vyatta.com

I'm sure you all read about virtualization of server infrastructure. Today most of our enterprise clients operating server-farms with many servers and the number is increasing every year. On a first look that looks great for us because we can sell more HW, but our clients are facing problems like:

- Cost are going-up (maintenance, salaries, utilities....)
- Isolated system
- Every new application demands and new server
- High-Availability is often neglected because of cost (to many server)
- and so on

This are some of the reasons why enterprise start to look for alternative solutions to fight this insane server mushrooming!

Virtualization is used by many organizations in the USA and Europe, here in Asia client's are still a little bit concerned to run production servers on a virtualized platform. The cost of tools like VMware (Virtualization solution) is also holding them back....

What means Virtualiziation for MCSB?

In the very near future (2 - 5 years) virtualization will be the standard of server deployments. I don't think that be can build a super large business out of it, but we most definitively must be able to understand, and implement it for our own products.
Virtualization is not a solution it's a underlying platform for server OS and applications like phoneCUBE, opsCONTROL etc...

There are a couple of SI-Companies in Malaysia "partnering" with VMWare already. I think we should not jump into the same boat. MCSB should offer a virtualization solution which is:

- stable
- based on open source framework
- very affordable

This could be the product:

Website: http://www.xensource.com

About XenSource

XenSource plays the dual role of leading the open source Xen™ community, while simultaneously selling value-added enterprise solutions based on Xen technology. Founded and run by the original Xen development team, XenSource is committed to nurturing and growing the Xen community, and dedicates a significant amount of its own engineering resources to developing open source technology to maintain the Xen hypervisor's position as the world’s fastest and most secure hypervisor.

In addition to its open source efforts, XenSource develops, markets, and sells value-added solutions and services based on the Xen hypervisor, including enterprise grade virtualization infrastructure solutions. These solutions allow enterprises to realize the TCO savings that result from increased server utilization, server consolidation, and reduced complexity in the data center.

XenSource is backed by leading venture capital firms, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Sevin Rosen Funds, Accel Partners, and New Enterprise Associates. XenSource is based in Palo Alto, California.

What can be done with XenSource?

- Windows and Linux Platform consolidation
- Virtual Data Center
- Testing and Development infrastructure
- Disaster-Recovery

Pricing
Because XenSource is based on the opensource Xen the pricing model is very attractive for the client. Here some samples:

- 2 CPU, 4 GB Memory and 4 virtual machines
FREE !

- 4 CPU, 8 GB Memory and 8 virtual machines
USD 99.00 per year

- unlimited CPU, unlimited Memory, unlimited virtual machines
USD 500.00 per year / per dual socket.

What kind of business issues should we address with Xen? There are many, but i think a very promising one is Disaster-Recovery.

Our clients invest big bucks on productive environments, but they currently have to compromise on the DR infrastructure.

If we are able to offer a attractive virtualized DR solutions some of our clients (or future clients) will consider a virtualized Xen environment.

Again, yes to virtualization but with a different solution than the rest of the regional SI's...

We will do some intensive testing in KL during the next weeks.

I will keep you posted on the progress.

Please feel free to comment, contribute and criticize ! Smile

Cheers
Daniel