VMworld 2008: Things change, but they also stay the same

With VMworld 2008 just around the corner, I reviewed sister site SearchServerVirtualization.com’s VMworld 2007 coverage to see what’s changed over the past year.

Of the various 2007 announcements, the most notable were the following:

• the introduction of VMware ESX 3i
• the introduction of what VMware’s chief scientist called “VMotion for disks”
• Microsoft’s announcement that Viridian, now called Hyper-V, would ship in Q1 of 2008
• desktop virtualization still not mainstream
• the release by XenSource (now Citrix Systems) of XenExpress, an embedded hypervisor
• VMware users’ desire for lower prices.

Since then, a few things have changed. VMware ESX 3i is now known as ESXi and is now free. “VMotion for disks” has been re-named Storage VMotion and has become a perhaps invaluable tool for many VMware administrators. Viridian —which is now named Hyper-V — is priced at $28 and shipped much later date than expected. And although VMware stock had a successful IPO before VMworld 2007 with its stock price rising 76% on the first day of trading, since then it crashed, along with the rest of the market. Purchased by Citrix, XenSource has become XenServer, whose fate has been hotly debated of late. And let’s not forget that Diane Greene, longtime VMware CEO and founder, has now been replaced by Paul Maritz.

Despite all these changes, a few things have remained the same: Desktop virtualization is still met with a degree of trepidation, and VMware users and consultants still agree that VMware needs to reduce its pricing.

So what kind of news should we expect from VMworld 2008? Will Paul Maritz step into the public eye, or will he remain a more behind-the-scenes figure? Will VMware finally reduce ESX pricing? Will there be a wildcard add-on product that later becomes invaluable such as “VMotion for disks”? It’s all up for debate. But one thing’s for certain: the VMworld swag is top of the line and plentiful, so be sure to pack an extra bag to carry your VMworld 2008 trinkets home.

We hope to see you at VMworld; SearchVMware and SearchServerVirtualization.com staff will be in Las Vegas to report on the show. So stop by our editorial booth, and say hello!