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VMware Introduces vFabric 5, an Integrated Application Platform for Virtual and Cloud Environments

VMware Introduces vFabric 5, an Integrated Application Platform for Virtual and Cloud Environments

New Flexible Licensing, Deployment and Scaling Will Align Application Infrastructure with Cloud Computing Models

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 14, 2011 — VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, today announced VMware vFabric™ 5, an integrated application platform for virtual and cloud environments.  Combining the market-leading Spring development framework for Java and the latest generation of  vFabric application services, vFabric 5 will provide the core application platform for building, deploying and running modern applications.  vFabric 5 introduces for the first time a flexible packaging and licensing model that will allow enterprises to purchase application infrastructure software based on virtual machines, rather than physical hardware CPUs, and to pay only for the licenses in use. This model will eliminate the decades old need for organizations to purchase excess software in anticipation of peak loads, incurring significant costs and allowing software licenses to sit dormant outside of peak periods. The model in vFabric 5 more closely aligns to cloud computing models that directly link the cost of software with use, consumption and value delivered to the organization.

"Cloud computing is reshaping not just how IT resources are consumed by the business, but how those resources are purchased, licensed and delivered," said Tod Nielsen, President, Application Platform, VMware. "While application infrastructure technologies have advanced to meet the needs of today's enterprise, to date, the business models have remained rigid and out of date. With the introduction of VMware vFabric 5, VMware will inextricably link the cost of application infrastructure software to volume utilized by the organization and the value delivered back to the business, helping all organizations advance further toward a cloud environment."

Optimized for vSphere

vFabric 5 is engineered specifically to take advantage of the server architecture of VMware vSphere®, the most widely deployed virtualization platform.  The new Elastic Memory for Java (EM4J) capability that will be available in vFabric tc Server will allow for optimal management of memory across Java applications through the use of memory ballooning in the JVM. This capability, in combination with VMware vSphere will enable greater application server density for Java workloads on vFabric.

"The integration of memory management across the infrastructure and application platform layers is significant. By allowing for greater application server density customers will be able to gain greater efficiencies," said Maureen Fleming, program vice president of IDC's business process management and middleware research. "Another important area of efficiency critical to enterprises is cost efficiency. Modernizing licensing to a VM unit of price for virtualized and cloud-enabled application platforms aligns well with enterprise needs."

Best Platform to Run Spring Applications

Over 3 million developers use the Spring framework to build enterprise Java applications. With vFabric 5, users can gain unparalleled insight into the performance of their Spring applications with the new Spring Insight Operations.  Based on the Spring Insight technology that is used by Spring developers today in development environments, Spring Insight Operations will extend this capability into production environments, and in doing so enable operations and development teams to better collaborate.

vFabric 5 is Packaged for Simplicity

VMware vFabric 5 will introduce a new flexible licensing model designed to help customers directly tie software consumption to cost while also implementing an application infrastructure more closely linked with virtualization and cloud concepts. Licensed on a per-Virtual Machine (VM) basis, rather than a traditional CPU-based license, vFabric 5 will enable the enterprise to flexibly deploy different application platform components across different VMs in the datacenter. The new model enables customers to pay only for those licenses in use and to scale volumes up and down to meet peak use requirements, while only paying for their average usage. This model will eliminate the long-standing need to overprovision application infrastructure to accommodate peak workloads, minimizing both cost and dormant software.  Each licensed vFabric VM will be able to run any combination or all of the software within the vFabric 5 product family, eliminating licensing constraints that restrict the shift of traditional application infrastructure into virtual and cloud environments.

Inside vFabric 5

The core services in vFabric 5 will include:

  • vFabric tc Server with Elastic Memory for Java, an enterprise version of Apache Tomcat 7 optimized for Spring and VMware vSphere®.  Elastic Memory for Java improves memory management across Java applications in virtualized environments.
  • vFabric GemFire® is a memory-oriented data management technology that adds elasticity and performance to the data tier.
  • vFabric SQLFire™ introduces a standard SQL interface to the core GemFire technologies.
  • vFabric RabbitMQ™ is the leading open source implementation of the Advanced Message Queuing Protocol and enables a cloud ready approach to messaging
  • vFabric Web Server, an enterprise version of the Apache web server.
  • Spring Insight Operations™ allows unparalleled insight into the performance of Spring applications across development and production environments
  • vCenter Hyperic®enables proactive performance management of custom applications through transparent visibility into modern applications deployed across physical, virtual and cloud environments.

VMware vFabric 5 will be generally available in late summer 2011.  It will be offered in two versions:  VMware vFabric Standard at $1,200 per VM and VMware vFabric Advanced at $1,800 per VM

Additional Resources:

About VMware

VMware delivers virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions that enable IT organizations to energize businesses of all sizes. With the industry leading virtualization platform – VMware vSphere® – customers rely on VMware to reduce capital and operating expenses, improve agility, ensure business continuity, strengthen security and go green. With 2010 revenues of $2.9 billion, more than 250,000 customers and 25,000 partners, VMware is the leader in virtualization which consistently ranks as a top priority among CIOs. VMware is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the world and can be found online at www.vmware.com.

VMware, VMware vSphere, Hyperic, Spring Insight Operations, RabbitMQ, vFabric SQLFire and Gemfire are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding the availability of vFabric 5 and its features and expected benefits for users.  These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (ii) delays or reductions in consumer or information technology spending; (iii) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures, industry consolidation, entry of new competitors into the virtualization market, and new product and marketing initiatives by our competitors; (iv) our customers' ability to develop, and to transition to, new products and computing strategies such as cloud computing; (v) the uncertainty of customer acceptance of emerging technology; (vi) rapid technological and market changes in virtualization software and platforms for cloud and desktop computing; (vii) changes to product development timelines; (viii) VMware's ability to protect its proprietary technology; and (ix) VMware's ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees.. These forward looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in condition, significance, value and effect as well as other risks detailed in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that we may file from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. VMware assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.

Contacts:
Charlie Purdom
VMware PR
415.957.3512
cpurdom@vmware.com
 
Christina Dalit
The OutCast Agency for VMware
646.737.9115
cdalit@theoutcastagency.com