Virtual Iron Software (
www.virtualiron.com), a provider of enterprise-class server virtualization and virtual infrastructure management software, today announced that it has joined the Intel Enabled Server Acceleration Alliance (ESAA). As a member of ESAA, Virtual Iron will certify its virtualization and management solution on Intel-based server platforms. The certification qualifies Virtual Iron
’s software in pre-defined, ready-to-use solution recipes available to Intel OEM channel partners worldwide that are members of ESAA.
In conjunction with its participation in ESAA, Virtual Iron has also signed an OEM agreement with Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: ARW), a global provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and computer products. As part of the agreement, Arrow North American Components, a business unit of Arrow Electronics, will offer an integrated, Intel-based “appliance” with Virtual Iron’s software pre-installed on its white box servers. These appliances will be based on Virtual Iron’s ESAA solution recipes.
Intel ESAA is a collaborative alliance that streamlines technical certification and validation of reliable, high-quality, server solutions to end user customers. The certification allows Intel OEM and channel partners to quickly deliver pre-configured, Intel-based solutions to their customers. Intel solution builders are assured that ESAA solutions consist of equipment and software from Intel-trusted technology providers, and end user customers are assured the entire solution is supported.
“Adding Virtual Iron as a new ESAA technology provider on Intel server building blocks represents a significant revenue opportunity for the channel and a way to expand the benefits of virtualization to more and more companies around the world,” said Dave Brown, general manager of Intel Channel Server Products. “This is a great addition to the growing number of validated Intel® Xeon® server-based software solutions Intel can offer its OEM partners through our ESAA program.”
“Arrow is very pleased to offer Virtual Iron’s enterprise-class virtualization and management solution to its OEM, VAR and reseller customers in North America,” said Rob Balson, director of business development, Arrow North American Components. “Arrow’s integrated appliance combines all the advanced capabilities of the Virtual Iron platform with the performance of servers featuring Intel Virtualization Technology (Intel VT). Our customers benefit with a certified solution that can speed their time to market, reduce their costs and increase their sales.”
Virtual Iron provides enterprise-class server virtualization and virtual infrastructure management capabilities for unmodified Windows and Linux at one-fifth the cost of comparable alternatives. Virtual Iron combines an open source hypervisor with advanced virtualization services and policy-based management. It takes full advantage of Intel’ hardware–assist (Intel VT) to deliver near native performance. As part of its certification made available through ESAA, Virtual Iron is pre-testing and completing certification of its products across Intel’s VT-based server platforms. Another value of the ESAA program is the development of simple-to-use documentation that articulates best-practices for deploying the software and hardware in the most efficient manner possible. This saves channel partners valuable time and money as they deliver customized solutions for their customers.
“With its participation in Intel ESAA, Virtual Iron continues to expand its distribution channels and drive mainstream adoption of server virtualization,” said Matthew Connon, vice president of business development and OEM relationships for Virtual Iron. “We’re offering end-users and channel partners a viable alternative for enterprise-class virtualization and management at one-fifth the cost of existing solutions. Intel ESAA makes these solutions more readily available to end-users and channel partners worldwide.”