VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW), the global leader in virtualization solutions from the desktop to the datacenter, today announced it has been named one of the Top 20 Companies to Watch in 2009 by Linux Magazine. The prestigious list of companies features vendors that are well positioned to spur Linux and open-source adoption in the coming year while delivering on the immediate needs of the marketplace.

“This recognition reflects the fact that customers have embraced the VMware platform as an efficient and flexible environment in which to run and manage enterprise Linux applications,” said Dan Chu, vice president of emerging products and markets at VMware. “We are honored to be recognized by Linux Magazine as a leader and innovator in the Linux community, and we remain committed to helping our customers cut IT costs and do more with less.”

VMware works closely with major Linux providers to ensure production-quality support for Linux guest operating systems running on VMware hypervisors. As an active participant in the open-source community, VMware offers VMware OVF (Open Virtualization Format) Tool to package or unpackage a virtual machine using open industry standards so that virtual machines can be shared across products and organizations. VMware has also invested in numerous open-technology efforts within the Linux community, including introducing the Virtual Machine Interface (VMI) paravirtualization specification; contributing to the paravirt-ops platform-independent paravirtualization API; and opening up VMware’s Virtual Machine Disk (VMDK) format for all developers.

In addition, VMware has introduced and evangelized virtual appliances, which have radically improved software packaging, distribution and management. More than 1000 virtual appliances, most of which are Linux-based, can be found on the VMware Virtual Appliance Marketplace at http://www.vmware.com/appliances/.

“With the expanding number of organizations running their Linux environments on the VMware platform, VMware has continued to push the market forward in innovation,” said Bryan Richard, editor-in-chief, Linux Magazine. "Just as virtualization has been and continues to be a key enabling technology to watch in recent years, we think VMware is a company that will continue to make an impact in the Linux and open-source community in 2009."

About the Linux Magazine 20 Companies to Watch List

The Linux Magazine 20 Companies to Watch list features the vendors that are making a significant impact on the next-generation of Linux and Open Source adoption. Linux Magazine selects companies that have the ability to spur Open Source adoption in all facets of Information Technology, are technology and service innovators, and develop practical solutions for the Open Enterprise. Please visit http://www.linux-mag.com for more information.