Virtual Iron Software (www.virtualiron.com) a provider of server virtualization and virtual infrastructure management software solutions, today announced the launch of the Virtual Iron Virtual Appliance Exchange. Here, users can download production-ready software packaged in ready-to-run virtual appliances making enterprise software deployment easier than ever. Virtual Iron is also inviting ISVs and end-users to contribute their own virtual appliances to the community to spark further innovation.

In a separate announcement, Virtual Iron and rPath also announced a technology partnership that makes it easier for software application providers to convert their applications into ready-to-run virtual appliances.

Virtual appliances are changing the way enterprise software is packaged and distributed, allowing ISVs to develop self-contained application stacks that are easy to deploy and more reliable than traditional methods. This allows customers to quickly evaluate applications without requiring the resource overhead of traditional methods. At the same time, virtual appliances offer all the benefits of production-class virtualization including:

• Server consolidation, allowing more efficient use of limited data center resources
• Ability to run on any hardware, simplifying maintenance and enabling no-downtime for maintenance and hardware refresh cycles
• Cost-effective business continuity, reducing outages and costs for maintaining business service level agreements (SLAs)
• Automated capacity management, delivering on quality of service requirements even during demand spikes

"Customers are using nano-sized Virtual Appliances to significantly lower the total cost of ownership of enterprise software,” said Stephen Dennis, President of VirtualAppliances.net. “As a result, users are reducing their skills gap, managing a smaller resource footprint and improving business agility and continuity, all with the confidence of a supported certified software stack tuned to the Virtual Iron environment.”

"Virtual appliances fundamentally alter the enterprise software landscape," said Mike Grandinetti, Chief Marketing Officer, Virtual Iron Software. "They accelerate ROI by reducing data center hardware costs and improve agility by streamlining enterprise application deployment time."

Users can download virtual appliances at the Virtual Iron Virtual Appliance Exchange. Virtual Iron, ISVs and users will be adding more appliances to the Exchange over time.