It's hard to believe that server virtualization on the x86 platform has been around for 12 years already. For some of us, server virtualization is becoming old hat. But keep in mind, a new generation of virtualization administrators has only recently joined the club. If you're among the new recruits, don't worry -- it's far from boring! And if you thought the fun ended in 2011, you're wrong: 2012 was another wild ride, with no shortage of drama, intrigue, fighting, change, technology advancement, or acquisitions.
To spotlight a few events taking place in 2012, here is a list of seven server virtualization news stories that rose to the top.
1. VMware shakes things up with a CEO position change -- again
In July, VMware put rumors to rest by announcing that Paul Maritz, CEO of the company since 2008, would be replaced by EMC chief operating officer Pat Gelsinger effective Sept. 1, and Maritz would move back to EMC as that company's chief strategist.
Unlike the previous management bombshell that went off when VMware CEO and co-founder Diane Greene was removed from office and replaced with Maritz, the decision-making process behind this announcement seemed far more amicable. But the news raised a number of questions and gave VMware enthusiasts and customers pause just before VMworld, VMware's largest virtualization event.
When discussing the move, EMC chairman and CEO Joe Tucci said VMware was moving to the next phase of cloud computing with the software-defined data center and solving the problems of the post-PC era. While Maritz and team had done a "stellar job" in positioning VMware as a leader of that transformation, EMC and VMware needed to make adjustments that would allow them "to become the leaders in building out the complete, software-defined data center."
2. VMware releases a powerful server virtualization platform update, vSphere 5.1
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Read the entire InfoWorld Virtualization Report article.