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Virtualization Emphasized in Upcoming OSS System Management Apps

We've written before about the challenges that proprietary virtualization players  such as VMware face from open source virtualization applications. The problem for the proprietary players is that the free, open source virtualization offerings are now very good tools, and are increasingly built right into popular operating systems. Aside from appearing as utility-like modules in operating systems, though, virtualization is becoming a central part of open source network and systems management platforms.

As InternetNews is reporting, Groundwork, Hyperic and Zenoss all have new releases coming up, and virtualization is a core component of them. Hyperic HQ 4.0 is due this month, and InternetNews reports this:

"Bottom line is this release is meant to close the gap between managing resources in the datacenter, in virtualized servers or on the cloud."--Stacey Schneider, senior director of marketing for Hyperic.

Open source network and systems management platforms stand a good chance to do well during these bad economic times, and I expect many smart IT managers will explore these platforms instead of the usual suspects from IBM, Computer Associates, Hewlett-Packard and others. As they adopt the open source platforms, they'll get virtualization tools under the hood.

All of this is more bad news for proprietary virtualization players such as VMware. That company is now overseen by Paul Maritz, a long-time Microsoft executive who knows very well what it means when operating systems begin to wrap in applications that are sold on a standalone basis. He saw, over the years, all the makers of Windows backup software and file management systems who folded as those features showed up in Windows.

So far, VMware is staying the course with its focus on proprietary virtualization offerings. I still think this is going to have to change if the company wants a solid future.

• Hyperic HQ
• GroundWork
• Zenoss

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