Quest Software has always been adept at filling gaps in an IT infrastructure, and their latest virtualization product--Quest vWorkspace--hopes to continue that tradition. Despite the new name, vWorkspace isn't really a new product. Up until January 13th the product went by the rather cumbersome name of Provision Networks Virtual Access Suite, but Quest introduced a new product name with the latest version, dubbing it vWorkspace 6.0.
Just as Quest fills gaps in existing IT infrastructures with some of their other products, The Quest Desktop Virtualization Group -- formed out of Quest Software's acquisition of Provision Networks in November 2007 -- focuses on helping IT pros get a handle on multi-platform management and deployment tasks. According to Quest, vWorkspace can help administrators deploy and manage VMs created by Microsoft (Hyper-V), Virtual Iron, Parallels (Virtuozzo Containers), and VMware (ESX Server). It also integrates blade servers and terminal services, helping give admins an integrated management solution that spans virtual and physical resources.
At a more granular level, vWorkspace offers desktop lifecycle management, desktop integrity management, and allows for the delegation of administration management. Quest's Experience Optimized Protocol (EOP) also helps improve and monitor performance of virtual applications and desktops, ranging from accelerating graphic performance, accelerating multimedia content, and reducing network latency.
Quest Software's Paul Ghostine stressed the importance of these new EOP capabilities in a statement supporting the release of the product, saying that "[vWorkspace] Version 6.0 significantly changes the connection broker landscape. We are not only delivering the most comprehensive set of management capabilities, but also responding to real world requirements, whereby user experience needs eclipse any advances in manageability. Our EOP delivers best-in-class performance for a wide variety of applications and use cases."
Additional features introduced in this latest release include improved support for Expand Networks appliances, USB device support over remote sessions, and HP Remote Graphics Software (RGS). For upgrade, pricing, and availability information, visit the vWorkspace web site.
Contact the Editors
- Twitter: Follow Windows IT Pro on Twitter by visiting our page at
www.twitter.com/Windowsitpro. Some of our editors also have Twitter accounts, including yours truly (twitter.com/witprojeff) and Sheila
Molnar ( target="_blank">twitter/sqlmagsheila).
- LinkedIn: To check out the Windows IT Pro group on
LinkedIn, sign in to your LinkedIn account and search groups using "Windows IT Pro" as your search terms. If you're an IT professional we'll be happy to invite you to the group.
- Regional Forums: We've also introduced regional topic areas in our online forums, allowing IT user group leaders and other readers interested in meeting locally to more easily communicate with each other. Visit our forums at
forums.windowsitpro.com and scroll down to see the new regional topics.
Related Reading:
The Virtualization UPDATE Archive
Did you miss a previous issue of Virtualization UPDATE? Every issue of Virtualization UPDATE is now available online in the Virtualization UPDATE newsletter archive. Click here to access the Virtualization UPDATE issue archive.
Virtualization Tips and Tricks
By John Savill
Q. How can I add virtual machines (VMs) to the Hyper-V console?
A. If you have a VM that's not showing in the Hyper-V management console, you can manipulate the content of the Virtual Machines folder and add a shortcut to the configuration XML file of the VM you want to add. The folder is located at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Hyper-V\Virtual Machines, but is hidden by default.
Continue reading "How can I add virtual machines (VMs) to the Hyper-V console?"
Register
