We are holding a 15 minute webinar on choosing dedicated virtualization hardware. Some of you will have already received the invite directing you to register.
Click on the date below to register for a place and receive the calendar appointment and PDF agenda via Email. Nearer the date and time you will also receive a brief Email reminder.
Save the date: 10am, Friday 19th March 2010, to be held online.
Agenda
"How Virtualization Demands Are Changing Hardware Choices, The Emergence Of A Virtualization Appliance"
Registered attendees will receive further information on the event and a full agenda. A recording of the material will be available for a period after the initial broadcast.
Updated 19-03-10 10am
A recording of the webinar (40MB) is now available. If you cannot read PowerPoint (.pps) files then please contact us for an alternative format.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Solaris vs RedHat vs Windows
Its been a while since our last Solaris/OpenSolaris post. Now, like buses, suddenly 2 come along at once. Both are related to performance, the first (this one) is about benchmarking Solaris versus other mainstream Operating Systems. The second will follow in a few days, and is about maximising Solaris performance when virtualized on XenServer.
Most people see Solaris as extremely reliable, but one misconception that many hold about Sun's OS is that it is slow. Unfortunately, few take the trouble to assess their choice of OS with an open mind, so Solaris remains a "well kept secret", known only to those who work regularly with all the major server Operating Systems.
One of our consultants has been doing some benchmarks for a client, and came up with results we published here.
Solaris x86 was almost always the best performer above Linux (RedHat), and Microsoft, on HP hardware. From 2 cores to 24 cores with a couple of exceptions, it outperformed the others on Geekbench, a CPU and Memory intensive benchmark.
Not a lot of people know that.
Most people see Solaris as extremely reliable, but one misconception that many hold about Sun's OS is that it is slow. Unfortunately, few take the trouble to assess their choice of OS with an open mind, so Solaris remains a "well kept secret", known only to those who work regularly with all the major server Operating Systems.
One of our consultants has been doing some benchmarks for a client, and came up with results we published here.
Solaris x86 was almost always the best performer above Linux (RedHat), and Microsoft, on HP hardware. From 2 cores to 24 cores with a couple of exceptions, it outperformed the others on Geekbench, a CPU and Memory intensive benchmark.
Not a lot of people know that.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
360is Flourishes In 2009
Where has this year gone?
We have acquired many new clients in 2009, some in new sectors such as Biotech and Scientific Research (outside of our historical finance and telecoms verticals). We have seen increasing crossover between our security work and the data centre practice, as clients seek to protect their estates "post-consolidation", and vendors introduce virtual versions of traditional hardware appliances for Email, Web, and Network security.
Positive Numbers:
Looking Forward
2010 is already shaping up to be a busy year.
360is Business Model
Our roots in IT security always kept us vendor neutral. It's widely acknowledged that a multi-vendor, multi-technology strategy is best when securing large complex infrastructures. We are still convinced that vendor-neutral is the right way to be, not just for security projects but also for our data centre practice. Whether its VMware, Citrix, Microsoft, or a technology embedded in the next generation of CPUs. Our focus remains on professional services and expertise above software and hardware sales. Clients work with us because of what we know, not because of our position in the hierarchy or because they are forced by distribution and purchasing restrictions.
In 2010 we shall continue to deploy our capabilities in the sole interest of our clients to find the right solution to their challenges.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas & a Happy (and prosperous) New Year.
We have acquired many new clients in 2009, some in new sectors such as Biotech and Scientific Research (outside of our historical finance and telecoms verticals). We have seen increasing crossover between our security work and the data centre practice, as clients seek to protect their estates "post-consolidation", and vendors introduce virtual versions of traditional hardware appliances for Email, Web, and Network security.
Positive Numbers:
- New client intake up 25%
- Average engagement size up by 30%
- 25% of engagements were with existing clients
- No bad debts
Looking Forward
2010 is already shaping up to be a busy year.
- Security Assessments & Investigations
Much of the large scale fraud and corruption which flourished in the global boom is now being brought to light under greater scrutiny and regulation. This has lead to an increase in inquiries for our post-incident clean-up services. The impact of the downturn on organised crime was the subject of a recent Wilton Park Conference hosted by the Home Office.
- Virtualization
Early adopters of Virtualization are now looking to maximise their firepower through increased VM density and dedicated virtual appliances. Microsoft's (Hyper-V) entrance into the market, and continued focus of Citrix (XenServer), is putting this technology within reach of the small to medium enterprise, and small departmental projects in large companies. Both products are now completely free. Of course VMware is not going away, and is still present in about 80% of our clients estates.
- Desktop Delivery
- No hardware refresh necessary
- No loss of end user productivity
- Easy swap-over, parallel running, rollback
- Reduced risk of application incompatibility
Microsoft has announced that from July 13, 2010, it will close down the support for Windows XP SP2. That's only 7 months away. Some security critical patches will be made available for XP up to 2014, but it is Microsoft's intention to upgrade all business users to Windows 7 that did not previously adopt Vista (so...everyone then) as soon as possible. At 360is we suggest clients give very serious consideration to whether or not they bother attempting a traditional roll out of Windows 7 to physical desktops, or whether they adopt a virtual desktop strategy for the new OS. Deploying Windows 7 as a virtual desktop has many benefits:
360is Business Model
Our roots in IT security always kept us vendor neutral. It's widely acknowledged that a multi-vendor, multi-technology strategy is best when securing large complex infrastructures. We are still convinced that vendor-neutral is the right way to be, not just for security projects but also for our data centre practice. Whether its VMware, Citrix, Microsoft, or a technology embedded in the next generation of CPUs. Our focus remains on professional services and expertise above software and hardware sales. Clients work with us because of what we know, not because of our position in the hierarchy or because they are forced by distribution and purchasing restrictions.
In 2010 we shall continue to deploy our capabilities in the sole interest of our clients to find the right solution to their challenges.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas & a Happy (and prosperous) New Year.
Monday, November 16, 2009
360is Represented at Microsoft Virtualization Round-table
360is were delighted to be able to take part in this months virtualization round-table, held at Incisive Media's central London offices. We spoke alongside representatives from Microsoft and Computerlinks. The panel debated the mainstream adoption of virtualization occurring now the software is mostly free, virtual desktop infrastructure, and the skills gap that exists in many IT/MIS departments around this new wave of software and hardware infrastructure.
The panel concluded that virtualization and the abstraction of "nuts and bolts" was already fundamentally changing the nature of conversations between Vendors, VARs, and clients, and would likely change hiring practices as companies sought business technologists over traditional IT skills.
The full text of the article is available online.
A copy of the print magazine is available on our site.
The panel concluded that virtualization and the abstraction of "nuts and bolts" was already fundamentally changing the nature of conversations between Vendors, VARs, and clients, and would likely change hiring practices as companies sought business technologists over traditional IT skills.
The full text of the article is available online.
A copy of the print magazine is available on our site.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Autumn Virtualization Seminar, London & Cambridge (NOW FULL)
We are holding an invitation-only seminar on mission critical & production systems virtualization in November. Some of you will have already received the invite directing you to register.
Choose the date/location below to book your place and receive the calendar appointment and PDF agenda via Email.
19th November: Royal Mint, Royal Mint Court, London, EC3N 4HJ.
26th November: Trinity Centre, Milton Rd Cambridge, CB4 0FN.
Registered attendees will receive further information on the event and a full agenda.
Agenda
09:30 Arrival & Tea/Coffee
10:00 Welcome & Introductions - 360is Ltd
10:05 Running Citrix Virtualized In Production - Citrix Systems Inc
11:00 Break
11:10 Virtualization Hardware - The Virtual Machine Company Ltd
11:40 Case Study, “Virtualising A Billion Dollar Database” - 360is Ltd
12:00 Finish and Q&A.
12:15 Tour (Royal Mint only) followed by light lunch.
Cancellations & Additional Invitations
Places are limited, if you are subsequently unable to attend then please let us know so that we can move someone else up from the waiting list. If you did not get an invite and would like to attend, or wish to recommend a colleague, please contact rob.gilson@360is.com.
---
Update 16-11-09: The seminar is now full and there is a waiting list for those unable to get in this time around. Please notify Rob Gilson (above) if you have registered but are now unable to attend.
---
Update 20-11-09: Thanks to all who attended the Seminar. For those who were unable to make it, or who want copies of the presentations, please see the following links:
Choose the date/location below to book your place and receive the calendar appointment and PDF agenda via Email.
19th November: Royal Mint, Royal Mint Court, London, EC3N 4HJ.
26th November: Trinity Centre, Milton Rd Cambridge, CB4 0FN.
Registered attendees will receive further information on the event and a full agenda.
Agenda
09:30 Arrival & Tea/Coffee
10:00 Welcome & Introductions - 360is Ltd
10:05 Running Citrix Virtualized In Production - Citrix Systems Inc
- Netscaler VPX, XenDesktop, XenApp.
- Best practice advice for reliable virtualization of Citrix software.
- Citrix end-to-end virtualization strategy for agile infrastructure.
11:00 Break
11:10 Virtualization Hardware - The Virtual Machine Company Ltd
- How customer requirements shaped virtualization hardware.
- How to achieve ultimate VM density and lowest TCO.
- A post-server approach to virtualization.
11:40 Case Study, “Virtualising A Billion Dollar Database” - 360is Ltd
- Maximising VM density without compromising performance & availability
- The virtualization experience, one year on.
12:00 Finish and Q&A.
12:15 Tour (Royal Mint only) followed by light lunch.
Cancellations & Additional Invitations
Places are limited, if you are subsequently unable to attend then please let us know so that we can move someone else up from the waiting list. If you did not get an invite and would like to attend, or wish to recommend a colleague, please contact rob.gilson@360is.com.
---
Update 16-11-09: The seminar is now full and there is a waiting list for those unable to get in this time around. Please notify Rob Gilson (above) if you have registered but are now unable to attend.
---
Update 20-11-09: Thanks to all who attended the Seminar. For those who were unable to make it, or who want copies of the presentations, please see the following links:
- 360is Intro & VMCO Hardware (7MB), Rob Gilson - 360is
- Citrix Update (11MB), Damian Saunders - Citrix Inc
- Virtualizaing Difficult Workloads (2MB), 360is
- VMCO Case Study (6MB), 360is
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
