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Red Hat buys Qumranet to extend virtualization reach more similar news »
Red Hat has expanded its support for virtualization technologies with the acquisition of Israeli software company Qumranet, developer of the open-source KVM (kernel-based virtual machine) project, for $107 million. KVM is an extension to the Linux kernel that allows it to be used as a "bare-metal" hypervisor, running directly on the underlying hardware and hosting guest operating systems, said Red Hat CTO Brian Stevens. [ Keep up on the latest tech news headlines at InfoWorld News, or subscribe to the Today's Headlines newsletter. ] Hypervisors allow several operating systems to run independently on the same processor at the same time, with the hypervisor managing resources and ensuring that they don't interfere with one another. Depending on the technology used, the operating systems may be different from one another, or different instances of the same operating system. A closer hold on KVM will be useful for Red Hat, which announced in June that it is building an embedded hypervisor with Web-based management capabilities, Ovirt, based on the software. "Through this acquisition, Red Hat is assuring that KVM will remain open," Stevens said Thursday, on a conference call with the press. Red Hat also sees the acquisition as a way to maintain a lead in the market. "VMware runs on a version of Linux, and Citrix runs on a clone of Red Hat. Both companies need to wait for Red Hat to introduce new features," Stevens said. Until now, Red Hat has concentrated its virtualization efforts on a rival open-source hypervisor, Xen. That project is hosted by XenSource, a company acquired in 2007 by Citrix Systems. However, Red Hat will continue to provide support for Xen to users of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 at least until 2014, and will continue to contribute to development of the Xen project, Stevens said. Qumranet also develops Solid ICE, a virtual desktop infrastructure that allows enterprises to host multiple virtual Windows and Linux desktop operating systems on a server running KVM. All Qumranet employees, including the executive team, will join Red Hat, the companies said. "We see this as a great opportunity to extend the KVM vision. We couldn't find a better partner for KVM and Solid ICE," Qumranet CEO Benny Schnaider on the same conference call.
Thu Sep 04, 2008 more from this source»»
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History shaped Google's Trojan Horse more similar news »
Unravelling the Chrome masterplan... with Windows 2.03
Analysis When people buy software - buy it in seriously large amounts - it isn't just today's binary they're choosing. They're buying what they think is a bit of the future - they're buying a piece of risk insurance. This explains why very mature and well-proven systems often lose out to the Newest Kid on the Block. It also explains the enduring effectiveness of FUD and Vapourware.…
Thu Sep 04, 2008 more from this source»»
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Sun updates xVM virtualization software more similar news »
Sun has released a new version of xVM VirtualBox, its platform for desktop virtualization, and is also starting to offer enterprise support for the platform, the company said on Thursday. XVM VirtualBox 2.0 comes with improved performance and platform support, adding support for 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. [ Stay up to date on the latest virtualization developments with InfoWorld's Virtualization Report blog and newsletter. ] Sun has also developed a new user interface for the Mac platform. Mac users will also get better networking performance, as will users who are running Sun's Solaris OS. It has also improved overall performance on AMD-based systems. To get enterprises interested in the platform, Sun now offers around the clock premium support with the xVM VirtualBox Software Enterprise Subscription, which start at $30 per user per year. Additionally, customers will receive a Right-to-Use License, allowing companies to deploy VirtualBox using their own software deployment tools. XVM VirtualBox software lets users create "virtual machines" into which they can install their operating system of choice. Developers can for example build, test and run cross-platform, multitier applications on a single laptop or desktop computer, according to Sun. Other programs that do the same thing include VMware's Player or Fusion, Microsoft's Virtual PC and Parallels' Workstation or Desktop. VirtualBox became part of the Sun virtualization product when the company announced it planned to acquire Germany's Innotek in February this year. The 20MB VirtualBox is currently being downloaded about 15,000 times a day, according to Sun.
Thu Sep 04, 2008 more from this source»»
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OLPC to launch touchscreen XO-2 laptop in Q1 2010 more similar news »
The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) association plans to launch the upcoming second generation of its low-cost XO laptop in the first quarter of 2010, according to an official from the group. The XO-2, an update to the original XO laptop that's designed for low-cost computing for kids in developing nations, will carry two 16-by-9-inch touchscreens and eschew a keyboard. It opens like a book and can either be held vertically for reading, or horizontal for laptop computing. When used horizontally, the bottom touchscreen displays a keyboard for typing. [ See the related stories "OLPC's dual-boot laptop due out soon" and "Amazon to sell OLPC XO laptops." And get the latest on mobile developments with InfoWorld's Mobile Report newsletter. ] The new design is based on the fact e-books are a necessity for schools and should make reading easier. "The e-book reader is the most popular function of the laptop," said Matt Keller, director of Europe, Middle East, and Africa at OLPC, in an interview Wednesday. The XO-2 was announced in May, but with scant details beyond a general 2010 time frame for its rollout. The new device will improve upon the XO, which has captured the world's imagination as a way to lower the cost of putting computers in the hands of kids around the globe, thereby narrowing the gap between modern and developing nations in terms of computing expertise. The XO currently costs around $203 or $204 to make, said Keller, while the XO-2 will likely cost around $80. OLPC's Web site says the goal of the project is to reach a price of $75 per laptop for educational buyers. The key technology behind the new laptop is the touchscreen, which is being developed by Mary Lou Jepsen at Pixel Qi. The company says it already has several screen manufacturers interested in building its screens.
Thu Sep 04, 2008 more from this source»»
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UK's top boffin: Renewables targets were 'a mistake' more similar news »
EU premiers were in the dark: now we all will be
A former chief scientific advisor to the government has said that EU renewable-energy quotas will cause widespread fuel poverty. Sir David King believes that European heads of state, in agreeing the targets, may have mistaken electricity usage for total energy consumption - leading to overly ambitious and expensive goals being set.…
Thu Sep 04, 2008 more from this source»»
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Sony recalls 73,000 Vaio laptops due to burn hazard more similar news »
Sony is recalling 73,000 Vaio TZ laptops because of a possible manufacturing defect that may cause them to overheat, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday. The recall relates to a problem with wiring near the computer's hinge, which could short-circuit and overheat in certain circumstances, perhaps burning the user. [ Get the latest on mobile developments with InfoWorld's Mobile Report newsletter. And check out the special report on past Sony laptop battery woes that led to massive recalls. ] One person has suffered a minor burn as a result of the latest defect, and Sony has received 15 other reports of overheating computers, according to the Commission. The affected models are the VGN-TZ100, VGN-TZ200, VGN-TZ300, and VGN-TZ2000 -- although not all laptops in these series are affected. Sony suggests users contact the company to see whether their computer is part of the recall, and if so to stop using it immediately. The overheating could be caused by misplaced wiring near the hinge, or if a screw in the hinge falls out and short-circuits the wires. In 2006, Sony was forced to recall millions of laptop batteries used in its own and other manufacturers' laptops because they presented a fire hazard, causing some computers to burst into flames. Sony isn't the only PC maker that has had to deal with battery problems. Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Acer have all recalled laptop batteries in the recent past. The Commission has published one other laptop safety recall this year: In May, Dell recalled almost 1 million notebook electrical adapters because of a risk of fire and electric shock. This story was updated on Sept. 4, 2008.
Thu Sep 04, 2008 more from this source»»
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