TechNews (Oyya-Info)

Oracle launches tool for virtual appliances

August 13, 2009

Oracle has released new tools for building virtual appliances, the software maker's first significant move in server virtualization since its purchase of Virtual Iron.

Oracle VM Template Builder, announced on Wednesday, is a graphical tool intended to help third-party developers and enterprise in-house teams create virtual appliances. The open-source product allows users to combine a JeOS (Just enough operating system) image of Oracle Enterprise Linux with applications and other software inside an Oracle VM or an OVF virtual machine. JeOS images contain only those components of an operating system needed for a specific task, reducing size and complexity, and improving speed and security.

The product releases come three months after Oracle purchased Virtual Iron, seen as a move by the company to strengthen its competition against VMware and generate more interest around its virtualization products, such as its hypervisor and its Oracle VM. While it makes sense for Oracle to try for a bigger foothold in the virtual appliance market, the database specialist may struggle to stand out, said Chris Ingle, a research director with IDC.

"People like VMWare have been offering this kind of technology for a while, and I'm not sure there's anything you can do within VM Template that can't already be done," he said.

If they use VM Template, independent software providers will benefit from having access to Oracle support and its customer base, said Monica Kumar, marketing director for open source products at Oracle. In addition, using the technology also means that the hypervisor, database and application stack are well tested and integrated, she said.

"What we're providing is pre-installed, pre-configured software. We know from experience that deploying ERP and CRM software can be very difficult and time-consuming, so building these templates will save customers enormously in time and resources," Kumar said.

The templates can be used with software from any developer or provider, and are not limited to Oracle products.

In a related announcement, the software maker introduced an Oracle VM Template designed specifically for Siebel CRM 8.1.1. It is based on Oracle Enterprise Linux and the 11g database, running on top of Oracle VM. In addition, the company said it has released a kit for testing virtual stacks before they are deployed, a move that is part of its Oracle Validated Configurations Program.

Posted by Oyya-Info. Posted In : Business Tech

Study: Recession puts extra pressure on IT execs

August 12, 2009

The recession has forced IT executives to cut costs while trying to bring in quicker returns on investment, according to a study released Wednesday by AT&T.

For its "Road to Growth" study, AT&T spoke with 77 key IT executives from large global companies. Sixty-four percent said they're under pressure to focus on projects that bring in return on investment in half or less than half the time than in the past. As a result, two-thirds said this pressure has affected their IT budgets, strategies, and priorities.

One CIO said his company is looking at IT projects that deliver at least 100 percent ROI in 12 months--or else the project is cut.

With the recession still in force, companies are feeling the pinch to slash costs and boost sales. Toward that end, 87 percent of the IT execs questioned said that reducing operating costs was "extremely or very important." Improving collaboration with customers and partners was cited by 85 percent as "extremely or very important." And 83 percent cited enhancing workforce performance and productivity as "extremely or very important."

(Credit: AT&T)

The aggressive strategy is seen as prepping companies for an economic recovery next year. Most of the execs interviewed expect a recovery toward the middle or end of 2010. Their overall feeling is that the U.S. and China will be the first countries to bounce back from the recession.

Executives said that investing in business continuity and security could have the largest positive impact on growth as their companies get ready for an economic turnaround.

"U.S. companies are under added pressure to deliver, and IT investments are more critical than ever before," said Bill Archer, chief marketing officer at AT&T Business Solutions. "From the study, we expect U.S. companies to come out of the recession leaner and more agile. Technologies that cut cost, reduce redundancies and loss, and improve efficiencies top the priorities list."

The study was based on interviews with 47 IT executives in the U.S. and 30 in Europe representing global companies with annual sales of at least $1 billion. Interviewed were chief information officers, chief technology officers, and others with direct responsibility for IT budgets and strategy. The interviews were conducted between April 16 and June 19.

Posted by Oyya-Info. Posted In : Business Tech

Microsoft releases preview for next SQL Server

August 12, 2009

Microsoft has delivered the next iteration of its flagship database product, SQL Server 2008 R2, to developers for review.

The company released a preview of the software to MSDN and TechNet subscribers on Monday. A community technology preview (CTP) will be available on Wednesday for general download, Microsoft said in a blog post.

SQL Server 2008 R2, previously code-named "Kilimanjaro," is the next generation of the Microsoft SQL Server database platform. The product is planned for release in the first half of next year.

The updated database software lets businesses build their own business intelligence capabilities. It includes a new version of its report-making software, Report Builder 3.0, that can incorporate maps.

"Report Builder 3.0 supports geospatial visualization to produce new insights and discoveries by combining geospatial data with business information," according to Microsoft.

In addition, Report Builder 3.0 allows caching of datasets on the report server when toggling between design and preview modes.

Using the preview, administrators will be able to set up a multiserver environment and enroll instances into a central management component, without having to rely on technical support, said the company.

"New wizards enable administrators to quickly set up a multi-server management environment in minutes--no professional services required," said the blog post.

The SQL Server 2008 R2 is one of a tranche of Microsoft CTPs slated for an August release.

StreamInsight, which is low-latency complex event processing software, will be launched "in the coming weeks," according to the company.

It will be followed by the first CTP for SQL Azure Database, a limited preview of Project "Gemini" Excel and SharePoint add-ins, and a private technology preview of Project Madison, Microsoft's data-warehousing product.

Downloads of the preview are available on Microsoft's SQL Server 2008 R2 Web site.

Posted by Oyya-Info. Posted In : Microsoft