Big Name on Campus

12:20 PM -- The name on everyone's lips? VMware.

It pains me just a little to have say something kind about a vendor, and even more so about virtualization.

But after four days in Chicago at the DataComm Enterprise Conference, I heard enough customers mentioning VMware deployments to think, "Hmmmmm... maybe there's something to this."

I think virtualization is still a bit of a hard sell where most enterprises are concerned. But organizations like Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and Warner Bros. Entertainment touted their VMware deployments this week, and they weren't shilling for anyone.

There's also lots of industry activity around VMware that makes it clear the virtualization sector's about to get really competitive. In an interview with Byte and Switch today, for instance, execs at India-based developer Calsoft say a range of startups are gearing up to insert themselves into the data center equation by challenging VMware.In a speech to open a day with Wall Street analysts this week, EMC chairman Joe Tucci mentioned VMware as a strategic part of the roadmap, promising a range of new technological additions. (See EMC Nets nLayers, Scopes Security.)

Virtualization's real? Serve me up some humble pie -- and use the good VMware.

Terry Sweeney, Editor in Chief, Byte and Switch

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