VMware Ships Virtualization SDK

VMware Wednesday shipped a software developer kit (SDK) that lets developers, in-house programmers, and commercial software makers add controls for the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company's virtualization technology to other applications, or integrate VMware's virtual machine management into other enterprise network tools.

The VMware Virtual Infrastructure SDK uses the SOAP and WSDL standards, letting developers program in their environment of choice, including Java or Visual Studio .Net, said VMware.

The APIs in the SDK let developers add such functions as creating and cloning virtual machines, set policies for virtual systems, monitor virtual machine performance, and control VMware's VMotion, a separate solution that gives administrators the power to migrate a running virtual machine to a different physical server without bringing either down.

VMware, a unit of storage software maker EMC, is the leader in virtual machine software, which allows a physical server to be sliced into multiple "virtual" systems, each running its own operating system and/or set of applications or services. It boasts some 5,500 enterprise customers and has made high-profile alliances and OEM deals with the likes of IBM, Intel, HP, and Dell.

The SDK can be downloaded from the VMware Web site.