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Sun Releases Virtual Desktop Infrastructure 3

Sun has released Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Software 3, a major update to the company's virtualization management suite. The new version includes expanded VMware support, Open Storage integration, and Active Directory support, among other enhancements.

Sun VDI Software 3 is a virtualization management solution built on a variety of open source technologies, including MySQL, OpenSolaris, Open Storage, and VirtualBox. It supports the deployment of a range of guest operating systems to desktop systems (including Macs) and thin clients, with support for using VMware Infrastructure, Sun's built-in virtualization capabilities, or a combination of the two.

Some of the new features in version 3 include Open Storage integration; integration with Solaris ZFS, Sun's local file system; expanded VMware support, including VMware ESX server 3.5 and VMware VirtualCenter 2.5; simplified installation using a single installer for core components; support for RDP devices without the need to install additional software; and Active Directory support.

"I am really impressed with Sun VDI Software 3," said Richard Toeniskoetter, technology director for the W. A. Franke College of Business at Northern Arizona University, in a statement released Tuesday. "The open architecture will provide us with a broad choice of client device, virtualization host and virtual desktop OS. That's really important to us at NAU because flexible access to Windows and Unix desktops, some of which have been in production for over seven years, maximizes our IT utilization and simplifies our management."

The university reported that it has saved 95 percent of its electrical costs associated with computing by switching to Sun Ray thin clients.

Sun VDI Software 3 is available now with subscription options starting at $40 per user per year. Free trial software is available here. Further information can be found here or in the video below, supplied by Sun.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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