The VAR Guy

Microsoft is pushing forward with Windows Azure — the company’s cloud-based Windows Server system. And Oracle continues to accelerate its SaaS (software as a service) strategy for ISVs (independent software vendors). Are Oracle and Microsoft on a collision course in the cloud? Yes and no. Here’s why. And here’s what ultimately matters to VARs.

Nearly 200 channel partners are set to attend Cisco Partner Velocity (Nov. 10-12, Paris). Instead of pitching networking products, Cisco designed the agenda to assist channel partners with their marketing, branding, social media and video content strategies. In fact, attending partners will receive marketing campaign services worth up to (US)$5,000. Here’s the scoop.

ZaReason is taking a small but significant step to help strengthen the Ubuntu brand. To help celebrate the Ubuntu 9.10 launch, the PC maker is offering “a stick of Ubuntu aluminum case badges with each computer ordered” October 29 through November 5. Here’s why you should care.

When Canonical launched Ubuntu 9.10 earlier today, Centrify Corp. — maker of Microsoft Active Directory-related tools — raised its hand and vowed to support Ubuntu Server Edition 9.10. It was a small but significant announcement that could (potentially) help Ubuntu gain a stronger foothold within corporate Windows networks. Here’s why.

A rather interesting rumor just landed in The VAR Guy’s voicemail. A trusted source claims Microsoft is gradually unplugging its corporate phones and transitioning many employees to Lenovo ThinkPads running Microsoft Office Communicator. Is Unified Communications about to invade Microsoft’s Redmond, Wash., campus? Here’s the (alleged) scoop.

There’s a lot of buzz about Google Chrome and the impending Google Chrome OS. But something strange happened Oct. 28. Gizmodo briefly posted an article saying Chrome OS was out. But was the report true?

Across the board, Nine Lives Media Inc.’s web traffic is up 140 percent in October 2009 vs. October 2008. We thank you for your growing readership. We’re taking two steps to improve site responsiveness: A hardware upgrade from our service provider plus a few of our own software architecture tweaks. I will post a follow-up comment to this blog entry as soon as the adjustments are completed. In the meantime we appreciate your feedback. We’re listening and responding.

As Ubuntu 9.10 debuts today, I’d like to spend less time talking and more time listening — to you. What is your initial reaction to Karmic Koala? Desktop and mobile feedback is always welcome. But I’m particularly interested in server, cloud and Landscape feedback from IT administrators. Please feel free to post a comment or email me directly (Joe [at] NineLivesMediaInc.com). WorksWithU intends to develop a series of user case studies exploring Ubuntu 9.10′s business performance across mobile, desktop, server and cloud systems. I look forward to your thoughts.

The VAR Guy concedes: He needs some latte — and an upgrade to improve site performance. Across the board, Nine Lives Media Inc.’s web traffic is up 140 percent in October 2009 vs. October 2008. The VAR Guy thanks you for your growing readership. And he’s taking two steps to improve site responsiveness: A hardware upgrade from his service provider plus a few software architecture tweaks. Our resident blogger will post a follow-up comment to this blog entry as soon as the adjustments are completed. In the meantime The VAR Guy appreciates your readership. He’s listening to your feedback and responding with site upgrades.

Novell Chief Marketing Officer John Dragoon popped up in a surprising location this week. Dragoon, who also serves as Novell’s channel chief, wrote a column on Forbes.com. In it, Dragoon declares consumers will be the big winners in the operating system battles between Apple, Google, Microsoft and Linux. The column is an interesting read. And it begs the question: Is Novell prepping more SUSE Linux desktop and mobile moves? Here are some answers.

As Ubuntu 9.10 nears its official Oct. 29 debut, the hype around this new Ubuntu is reaching a fever pitch. Some folks wonder if it can be the de facto alternative to Windows. I’ve obviously bet a portion of my IT media career on Ubuntu’s continued advancement. But let’s keep Ubuntu 9.10′s debut in perspective. Here’s a reality check — including a longer-term look at Canonical’s server and cloud strategy, which hinges far more heavily on Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx).

I was involved in a  recent survey of 200 VAR’s and systems integrators — and the results showed less than stellar usage of Social Media platforms. Under 60% use LinkedIn and approximately 38% are using Twitter. Okay, not horrible…but how many of them are using it correctly?

MySQL, the open source database that Oracle may soon own, has made the leap into Amazon Web Services. Indeed, Amazon says MySQL has come to the cloud in the form of new Relational Database Service (RDS). Plus, Amazon is dropping cloud prices across the board and putting in new high-memory instance options on the Amazone Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) platform. Here’s why VARs should care.

Digium — which promotes Asterisk, the open source IP PBX — is gathering data to help accelerate the company’s push into corporate enterprises. The effort includes a comprehensive survey, conducted with the 451 Group, about the potential financial benefits of open source. Here’s the scoop.

Symantec appears to be making some subtle but strategic changes to its SaaS and channel partner efforts. Say goodbye to the Symantec Protection Network and hello to Symantec Hosted Services and the new Symantec Partner Community. The VAR Guy suspects many of those efforts will be discussed at Symantec Partner Engage (Nov. 4-6, Orlando). Here’s the scoop.

As Canonical prepares for Ubuntu 9.10′s October 29 launch, the company’s channel and partner management team is developing an Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud training course for VARs, partners and IT managers. Here’s the scoop.

Cisco has announced its intent to buy ScanSafe, which provides security to software as a service applications, for $183 million. This is Cisco’s third acquisition in the month of October, if you’re keeping score.

Ingram Micro has acquired UK player CCD (Computacenter Distribution) in an effort to expand its international data center capabilities. CCD is a wholesaler of servers, storage and other tech in the UK. The completion of the acquisition is slated for early November. No terms were disclosed.

Microsoft is using a classic “free” strategy to engage and train the next-generation IT channel. As part of the company’s DreamSpark program, college and high school students can get Microsoft software for free — including the new Windows Server 2008 R2. Here’s some quick info about the strategy.

For VARs looking to mix and match Windows 7 and Mac OS X on customer systems, Parallels may have the answer. The company, which created Parallels Desktop for the Mac, has announced experimental support for Windows 7 in version 4.0 of their software. Here are some early impressions.

Red Hat has invested in EnterpriseDB, the two companies confirmed today. The move accelerates EnterpriseDB’s momentum with big-name partners and also gives Red Hat a hedge against the pending Oracle-Sun-MySQL business combination that awaits regulatory approval. Here’s some more analysis.

As Microsoft prepares to officially launch Windows Azure — its cloud-based Windows platform — the software giant has introduced key perks for those within the Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN). Here are the details.

During a phone briefing today, Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth described the Ubuntu 9.10 desktop, server and cloud strategy to members of the IT media. WorksWithU tuned in and posed some key questions to Shuttleworth. Here are 10 highlights from the call.