The VAR Guy

In a move designed to cultivate their partner ecosystem, IBM is extending development and test services to their enterprise cloud platform, allowing software vendors and cloud service providers to build, debug, and finally deliver applications all through Big Blue. Here’s the scoop.

Parallels, the virtualization and cloud enabler, has officially announced they’re supporting Chrome OS, Google’s mobile Linux distribution. What does that mean for VARs out there? Maybe nothing, superficially, but…

Netgear is at it again with two high-performance network storage platforms. The aim? Optimized storage for virtualization applications. Joining the family of ReadyNAS is the 3100 and the 4200. For VARs targeting the SMB space here are the details…

Parallels, the company you may know for their virtualization muscle, is bolstering their server virtualization by supporting Apple environments.That’s right, they’re introducing a ‘world first’ — the bare metal hypervisor for Apple Xserve. Any takers…?

In your opinion, what’s the best netbook operating system you’ve used? Be honest. Tell us. Over at Lifehacker.com, they  already asked the same question. So far, the leading answer is… (drum roll, please…): Windows 7. The other results may surprise you…

Intel and Nokia have merged their respective technologies: Moblin and Maemo, to create “MeeGo.” Simply put, it’s a Linux-based platform claiming support of hardware architectures from something as simple as a mobile hand-held device to in-dash car-computers and everything in between. Is this a Google Android alternative or wishful thinking on the part of two big-name companies?

Oh, ye of little faith. Those who mocked the iPad and called it a foolish endeavor; a gadget that would never see the light of enterprise adoption. But now, thanks to Citrix, you can have your Windows 7 experience right at your fingertips. For those who don’t know, Citrix has developed receiver software for the iPhone that’s been in the loop for quite a while. Now it’s coming to Apple’s iPad. Interested, now?

You might never have heard of Astaro, so let me give you a quick rundown. They’re a relatively small company (less than 200 employees) with headquarters in Germany. But 60% of their business is outside Germany. Part of that strategy involves a free Software or VM Firewall image appliance based on Linux. They’re also doing some interesting innovation. VARs might want to take note of this quiet little company that’s starting to make some noise. Here’s why.

Novell turned some heads in 2009 with SUSE Studio — a tool for building SUSE Linux application appliances. Now, Novell is back for an encore — this time with SUSE Appliance Toolkit, which is designed to help ease the development, deployment and management of software appliances. Here are the implications for solutions providers.

One of the little gizmos floating around CES 2010 this year was the Dell Mini 5. It’s not a netbook like the Mini 9, but a touch-screen tablet, of sorts. While 5  inches seems a little small for the tablet, it’s got some interesting potential. Read on to see how Dell is adapting to some new trends in the Linux world — even as the PC giant balances its Windows 7 relationship with Microsoft.

An interesting story has been floating around the ‘net about an unfortunate Linux user and his Best Buy experience. If you’re a Linux aficionado and looking for something to rage about, read on. This one’s a doozie.

If you thought the market wasn’t crowed enough with Linux netbooks, here comes another contender: MSI is launching the first netbook to be shipped with Novell’s SUSE’s Moblin operating system. Moblin is designed to deliver a mobile computing experience that’s easier to use, and suitable for smaller screens. Here’s the deal.

The Netbook. Once considered a toy, it now seems like the preferred device for many productivity-driven workhorse travelers. And even if you’re not a mobile workaholic, there’s something simplistically perfect about sofa-browsing while watching TV and catching up on some e-mail. With a small form factor, there comes caveats at the expense of size and portability. But recent moves by Lenovo and others show some promising trends — several of which involve Linux.

Xandros, the company behind the Linux distribution called Xandros OS, has launched a custom application store that will deliver digital content to any kind of Internet-connect device, agnostic of any sort of platform. It’s called “App2Market.” Here’s the scoop and why VARs might want to perk an ear up…

How can a storage cloud be open yet private? ParaScale thinks it has the answer. The company has launched version 2.0 of a Cloud Storage platform that can turn any Red Hat Linux or CentOS cluster into a private storage cloud. What’s the hook for channel partners and hosting providers? VISI, a managed hosting provider in Minnesota, offers some perspectives. Here’s a look.

Red Hat is starting to evangelize its Enterprise Virtualization Platform to VARs, managed service providers and other channel partners. Here’s some perspective on Red Hat’s continuing efforts to diversify beyond Linux.

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?

Sometimes, small deals are big indicators about where companies are heading next. Cisco’s $215 million acquisition of PostPath, for instance, speaks volumes about where John Chambers is taking the networking giant. Some folks say it’s a direct attack against Microsoft Exchange. The VAR Guy claims otherwise.

As we approach next week’s LinuxWorld Expo, The VAR Guy was reminded of an age-old problem. During a meeting earlier this week in New Orleans, a solution provider told The VAR Guy he just didn’t understand how to profit from open source. Didn’t we put this issue to rest a long time ago? Perhaps not. Here are eight ways VARs can profit from Linux and Open Source.

How’s this for ironic: Microsoft is actually spending some sponsorship dollars here at OSCON (Open Source Conference) 2008, but Apple is stealing the show — without spending a dime. Here’s how.

So, how high will Red Hat’s partner sales climb this year? The VAR Guy spoke with Red Hat VP Mark Enzweiler on June 9, noted some facts and figures, and then did some quick math. Take a look at the results.

One innovation is easy. But sustainable innovation — building lots of worthwhile new things again and again, even as you maintain your old products — is challenging. The VAR Guy wonders: Is open source the key to sustainable tech innovation? Is open source the best way to keep a maturing company feeling vibrant and young? Before you answer, consider some of these scenarios.

Two small Linux companies are merging. What does it mean to Linux market leaders like Red Hat, Novell and Ubuntu — and Linux customers? Here are some clues from The VAR Guy.