Five major virtualization news stories in 2009 and how they will affect 2010
2009 was a wild ride for the virtualization market. Companies like VMware, Microsoft, Citrix, Oracle, and Red Hat made things extremely interesting. Where do they go in 2010?
Follow @infoworld2010 could prove to be a huge year for the virtualization market, but 2009 was certainly considered no slouch. 2009 gave us a lot to think about and talk about throughout the entire year. And some of the top 5 virtualization moments in 2009 that could be considered game-changing events for how things go in 2010 include the following:
5. Is VMworld a virtualization industry event? Or is it a VMware technology event?
VMworld opened its trade show doors in San Diego back in 2004 to the tune of nearly 1,000 attendees and 30 exhibitors. At that time, virtualization was still a mystery wrapped up in an enigma, and folks were just starting to kick the tires on the technology. As virtualization technology matured, its install base grew in numbers, as did the VMworld attendee and exhibitor list, reaching almost 15,000 people and more than 200 exhibitors during 2008.
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In the early years, VMware's then CEO, Diane Greene, seemed to showcase the annual event as the world's premiere virtualization industry event, welcoming all vendors and technologies to participate, sponsor, and show off their wares. Unfortunately for VMware, virtualization competition really heated up in 2008, as did the marketing FUD surrounding it.
Seemingly because of that, VMware made a corporate decision in 2009 that shook things up in the media and caused quite a stir in the virtualization world. News broke that VMworld legalese changes were made to the exhibitor/sponsorship agreement documentation that seemed to target VMware's competition. In a nutshell, the documentation changes said that competitors to VMware would still be allowed to exhibit at VMworld, but they would be restricted to a 10-by-10 booth, and they could no longer showcase competitive products.
