VMware Incentives To Lure Oracle’s Virtual Iron Users

VMware is offering discounts on products, including its new vSphere 4 virtualisation platform, to customers of Virtual Iron, the virtualisation company bought by Oracle in May.

VMware on yesterday unveiled what it calls “safe passage” to Virtual Iron customers, in the wake of reports that Oracle will shut down development of existing Virtual Iron products, opting instead to absorb those products into its own Oracle VM virtualisation platform.

The virtualisation technologies from both Oracle and Virtual Iron are based on Xen, the open-source hypervisor.

Oracle reportedly sent a letter in June to Virtual Iron partners saying, not only that it is ending development of the company’s virtualisation products, but is also stopping the delivery of orders to new customers.

In announcing the new incentive programme for Virtual Iron customers, VMware officials emphasised their company’s breadth of virtualisation products and stable roadmap as enticements to move away from Oracle.

The programme, which includes price discounts, covers those Virtual Iron customers with current licence and support contracts. The VMware products included are VMware vSphere 4 Advanced Edition, VMware vSphere 4 Enterprise Plus Edition, VMware vCentre Server Foundation and VMware vCentre Server Standard.

The Virtual Iron customers also are eligible for discounts on support and subscription on those products.

To take advantage of the programme, which runs through 30 September, Virtual Iron customers need to show proof of a current VI licence and support contract.