"Managing virtual machines, it's really just one step above managing the hardware itself," Bittman says. "We consider Sun to be a dark horse. The proof has got to be in the execution."
Sun's xVM is a set of technologies for both desktop and x86 server virtualization. Sun also has a SPARC hypervisor for its own hardware. Sun bolstered its virtualization portfolio a few weeks ago by purchasing Innotek, which makes desktop virtualization software targeted at developers who want to build, test and run applications on multiple operating systems.
"Their real strategy is, of course, built around the Solaris operating system, virtualizing Solaris," DiDio says. "Their approach is they have these zone containers. It gives you isolated execution environments within Solaris."
Oracle
Founder and CEO Larry Ellison isn't shy about poking a needle in VMware's eye. He reportedly predicted that VMware will meet the same demise as Netscape.
Ellison is finalizing a deal to purchase BEA Systems, which has a partnership with VMware to provide Java virtualization products.
That move could foil some VMware plans, though it's not clear yet how Oracle intends to fit BEA into its virtualization strategy, DiDio says. Oracle is a new entrant into the virtualization market with Oracle VM, which has advanced features such as live migration, according to DiDio's Yankee Group report.
Oracle, well known for its database and application server products, is targeting VM primarily at heavy Oracle customers, Bittman says. "They're doing it as a defensive move," he says. "They don't want VMware or Microsoft to be underlying the Oracle stack. That takes away potential control of an account. ... Oracle VM does not need to make money. The whole goal is defensive."
Yankee Group analyst George Hamilton agrees Oracle's move is essentially a competitive reaction aimed at maintaining its preexisting customer base, rather than a bold attempt to expand into new markets.
DiDio thinks Oracle is being more ambitious than that, however. Oracle's acquisition history shows it is an aggressive player in multiple markets, and is not about to pass up the opportunity posed by the rapidly growing virtualization space, she says.
