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Virtualization from Xinuos - Frequently Asked Questions
Xinuos started shipping Virtual Machine Appliances of it's operating system products in August 2008 and continues to update them with new versions.
The first versions were pre-built OpenServer 5.0.7 appliances with the latest maintenance packs and drivers. The VMware version also includes the VMware tools preinstalled. Two updated versions have been delivered since the first release.
Next in line is OpenServer 6V with an announcement in early 2012. Watch these pages for details.
Overview
Q: What exactly is Xinuos offering with the new virtualization series of products?
Q: We have been running Xinuos servers for decades now, why do I need this?
Q: Virtualization is completely new to me. What is it?
Q: What are the major advantages of server virtualization?
Q: What virtualization platforms are supported by Xinuos Virtualization products?
Xinuos Virtualization Technology
Q: How can Xinuos's virtualization strategy enhance and extend my investment in Xinuos products and applications?
Q: Can I install Xinuos Operating Systems on a virtualized platform such as VMware, Open Source Xen or Microsoft's Hyper-V today?
Q: How do I install Xinuos’s Virtualized Products?
Q: Will Xinuos’s V products provide the complete VMware tools functionality that is available with other platforms?
Licensing
Q: What are the licensing requirements to run Xinuos’s UNIX System Products in a virtualized environment?
Q: Do I require a license for each Virtual Machine or for each instance of a Xinuos operating system running on a virtual machine?
Q: Can I use my existing Xinuos Operating System user licenses on the V product?
Q: Can I use my existing Xinuos Operating System development license on the Xinuos V products?
Migration Considerations
Q: Can I migrate my existing server to VMware or Hyper-V?
Q: If I am already running OpenServer on Hyper-V or VMware, is there any update I can install to convert to a Xinuos V product?
Q: If I am already running OpenServer on VMware or Hyper-V, what are the benefits of running Xinuos V over running native OpenServer?
Xinuos V Add-On’s
Q: What virtualization Support offerings does Xinuos provide?
Overview
Q: What exactly is Xinuos offering with the new virtualization series of products?
A: Xinuos is offering special updated versions of OpenServer. These special versions are optimized to run in a virtualized VMware or in some cases also on Microsoft Hyper-V environment. The optimization includes updated drivers and tools as well as other modifications to greatly enhance the support of OpenServer on such platforms. These new offerings enable customers to keep pace with emerging technologies and to maximize hardware and software efficiencies.
Q: We have been running Xinuos servers for decades now, why do I need this?
A: If your company or IT partner is among the many partners who are implementing a virtual environment, then you will be faced very soon with the question of whether your business critical Xinuos server can be run in such an environment. With the current and future “V” products from Xinuos, you can be assured that your Xinuos server can run efficiently and effectively in a virtual environment.
Q: Virtualization is completely new to me. What is it?
A: A comprehensive answer to this question would require a much longer answer than the space available here. However, the concept of virtualization is actually old and has been used in the mainframe arena for decades. It has been brought over to “commodity” server environments by companies such as VMware and Microsoft and is a hot topic in the IT industry now. It is well established in the data center and has made its way into the SMB market in the last few years. Note, that there are many kinds of virtualization, including storage or application virtualization. We are strictly talking about server virtualization here.
In essence, virtualization essentially lets one computer do the job of multiple computers by sharing the resources of a single computer across multiple environments. Virtual servers and virtual desktops let customers host multiple operating systems and multiple applications both locally and in remote locations, freeing them from physical and geographical limitations. The result is that in addition to energy savings and lower capital expenditures due to more efficient use of hardware resources, customers obtain high availability of resources, better desktop management, increased security, and improved disaster recovery processes.
Q: What are the major advantages of server virtualization?
A: A few of the key motivators for server virtualization are:
- Server consolidation – modern servers are much more powerful and can carry the load of many virtual machines instead of running a single OS on a single server that is mostly idle.
- Flexibility – Your OS running in a virtual machine is independent from the underlying server hardware. Drivers etc. are dealt with from the underlying software that provides the virtual environment. (E.g. VMware ESX or Microsoft Hyper-V)
- Investment protection – your business critical application can be moved over to a virtual environment
- Hardware cost savings
- High availability, Green IT and better management capabilities are other key motivators.
Q: What virtualization platforms are supported by Xinuos V products?
A: Each of the Xinuos V products is supported on slightly different set of platforms. Follow the links on the top right of this page to the version of your interest.
Xinuos V Technology
Q: How can Xinuos's virtualization strategy enhance and extend my investment in Xinuos products and applications?
A: The Xinuos Virtualization strategy can benefit customers in a number of ways. It provides a supported upgrade path for customers running applications on legacy Xinuos operating system releases. It also allows customers to harness the power and flexibility of hardware that may not be certified or supported by the native Xinuos operating system. It provides versions of Xinuos operating systems that have been optimized specifically to run on supported VMware and Microsoft platforms. See the getting started guides for details.
Q: Can I install Xinuos Operating Systems on a virtualized platform such as VMware, Open Source Xen or Microsoft's Hyper-V today?
A: There are reports that customers and partners have installed Xinuos’s UNIX Systems (non-V versions) on VMware platforms. However, Xinuos has provided specific tools and services to ensure optimization and support on VMware and Hyper-V. Xinuos is currently only supporting OpenServer 5.0.7V on VMware and Hyper-V platforms and will support OpenServer 6V initially only on VMware.
Q: How do I install Xinuos’s Virtualized Products?
A: Xinuos virtualization products are quick and easy to install. In addition, Xinuos offers Support and Professional Services to assist customers in getting started using Xinuos systems in a virtual environment. A Xinuos V product is provided as a virtual appliance. You use the "Import" functionality of the supported VMware or Hyper-V products to import the appliance into your virtual environment. For more information about Support or Professional Services offerings, please contact Xinuos sales.
Q: Will Xinuos’s V products provide the complete VMware tools functionality that is available with other platforms?
A: Xinuos V products provide the most important components of the VMware tools. Xinuos V products not only provide the essential VMware tools but also other modifications that allow optimized by Xinuos's engineers for best performance under VMware. The appliance also provides a very comfortable way of getting started with Xinuos V on VMware. Also, as part of the annual maintenance, Xinuos will provide further updates to the V product in the future.
Licensing
A : Xinuos’s V products will all be licensed under an annual subscription model. In order to use any of the V products you first need to upgrade your OS license to the latest release and then purchase a Xinuos V license for a 12 or 36 month period.
The Getting Started Guides for each of the V products provide details on available licensing scenarios. Links to the Getting Started Guides can be found in the navigation bar on the right.
Your annual Xinuos V version license includes 12 months of maintenance and updates for the V release. After 12 months you will need to purchase another subscription license for the V product, which will be available as a license for 12 months or 36 months. Running any of the V products requires an active subscription license per virtual machine. .
Q: Do I require a license for each Virtual Machine or for each instance of a Xinuos operating system running on a virtual machine?
A: Each Xinuos Operating system running as a virtual machine requires a license.
Q: Can I use my existing Xinuos Operating System user and processor licenses on the V product?
A: The same rules apply like on a non V version of licenses. User Licenses from OpenServer 5.0.0 through 5.0.5 must be traded in for new licenses. User licenses issued for OpenServer 5.0.6 or later can be used on both OpenServer 5.0.7V and OpenServer 6V.
Q: Can I use my existing Xinuos Operating System development license on the Xinuos V products?
A: Yes you can, if you replace your existing development system and no longer use the license for another system. However, the development system is not part of the appliance of the Xinuos V product, so you would need to install the development system first on the V product.
Migration Considerations
Q: Can I migrate my existing server to VMware or Hyper-V?
A: Xinuos’s Professional Services offers help for migration of a Xinuos server over to a supported VMware or Hyper-V server.
Q: If I am already running OpenServer on VMware or Hyper-V, is there any update I can install to convert to a Xinuos V product?
A: Customers can upgrade Xinuos OpenServer 5.0.7 systems already running on VMware or Microsoft Hyper-V to Xinuos OpenServer 5.0.7V using the Xinuos OpenServer 5.0.7V Upgrade Supplement. See the Getting Started Guide.
The first release of OpenServer 6V does not inlude an Upgrade Supplement. Professional services are available from Xinuos to facilitate migrations.
A: Customers who choose to run a Xinuos V product on VMware or Hyper-V will benefit from:
- Ease of installation and configuration of Xinuos V
- Bundling of Xinuos ported Vtools in the VMware version to allow closed integration between Xinuos V and VMware
- Optimization of the Xinuos V product to improve performance
- Ongoing feature enhancements to Xinuos V products
- Ongoing maintenance to Xinuos V products
- Support and escalations services for the Xinuos V product
Xinuos V Add-On’s
Q: What virtualization Support offerings does Xinuos provide?
A: Xinuos Support Services offers a wide range of service offerings tailored to the needs of Xinuos V customers. For more information, contact your local Xinuos sales representative:
- North Americas, phone 1 (800) 726-6561
- United Kingdom, Africa and Australia, phone +44 8700 994 992
- Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries, phone +54 11 4671 4496
- Europe, phone +49 6172 48670 or email infod@uxsglobal.com
- India, phone +91 11 41007171 or email indiainfo@uxsglobal.com
- Asia, Contace Xinuos Local Representative.
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