Quest Software Launches vWorkspace 6.0

Quest Software has always been adept at filling gaps in an IT infrastructure, and their latest virtualization product--Quest vWorkspace--hopes to continue that tradition. Despite the new name, vWorkspace isn't really a new product. Up until January 13th the product went by the rather cumbersome name of Provision Networks Virtual Access Suite, but Quest introduced a new product name with the latest version, dubbing it vWorkspace 6.0.

Just as Quest fills gaps in existing IT infrastructures with some of their other products, The Quest Desktop Virtualization Group -- formed out of Quest Software's acquisition of Provision Networks in November 2007 -- focuses on helping IT pros get a handle on multi-platform management and deployment tasks. According to Quest, vWorkspace can help administrators deploy and manage VMs created by Microsoft (Hyper-V), Virtual Iron, Parallels (Virtuozzo Containers), and VMware (ESX Server). It also integrates blade servers and terminal services, helping give admins an integrated management solution that spans virtual and physical resources.

At a more granular level, vWorkspace offers desktop lifecycle management, desktop integrity management, and allows for the delegation of administration management. Quest's Experience Optimized Protocol (EOP) also helps improve and monitor performance of virtual applications and desktops, ranging from accelerating graphic performance, accelerating multimedia content, and reducing network latency.

Quest Software's Paul Ghostine stressed the importance of these new EOP capabilities in a statement supporting the release of the product, saying that "[vWorkspace] Version 6.0 significantly changes the connection broker landscape. We are not only delivering the most comprehensive set of management capabilities, but also responding to real world requirements, whereby user experience needs eclipse any advances in manageability. Our EOP delivers best-in-class performance for a wide variety of applications and use cases."

Additional features introduced in this latest release include improved support for Expand Networks appliances, USB device support over remote sessions, and HP Remote Graphics Software (RGS). For upgrade, pricing, and availability information, visit the vWorkspace web site.

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A. If you have a VM that's not showing in the Hyper-V management console, you can manipulate the content of the Virtual Machines folder and add a shortcut to the configuration XML file of the VM you want to add. The folder is located at C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWindowsHyper-VVirtual Machines, but is hidden by default.

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