Prize contest to promote virtualisation

IT managers could get an unexpectedly high return on investment from server virtualisation following VMware’s announcement of a competition with prizes totalling $200,000 in cash.

Participants must create a virtual appliance and upload it to VMware’s web site. Entries will be judged on the function and value of the appliance, its innovative use of virtualisation and its size relative to its functionality and performance. VMware’s Ultimate Virtual Appliance Challenge is open to anyone and the firm expects to announce the winners on 14 August at the LinuxWorld trade show in America.

Virtual appliances are similar to traditional appliances that combine hardware and preconfigured applications, the difference being that the preconfigured applications are ready to run on a virtual machine.

The competition is free to enter, and participants could create their entries using their own home computer and free software, so staff do not necessarily need to use their employer’s IT infrastructure.

Virtual machines can be designed and run using VMware’s free VMware Server tool, a beta version of which is available for download, and can be used with VMware Player, which is also available as a free download.

Mendel Rosenblum, co-founder and chief scientist at VMware and chair of the Ultimate Virtual Appliance Challenge judging panel, said virtual appliances provide a better way to distribute and maintain complex software environments.

VMware already provides a range of appliances that can be downloaded and used for free.