IBM Integrates Virtual Machine Management

When virtualization first became popular, IT organizations tended to detail separate management teams to master the nuances of virtual machines. But as familiarity with virtualization increases, IT organizations are looking more toward unified virtual and physical server management.

IBM, which today rolled out an enterprise edition of its VMControl software, is one of several established providers of systems management tools looking to integrate virtual machine management as a feature of a larger systems management framework. And while there are still any number of companies dedicated to providing stand-alone virtualization management tools, the long-term trend seems to be shifting toward integration.

Here's a look at the interface:

As a plug-in module, IBM is positioning VMcontrol as an integrated extension of its systems management tools that will allow customers to manage their entire server infrastructure from within a single environment. Those tools can either be used to manage virtual machines from VMware, Microsoft, Citrix or IBM on any mainframe, Power or Intel server platform. In addition, users of the IBM tools can opt to manage those virtual machines directly, or integrate the IBM tools with virtualization management tools such as vCenter from VMware.

In either scenario, IBM officials said customers want to be able to manage their entire environment via a single pane of glass that does not require them to constantly switch back and forth between tools that have completely different user interfaces.