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Virtualization from UnXis - Frequently Asked Questions
UnXis 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 UnXis offering with the new virtualization series of products?
Q: We have been running UnXis 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 UnXis Virtualization products?
UnXis Virtualization Technology
Q: How can UnXis's virtualization strategy enhance and extend my investment in UnXis products and applications?
Q: Can I install UnXis Operating Systems on a virtualized platform such as VMware, Open Source Xen or Microsoft's Hyper-V today?
Q: How do I install UnXis’s Virtualized Products?
Q: Will UnXis’s V products provide the complete VMware tools functionality that is available with other platforms?
Licensing
Q: What are the licensing requirements to run UnXis’s UNIX System Products in a virtualized environment?
Q: Do I require a license for each Virtual Machine or for each instance of a UnXis operating system running on a virtual machine?
Q: Can I use my existing UnXis Operating System user licenses on the V product?
Q: Can I use my existing UnXis Operating System development license on the UnXis 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 UnXis V product?
Q: If I am already running OpenServer on VMware or Hyper-V, what are the benefits of running UnXis V over running native OpenServer?
UnXis V Add-On’s
Q: What virtualization Support offerings does UnXis provide?
Overview
Q: What exactly is UnXis offering with the new virtualization series of products?
A: UnXis 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 UnXis 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 UnXis server can be run in such an environment. With the current and future “V” products from UnXis, you can be assured that your UnXis 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 UnXis V products?
A: Each of the UnXis 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.
UnXis V Technology
Q: How can UnXis's virtualization strategy enhance and extend my investment in UnXis products and applications?
A: The UnXis Virtualization strategy can benefit customers in a number of ways. It provides a supported upgrade path for customers running applications on legacy UnXis 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 UnXis operating system. It provides versions of UnXis 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 UnXis 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 UnXis’s UNIX Systems (non-V versions) on VMware platforms. However, UnXis has provided specific tools and services to ensure optimization and support on VMware and Hyper-V. UnXis 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 UnXis’s Virtualized Products?
A: UnXis virtualization products are quick and easy to install. In addition, UnXis offers Support and Professional Services to assist customers in getting started using UnXis systems in a virtual environment. A UnXis 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 UnXis sales.
Q: Will UnXis’s V products provide the complete VMware tools functionality that is available with other platforms?
A: UnXis V products provide the most important components of the VMware tools. UnXis V products not only provide the essential VMware tools but also other modifications that allow optimized by UnXis's engineers for best performance under VMware. The appliance also provides a very comfortable way of getting started with UnXis V on VMware. Also, as part of the annual maintenance, UnXis will provide further updates to the V product in the future.
Licensing
A : UnXis’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 UnXis 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 UnXis 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 UnXis operating system running on a virtual machine?
A: Each UnXis Operating system running as a virtual machine requires a license.
Q: Can I use my existing UnXis 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 UnXis Operating System development license on the UnXis 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 UnXis 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: UnXis’s Professional Services offers help for migration of a UnXis 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 UnXis V product?
A: Customers can upgrade UnXis OpenServer 5.0.7 systems already running on VMware or Microsoft Hyper-V to UnXis OpenServer 5.0.7V using the UnXis 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 UnXis to facilitate migrations.
A: Customers who choose to run a UnXis V product on VMware or Hyper-V will benefit from:
- Ease of installation and configuration of UnXis V
- Bundling of UnXis ported Vtools in the VMware version to allow closed integration between UnXis V and VMware
- Optimization of the UnXis V product to improve performance
- Ongoing feature enhancements to UnXis V products
- Ongoing maintenance to UnXis V products
- Support and escalations services for the UnXis V product
UnXis V Add-On’s
Q: What virtualization Support offerings does UnXis provide?
A: UnXis Support Services offers a wide range of service offerings tailored to the needs of UnXis V customers. For more information, contact your local UnXis 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 UnXis Local Representative.
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