Red Hat to Build a Virtual Appliance OS

Open-source solution provider Red Hat will use its annual summit to share its vision of a new paradigm for business PCs, which includes a partnership with Intel Corp. to deploy appliances in a virtual machine to bring enterprise-class management and security to the PC.

As part of the deal, Red Hat will deliver a branded software platform that supports desktop PCs with Intel vPro chip technology.

The appliance operating system from Red Hat will support pluggable virtual appliances, which will be available through ISVs, to deliver end-to-end manageability, Red Hat CTO Brian Stevens said at its annual Red Hat Summit here on May 9.

Virtual appliances can be used for network security, provisioning, monitoring and asset management, regardless of the state of the desktop operating system.

Red Hat, in collaboration with Intel, also plans to develop, productize and support the necessary software components, including the hypervisor, the service operating system and software development kit.

Product development has already started, with beta software expected later this year and a general release planned for 2008.

"PCs with Intel vPro processor technology running Red Hat's virtual appliance operating system will be able to host business applications in an isolated, secure and manageable manner. End users, IT departments, OEMs and ISVs will all benefit from the solutions that will be created on the back of these core technologies," Stevens said.

The collaboration will bring the power of hardware-assisted virtualization to business desktop computing, while customers should see reduced management costs, improved operational efficiency and less exposure to security threats, regardless of the client operating system, Stevens said.

"The legacy desktop falls short in its ability to provide a secure, reliable and manageable environment. Intel vPro technology, combined with a Red Hat Virtual Appliance operating system, will allow customers to create a rock-solid foundation that can then provision, manage and secure the PC. This technology will reduce operational costs and increase operational flexibility. We are delighted to partner with Intel on this project," he said.

For his part, Doug Fisher, the vice president and general manager of Intel's system software division, said the project would unlock the capabilities of the advanced business PC.

"The virtual appliance capability built into the operating environment of business PCs, coupled with technologies like Intel's virtualization and active management, will enable a new level of solutions from the software ecosystem," he said.

Copyright 2007 by Ziff Davis Media, Distributed by United Press International