Instant Remote Access to Skytap Virtual Machines

One of the coolest and most powerful features of Skytap is the ability to create a virtual data center and start interacting with its virtual machines (VMs) in just a few clicks, all from the comfort of your favorite browser. It takes a lot of complicated technology to make this simplicity possible, and that’s what

What Does a Hybrid Cloud Look Like?

In the last two posts of this series, I posed the question Is this the Start of a Hybrid Cloud Revolution? and then described How to Build a Hybrid Cloud. Building off of that base knowledge, I’d like to demonstrate what exactly a hybrid cloud looks like. It’s one thing to see a simple hybrid

Do VMware’s Hands-on Labs Spell the End of Home Labs?

Last week, VMware expert Edward Grigson produced a blog entitled, Online virtualisation labs come of age that poses the question: Will VMware’s Hands-on Labs spell the end of home labs? In his piece he discusses the fact that, until recently, there were no public cloud services that allowed users to experiment with the hypervisor layer.

Trek Ascends to the Cloud with Skytap

Aging infrastructure is one reason that many companies make the decision to integrate cloud solutions. Trek, one of the largest bicycle manufacturers in the world, had a point-of-sale software called Ascend, with a development and test IT infrastructure based on an old VMware environment consisting of four servers, a SAN storage system, and limited on-premises

Watch SmartClient at Work

SmartClient™ is our latest feature release that offers a fast, easy, and secure way to remotely access and interact with the complex computing environments you create in Skytap Cloud™. It offers the flexibility of using the SmartClient Java-based browser applet or any Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)-capable client on any device including desktops, laptops, smartphones, and

Virtual Trainers: Are You Asking the Right Questions About the Cloud?

Since the economic downturn of 2008, training organizations have been asked to do more with less. I’ve heard from many of our customers that training budgets were the first to be cut, which is now forcing a shift in how training is delivered. Many customers have chosen not to travel to remote training facilities and

A Revolution in Virtual Training

In Part 1 of this two-part series, we’ll look at the challenges that face training professionals in today’s enterprise learning climate, and how the cloud is helping to overcome them. Can you take traditional training online and achieve the same learning outcomes? The challenges facing training organizations continue to grow. Companies need to provide software

Are You Ready for Windows 8?

There’s no doubt that Microsoft is betting big on what they have rightfully called a “reimagining” of the company’s flagship operation system. Windows 8 looks to offer a significant opportunity to deliver new user experiences, and I would suspect that you are probably wondering how your business will best prepare itself for what this latest

Lab Manager EOL: Migrate Your Lab Environments to the Cloud

In parts one and two of this three-part series, we looked at options for organizations that are currently running vCenter Lab Manager in light of the VMware decision to discontinue additional major releases. In part three, we will explore the option of transitioning to a third-party virtual lab management product. The Move to the Cloud The

Lab Manager EOL: Transitioning to a New Product

In part one of this three-part series, we looked at options for organizations that are currently running Lab Manager in light of the VMware decision to discontinue additional major releases of vCenter Lab Manager. In part 2, we’ll explore the option of transitioning to a new product. Transition to a Different Virtual Lab Management Product

Lab Manager EOL: Weighing Your Options

In early 2011, VMware announced its decision to discontinue additional major releases of vCenter Lab Manager. This leaves organizations that are currently running Lab Manager at a crossroads. They need to determine whether it’s best for them to continue using the virtual lab infrastructure that is already in place, or consider other options for their

Full Visibility and Control with SmartClient

SmartClient™ is our latest feature release that offers a fast, easy, and secure way to remotely access and interact with the complex computing environments you create in Skytap Cloud™. It offers the flexibility of using the SmartClient Java-based browser applet or any Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)-capable client on any device including desktops, laptops, smartphones, and