Cloud Moves: Citrix Unveils Network Appliance, Terremark Intros Private Service

Cloud Formations

The action never stops when it comes to cloud computing, as it seems the entire technology world is turning in some way to the cloud, or at least thinking about it.

Some of the most recent activity includes Citrix’s release of Netscaler 10 network appliance to optimize cloud delivery; solution provider Hostway’s introduction of an API supporting Hyper-V in the cloud; Terremark’s deployment of private services; solution provider OnX's Cisco cloud designation; and Amazon Web Services' new cloud search feature.

Continue on and check out the details.

Citrix Speeds Cloud Services

Citrix Systems on Tuesday released its Netscaler 10 updated application delivery controller, which it said will help customers deliver faster and more flexible public and private cloud services.

Netscaler 10 gives datacenter and cloud managers a set of network-based services to hasten the delivery of cloud applications and data. The appliance is based on Citrix's underlying TriScale technology platform that offers fast, on-demand software licensing; uses NetScaler SDX platform to consolidates managed devices into a single appliance; and adds appliances when necessary.

Netsacaler 10 also includes enhancements to the Citrix Application Firewall module that not only support common event format (CEF) standard but also make it easier to protect against data leakage.

Citrix will highlight Netscaler 10 at the upcoming Citrix Synergy 2012 conference May 9-11 in San Francisco.

Hostway Adds API Hyper-V In Private, Public and Hybrid Clouds

Solution provider Hostway this week released FlexCloud API, an application programming interface that supports Hyper-V in private, public and hybrid cloud deployments. The API, which is compatible with the OpenStack, open-source standard, helps partners and resellers build services on cloud platforms, Hostway said. Hostway customers can use the API to automate server provisioning, auto-scale servers up and down as needed, and integrate their services on an enterprise-class cloud.

Businesses with a private Hyper-V cloud can integrate Hostway’s FlexCloud Servers with their own servers to control their virtual machines, while Resellers can use the API to bundle and resell their own offerings with Hostway cloud services.

Hostway, of Chicago, Ill., was named this month to CRN's 2012 Partner Programs Guide and awarded a 5-Star Partner rating for its channel partner program.

Terremark Rolls Out Private Cloud

Verizon subsidiary Terremark unveiled a private version of its Enterprise Cloud service. The release, called Enterprise Cloud Private Edition, is designed to meet security requirements of large enterprises and government agencies.

The private cloud is based on the architecture of Terremark’s flagship, public cloud service, called Enterprise Cloud. Large companies and government agencies can use Terremark's cloud services in a hybrid alignment, keeping IT resources secure and private when warranted and moving resources to the public cloud when necessary.

Verizion also said Terremark will work with General Dynamics in a $250 million deal to help the U.S. Army develop its own cloud services platform. As part of the military's Area Processing Centers Army Private Cloud 2 initiative, Terremark, will provide security, networking and storage capacity.

OnX Wins Cisco Cloud Certification

Solution provider OnX said this week it had achieved the Cisco Cloud Provider Certification with a Cisco Powered Cloud IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) designation to support cloud services.

The Cisco Cloud Provider Certification recognizes OnX's experience in designing, building, and operating its own data centers to offer clients cloud services in a multitenant environment. The designation means that with the Cisco Powered IaaS designation, OnX's cloud offering is deployed using Cisco-validated infrastructures.

In addition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based OnX received a Cisco Customer Satisfaction Gold Star for Excellence.

OnX, with more than 700 employees, had revenues in 2011 of more than $750 million, and it has customers and offices throughout North America and Europe.

Amazon Releases CloudSearch

Amazon Web Services is making it easier to use sophisticated search in cloud applications. Last week AWS released CloudSearch, a low-cost, managed search service that allows users to integrate it into their applications in the cloud.

Amazon CloudSearch can scale as the amount of searchable data increases or as the query rate changes, and users can change search parameters, adjust search relevance, and apply new settings without having to upload the data again.

The search service supports features including free text search, faceted search, customizable relevance ranking, configurable search fields, text processing options, and near real-time indexing.

Amazon said CloudSearch offers low, pay-as-you-go pricing, ranging from 12 cents to 68 cents an hour.

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