BEA Systems announced that it is working with VMware to deliver Java virtualization for the enterprise. The new BEA LiquidVM VI Client Extension enables customers to deploy and manage enterprise Java applications as virtual machines within a VMware-virtualized environment. LiquidVM VI Client Extension allows users to easily create, configure and manage LiquidVM-based virtual machines, such as WebLogic Server Virtual Edition or any other Java application, as standalone, bundled, ready-to-run software appliances that offer high performance computing to create a dynamic flexible architecture - all from within VMware VirtualCenter.

    BEA and VMware collaborated on the development of this seamless extension to VMware VirtualCenter to improve the performance, efficiency and simplicity of Java applications on VMware virtualization software. VMWare intends to package it within a future release of their Virtual Center product line. The extension leverages BEA LiquidVM and VMware Infrastructure, the market-leading virtualization software suite, to provide customers with a self-contained, seamless extension to VMware VirtualCenter, the management component of VMware Infrastructure.

    "Our enabling technology combined with VMware's leadership in the virtualization space has delivered an innovative virtualization offering for Java environments," said Guy Churchward, Vice President, Java Runtime Products, BEA Systems. "With our new LiquidVM VI Client Extension, creating LiquidVM-based virtual machines within VirtualCenter that are capable of running any Java application is a simple, straightforward process."

    The LiquidVM VI Client Extension is a plug-in to VMware's VI Client which seamlessly extends VI Client's interface to make LiquidVM a first class citizen. Using LVM VICE, users can easily create and configure LiquidVM-based virtual machines including WebLogic Server VE or any other Java applications. This utility is provided as-is and can be downloaded as a ready-to-use virtual appliance. BEA LiquidVM is a virtualization-enabled version of the JRockit JVM that can run on a hypervisor without a standard OS, allowing Java applications to run directly on the virtualized hardware without the need of a standard operating system.

    "BEA and VMware together have made the virtual Java appliance a reality. Organizations that deploy Java-based applications on dedicated servers can now easily move to the dynamic, flexible architecture enabled by VMware virtualization," stated Parag Patel, vice president, alliances, VMware. ""BEA LiquidVM provides Just Enough Operating System (JeOS) and makes the combination of VMware and BEA virtualization products a dynamic, high-performing solution for customers who run Java applications."

    Deploying BEA WebLogic applications on VMware Infrastructure will drive tangible benefits through the complete software lifecycle from development to high availability. By expediting and simplifying the application development and testing processes customers will experience faster time to production while maintaining high quality throughout these processes. VMware Infrastructure allows customers to encapsulate applications and operating systems into virtual machines, which are standardized, hardware-independent packages that can be easily changed, moved and manipulated. This platform configures virtual appliances along with providing complete governance and automation solution for enterprise grade virtualization.