Veeam unveils Configurator update for VMware ESX

Virtualisation management specialist Veeam has unveiled a new version of its Configurator tool for VMware's ESX Server 3.5.

Configurator 2.0 is designed to help VMware administrators ensure that their ESX and ESXi host configurations meet IT and corporate governance policies, while at the same time reducing the management overhead of the task.

New features including automated discovery of ESX and ESXi hosts and creation of host profile templates, change management and reporting, configuration compliance auditing and simplified provisioning of hosts.

While some of these features are being tackled by VMware itself, this will only be in the next version of ESX, leaving the installed user base of ESX 3 facing a major upgrade in order to tap important configuration automation functions.

"VMware has announced a new capability called Host Profiles' as part of its upcoming Virtual Datacenter Operating System," explained Ratmir Timashev, chief executive of Veeam. "Until that time, VMware administrators can get the same functionality today by using Veeam Configurator's host profile templates."

Configurator also enables admins to produce detailed reports on the status of their ESX and ESXi hosts to document which ones meet the pre-defined template schemes.

Configurator 2.0 is available now and costs from $250 (168) per socket based on US pricing.