Springsource, VMware partner to create enterprise Java VMs, appliances
Springsource and VMware have partnered to ease the process of creating and deploying open source enterprise Java applications in virtualized environments.
The partnership calls for cooperation on multiple levels. First, it is designed to integrate the Eclipse-base SpringSource Tool Suite and VMware Workstation. This will result in a new set of virtual machines for developer desktops, thus allowing developers to "quickly and easily specify virtual server configurations for different development and test scenarios," the two companies said in a joint statement.
"These virtual appliances will allow developers to select a variety of build targets with different operating systems and application server configurations without needing additional physical hardware - dramatically accelerating software development times and reducing hardware costs," the companies said.
Secondly, Springsource has pledged to develop two open source application-server virtual appliances – the SpringSource tc Server and dm Server virtual appliances. Springsource's dm Server is a modular, OSGi-based Java server designed to run enterprise Java applications and Spring-powered applications with improve flexibility and reliability, the company claims. SpringSource tc Server, the other server, is an enterprise version of Apache Tomcat.
"When run on VMware Infrastructure, these appliances will enable the portability of enterprise Java applications across desktop and data center environments," according to a releae issue by both companies this week. "Virtual appliance configuration, deployment and debugging will be integrated with the SpringSource Tool Suite, and ready-to-use virtual images will be provided for dm Server, tc Server and Apache Tomcat.
The first commercial offerings are due in January of 2009, the companies said.