Data security independence from hardware is the promise from backup specialist Arkeia for its upcoming Network Backup version 8.0. But it's not the only enhancement from the company with its French roots.

Sun Microsystems has acquired Belgian company Q-Layer, which specializes in cloud computing.

Rocks offers an easy solution for clustering with virtual machines.

Cobbler helps you install new systems in a hurry. We'll show you how to use this nifty shoemaker to deploy Xen and VMware virtual machines.

A virtual appliance combines the benefits of virtualization with the simplicity of a single-service device. We show you how to roll your own virtual appliances with VWware Studio and SUSE Studio.

The free virtualization product VirtualBox has released a new version 2.1 that not only supports 3D graphics, but the full VMDK and VHD formats from VMware and Microsoft.

Hewlett-Packard has partnered with Novell in developing a new, secure Linux desktop product. At the same time, HP has joined up with Mozilla to promote a desktop virtualization project for small business customers.

Red Hat president and CEO Jim Whitehurst sees opportunities for open source firms that might be putting undue burden on their dwindling IT departments because of the current economic downturn. Whitehurst offered his views in a press conference in Munich. His conclusion: "When people look at alternatives, often Open Source wins."