Kodak unveils Virtual Operating Environment

Kodak, through a partnership with VMware, is launching its first Virtual Operating Environment option for its Unified Workflow Solutions. The new feature is claimed to provide significant cost savings, increased efficiency and failover protection by hosting multiple ‘virtual’ servers simultaneously on a single physical server.

The feature is aimed at commercial printers, package printers, publishers and others who are looking for ways to reduce costs while adding server capacity and simplifying IT management. With the Virtual Operating Environment option, servers hosting the Kodak Prinergy Connect Workflow and the Kodak Insite Prepress Portal System can be managed and expanded more efficiently. Users can minimize downtime by subscribing to an option that employs redundant virtual servers.

In a typical Virtual Operating Environment configuration, a single physical server hosts two Prinergy Connect Workflows (a primary and secondary server) and an Insite Prepress Portal System, thereby providing a powerful Kodak Unified Workflow Solution in one-third the physical space with one-third the energy consumption for server power and cooling. License fees are similarly reduced, and maintenance and operations are more manageable because there are fewer servers to install, support and upgrade.

‘We’re confident the Kodak Virtual Operating Environment option can help printers further reduce their capital and operating costs without affecting the level of service they provide their customers; in fact, it can even increase IT reliability with simplified redundancy options,’ noted Jon Bracken, general manager, Unified Workflow Solutions, Business Solutions and Services Group, Kodak. ‘By eliminating some of the physical servers, printers can significantly reduce the space, power and IT management required to house and run their infrastructure.’ 

The Virtual Operating Environment technology is made possible through Kodak’s strategic partnership with VMware. VMware’s suite of virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions addresses a range of information technology problems that include cost and operational inefficiencies, business continuity, software lifecycle management and desktop management. 

‘Embedding industry-leading VMware technology can help partners increase the value their solutions provide to customers,’ said Bernie Mills, senior director, embedded OEM alliances, VMware. ‘By partnering with VMware, Kodak can also decrease costs while increasing capacity, simplifying management and improving business agility.’ 

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