CloudFounders Releasing Software Only Version of Private Cloud

CloudFounders NV, developer of private cloud software for IT-as-a-Service solutions, was running a number of events and announcing news at VMworld Europe in Barcelona this October as it celebrates its second anniversary as true private on premise cloud platform.

Following three years of development, CloudFounders shipped its first true private cloud-in-a-box software in 2010 under an OEM agreement. The platform includes CloudFounder’s own control, policy and storage technologies to provide an integrated point and click deployment and management experience. As part of its former OEM agreement, more than 2,000 customers have purchased CloudFounders’ private cloud technology but as of August 2012, the technology is now available under CloudFounders’ own brand, CloudFrames, to customers worldwide.

"At VMworld Europe, you saw a dozen vendors claiming to offer a ‘Cloud-in-a-box’ solution that can allow MSP’s and enterprises to deliver a cost effective and scalable platform for the delivery of cloud services," explains Joost Metten, CEO for CloudFounders, "But if you look under the covers, all you will find is a standard virtualisation platform and vanilla hardware. Our team have been developing this platform for a very long time and have a proven business model deployed in the real world within successful customer references."

True Private Cloud
CloudFrames is a software platform that converts commodity x86 hardware into a multi-function, reliable and performance private cloud. It is an integrated solution built over six years of engineering that combines the following:

• Cloud automation and management engine offering a single pane of glass for server, network and storage virtualization
• Scale out, redundant SAN with performance at 20,000 IOPS per box
• 15 minute snapshots zero copy cloning and replication
• Built in continuous backup and DR
• Multiple hypervisor support across VMware, Hyper-V, Xen and VirtualBox
• Flexible deployment options – either at the customer office or a data center
• Uses commodity x86 hardware

Software only
New for VMworld Europe, CloudFounders has certified its software components as compatible with an list of server vendors hardware.

"Based on requirements from our MSP clients, we have completed the first round of hardware certification for our integrated storage SAN with the current generation of servers from Dell, HP, IBM and several other leading vendors," explains Metten.

This certification process allows MSPs and enterprises to deploy CloudFrames across a range of hardware platforms and virtualisation platforms including VMware, Hyper-V, Xen and VirtualBox.

MSP pricing model
CloudFounders is also announcing a special pricing model for MSPs which will reduce upfront costs and promote the delivery of profitable Cloud services.

"Cloud MSPs need to be able to differentiate themselves from the chasing pack through cost effectiveness or additional features that are not available elsewhere in the market," comments Metten, "We have a complete solution that we estimate costs 40% less per user to deploy than anything with comparable features or performance. We are further helping MSPs by offering a pay as you go licencing model to encourage potential clients to try before they buy without risk."