Migration Windows and Non-Windows Applications With Microsoft Azure Cloud by Sphere 3D

Sphere 3D Corp. announced the availability of the Glassware 2.0 containerization technology on the Microsoft Azure Cloud platform.

Azure customers will have access to the full breadth and scope of company’s enterprise Glassware 2.0 offering, which includes core containerization technology to simplify Windows and non-Windows application migration to the cloud.

“To understand the scale of the market opportunity for Sphere 3D’s solutions, consider that businesses must migrate their legacy applications to the cloud or latest OSs in order to have maximum efficiency, and many want to migrate to SaaS business models. Also consider that Windows 10 has been installed on 75 million machines in its first few weeks of availability and this OS is expected to run on nearly one billion devices globally within the next three years,” said Eric Kelly, CEO, Sphere 3D.

He continued: “Organizations of all sizes are going to require a migration plan for the millions of users currently utilizing legacy applications. Designed from the ground up to specifically address the need for on-demand application delivery, Glassware 2.0 technology on Microsoft Azure solves the challenges associated with transitioning applications to the cloud, be it web-scalability, mobility, infrastructure management or cloud compatibility.”

Requiring no code re-writes or translation, Glassware 2.0 eliminates the complex task of designing, implementing, and maintaining application hosting environments, while providing industry leading application session density and scale. Glassware 2.0 can virtualize 16, 32 and 64-bit Windows applications, and is uniquely capable of running non-Windows software as well. Non-Windows workloads can be ported to the cloud by deploying company’s proprietary Microvisor technology within containers. Microvisor has the intelligence to utilize only the essential elements of the OS needed to successfully migrate non-windows software applications to the modern data center.

Company’s containerization technology delivers applications with their native functionality to most end-user devices including Chromebooks, Windows 10 devices, iPads, thin clients, and tablets. And unlike other hypervisor-based approaches, with Glassware 2.0 containers, the application’s host OS is never installed on the appliance (server). Instead, Glassware 2.0 provides only the necessary elements of the OS (kernel) needed for applications to run, allowing organizations with legacy applications to migrate to more robust and current hardware platforms, free from end-of-life support concerns and security vulnerabilities. Whether it is an enterprise looking to modernize their current or older line of business applications, or a software vendor considering seeking a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business model, the ‘write once run anywhere’ approach afforded by Glassware 2.0 removes the risk and costs of application mobility and migration.

“The next cloud will be primarily a hybrid cloud, meaning today’s globally-distributed businesses with mobile workforces need IT solutions that deliver flexible, scalable and secure environments while maintaining productivity,” said Mark Bowker, senior analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. “Sphere 3D’s Glassware 2.0 Windows containerization technology allows the modernization and mobilization of applications without the need to invest in new application development and infrastructure, which is commonly required when implementing traditional hypervisor-based virtualization solutions. The simplicity of its application containerization methodology, along with the ease it provides for mobilizing legacy applications, makes this a game changer.“

Glassware 2.0 architecture is available on Azure through two delivery models:

For delivering applications from 100s to 100,000s
of users-company’s Exosphere on Microsoft Azure Cloud

• Powered by Glassware 2.0 technology

• Network aware applications delivery

• Globally distributed and a hybrid-cloud supported

• Pure consumption model for Windows applications

• Most secure cloud application delivery in the industry

• Available: through direct solution delivery engagement

• Information on Exosphere.

For delivering applications with 10s to 100s
of users-Glassware G-Series in Microsoft Azure Marketplace

• Powered by Glassware 2.0 technology

• Virtual appliance for application containerization

• Applications available for less than a penny per user/ hour and 1/10th the cost compared to traditional cloud computing alternatives

• Availability slated for November 2015

• Information on G-Series in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace