VMware updates Lab Manager

VMware has released an updated version of its Lab Manager tool for development and testing, along with new software for monitoring and chargeback of applications running in virtual environments.

Available immediately, vCenter Lab Manager 4 enables an administrator to create and manage an internal cloud infrastructure for development and testing, including a library of pre-configured multi-machine environments to cut preparation time when testing.

Version 4 is now integrated with VMware Stage Manager in order to streamline application delivery from development to production, the company said. It also has improved network fencing capabilities, whereby multiple instances of the same virtual machine can be created without the need to manually adjust the IP address and other settings of each instance.

VCenter Lab Manager 4 is licensed at US$1,495 per processor socket.

Two new tools, also available today, are vCenter AppSpeed and vCenter Chargeback. AppSpeed provides service-level reporting and proactive performance management for multi-tier applications running in virtual machines, according to VMware.

By giving greater visibility into how overall performance is being affected at each tier level in the infrastructure, AppSpeed aids troubleshooting and can resolve performance issues more quickly. AppSpeed is licensed at US$1,250 per socket.

Chargeback is a reporting tool that maps costs to datacentre resources, then tracks usage for accountability. It provides a clear view of resources consumed and their associated costs, which is useful information even for organisations not yet planning a chargeback scheme, according to VMware. For those that are, Chargeback can automatically create detailed billing reports. The tool is licensed at US$750 per socket.