Dunes Adds Web 2.0 Front End to VS-O 3.1; Virtual Appliance Packaging Speeds Delivery.

Version 3.1 brings new possibilities of expressing business processes and enables administrators to automate IT procedures based on best practices

STAMFORD, Conn. -- Dunes, the only enterprise software provider primarily focused on virtualization to offer a true framework to perform full automation of virtual datacenters, today announced Dunes Virtual Service Orchestrator (VS-O) version 3.1. With a new Web 2.0 front end as well as the ability to be downloaded as a ready-to-install virtual appliance, Dunes VS-O 3.1 enables enterprises to bring new possibilities of expression and flexibility to automating their data center services.

Dunes VS-O is a powerful, open platform that enables organizations to easily create or adapt any IT automated procedure to fit a particular organization's needs and best practices. The Dunes VS-O 3.1 new Web-based front end builds on previous platform releases by enhancing business process creation with new possibilities of expression and flexibility. The open architecture philosophy allows for a high level of customization within VS-O to control and automate virtually any IT process by following standards and creating applications that are Web-aware.

Easy to Implement Virtual Appliance

The VS-O virtual appliance is based on a VMware Virtual Machine, which includes a Linux OS, a database and a directory service. It comes with a pre-installed library of processes and connectors. Once downloaded, the VS-O virtual appliance can be installed in just a few simple clicks.

"In today's evolving IT environments, virtual appliances provide organizations with the flexibility, ease of use and rapid implementation they need to simplify and standardize processes in the data center," said Stefan Hochuli Paych[c]re, CTO and co-founder of Dunes. "With the virtual appliance VS-O 3.1, customers can immediately get their services up and running and increase the speed to ROI by eliminating the time and cost of installing a separate OS and applications, resulting in a streamlined and standardized data center."

Additional Dunes VS-O 3.1 platform enhancements include:

* Revised access rights management provides administrators with more granular control of user authorization by separating the access right of the process and the access rights to the objects manipulated by the process.

* Improvements to the workflow engine enable the product to function more efficiently, allow for better exception handling, makes process graph more readable and the development process more natural.

* Improvements in the handling of workflow inputs allow users to apply advanced filters and define actions to refine input selection.

* Added support for Novell eDirectory and open-LDAP directory services in addition to MS Active Directory.

* Site-specific configuration techniques that enable administrators to simply and quickly adjust parameters based on individual needs.

* Resources can now be part of exportable packages and benefit from the platform's versioning and DRM features.

* Updates to the Web Service for SOA integration to better support current business practices and users.

* Improved performance of many plugins, especially the VMware VIM3 plugin.

* Constantly expanding library of over 100 workflows that act as templates for the customization and automation of client processes. The workflow library includes templates for life-cycle management, provisioning, disaster recovery, hot backup and other out-of-the-box processes. The library has been fully ported to the new 3.1 workflow engine, providing the user with the best possible experience.

* Fully backward compatible with VS-O 3.0, including Web views.

"In a Web-based IT environment, information flows from the desktop to PDAs, to virtual servers in locations all around the world, making it extremely difficult for organizations to manage their IT resources and data," said Steve Norall, senior analyst and consultant at the Taneja Group. "The Dunes VS-O 3.1, with its Web 2.0 front end, enables organizations to automate and access critical data center services for all their constituencies no matter where they are located."

Availability and Pricing

Dunes VS-O version 3.1 will be available in July for $2,900 per server license and $790 per CPU license. Dunes provides volume discounting for VS-O version 3.1 and offers added incentives for educational institutions. Dunes' systems engineers conduct a complimentary one-day installation and demonstration of VS-O complete with an evaluation of customers' IT infrastructures and suggestions on what processes to automate.

About Dunes

Based in Lausanne (Switzerland) and with offices in Stamford, CT, Dunes is developing and commercializing business process automation and system management (orchestrator) software with an initial focus on virtual services (VS-O) and for the virtual desktop environment (VD-O). Dunes fully supports VMware's platforms today and development is proceeding towards compatibility with all virtualized platforms including Microsoft. Dunes enables the management of virtual environments with automated and customizable processes providing a strong value proposition in terms of efficiency and reliability of the infrastructure, while reducing complexity and maintaining business agility. Founded in 2001, Dunes' key investors are Affentranger Associates SA and Skwich Holding SA. More information about the Company can be found at www.dunesUSA.com.

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