Riverbed and Microsoft broaden relationship with Windows Server 2008 OEM agreement

The RSP is a virtualized partition within the Steelhead appliance that allows customers to deploy applications critical to the branch office as virtualized services on the appliance, enabling them to further consolidate their IT infrastructure.

This agreement further strengthens Riverbed's relationship with Microsoft. In August 2008, Riverbed joined the Microsoft Protocol Optimization Licensing Program (POLP). Through this protocol implementation agreement, Microsoft gives Riverbed access to its intellectual property so that Riverbed can build on its expertise and success accelerating and optimizing Windows-based applications over the wide area network (WAN). Participation in POLP, combined with Riverbed's licensing of Windows Server 2008, gives enterprises that have standardized on Microsoft a proven platform for IT consolidation.

"Many enterprises share a vision of a remote office with few or no servers and IT centralized in the data center. The addition of Microsoft's Windows Server 2008 to the Riverbed Services Platform moves that vision closer to a reality. Riverbed customers get proven and best-of-breed acceleration that can now run the most common IT platform - Windows Server - for their critical remote infrastructure services."

said Zeus Kerravala, senior vice president, Yankee Group.

Riverbed will offer the optional Windows Server 2008 operating system pre-installed on the RSP, allowing customers to leverage this open platform to run Windows server. The Windows Server 2008 services that will be offered on the Steelhead appliances initially include Domain Name System (DNS), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Active Directory, Windows streaming and print services.

Riverbed has joined Microsoft's Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP) and successfully validated its Steelhead appliance to facilitate joint support for customers running Windows Server 2008 on the RSP. In addition, Riverbed is promoting awareness of the integrated solution among channel resellers and customers by offering business frameworks and marketing programs.

"Building a partnership with Riverbed is an exciting new opportunity for collaboration in the branch office," said Julius Sinkevicius, Director Windows Server Marketing at Microsoft.

"Positioning Windows Server 2008 on the Riverbed Services Platform will increase performance and availability of core services in remote sites."

With the combination of Windows Server 2008 infrastructure services and the Riverbed Steelhead appliances, mutual customers can simplify their branch office infrastructure, while at the same time ensuring application performance for end users.

"Being able to run the Windows Server as a virtual machine inside the Riverbed Services Platform enhances our consolidation efforts at the branch office tremendously. Now, we are able to provide print services and Active Directory logon services - all with a standard Windows server," according to Strand Associates' IT Coordinator, Justin Marthaler. "With two of our most trusted vendors working hand-in-hand we now have the ability to virtualize branch offices while using the best solutions."

"Through this relationship with Microsoft our joint customers are able to get even more out of their Riverbed investment. The flexibility of our virtualized solution is now further enhanced by the ability to run Windows Server 2008, allowing customers to realize all of the benefits of IT centralization," said Mohammed Anwar Karzazi, regional director middle east and Africa, Riverbed.