ClusterScale releases virtual load balancer

published 11 July 2008

ClusterScale, a company that specialises in load balancing and traffic management based on open source software, has announced the launch of a new virtual appliance, ClusterLoad ESX VA.

It is designed to be virtually identical to the physical appliance but runs on top of VMware's ESX virtual machine.

ClusterLoad ESX VA can be installed on Windows, Mac and Linux and the company says enables businesses to simplify resource management, decrease disaster recovery time, and lower hardware acquisition costs through effective use of existing hardware.

Malcolm Turnbull, director and technical architect for ClusterScale, said that "using a virtual platform lowers consumption in the data centre and reduces your carbon footprint. Load balancers by their nature have fairly modest hardware requirements, so a virtual platform makes a lot of sense from a technical standpoint."

The company is a proud champion of open source software and Turnball told IT PRO that open source was, "just better".

"We like to take the best open source modules and integrate them together." He revealed that that according to its figures less than five per cent of its customers access the source code, but he commented, "they love the fact that they can. All our competitors use open source," he claimed, "they just don't admit it".

Prices for ClusterLoad ESX VA start from 3,995 for a single virtual appliance and is available through resellers and distributors.

Benny Har-Even is a twenty-year stalwart of technology journalism who is passionate about all areas of the industry, but telecoms and mobile and home entertainment are among his chief interests. He has written for many of the leading tech publications in the UK, such as PC Pro and Wired, and previously held the position of technology editor at ITPro before regularly contributing as a freelancer.

Known affectionately as a ‘geek’ to his friends, his passion has seen him land opportunities to speak about technology on BBC television broadcasts, as well as a number of speaking engagements at industry events.

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