Business Objects is working with Citrix Systems, rPath, and RightScale to develop a virtualized appliance version of its Crystal Reports Server XI software, which it claims can be deployed in minutes.
The company has struck a new collaboration with Citrix over its new line of XenSource virtual appliance technology. Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Citrix acquired XenSource this summer, paying $500m for its virtual application server and desktop infrastructure. The acquisition was closed earlier this week.
Meanwhile Raleigh, North Carolina-based rPath develops a virtual software appliance technology called rBuilder that enables applications to be delivered as software appliances in multiple virtual machine formats. Each appliance contains a purpose-built operating system and all the components it needs to run in a virtualized environment.
The new Crystal Reports Server XI virtual appliance is offered as a pre-installed and pre-configured software-hardware bundle of the Citrix and rPath’s technologies blended with Business Objects Crystal Reports software. Customers can test-drive the appliance virtually, thanks to RightScale’s cloud computing web applications deployment technology, which Business Objects claims reduces the cost and complexity typically associated with BI evaluations.
We’re introducing a new, radically simplified way for small and mid-sized organizations to test drive and deploy the world’s favorite reporting solution, said John Schwarz, CEO of San Jose, California-based Business Objects.
The partnerships represent the latest developments in Business Objects’ Open Appliance Initiative (OAI) that the company launched in March this year to deliver pre-packaged hardware-software combos that take advantage third-party data warehousing, BI and virtualization technologies.
Last month Business Objects unveiled a virtual BI appliance based on technology from EMC subsidiary VMware. The appliance offers a pre-installed and pre-configured BI system comprising of Business Objects Crystal Decisions Standard edition running on VMware’s virtualization platform.
Business Objects has promised to roll out similar appliances through the course of next year that bundle in other technologies with its BI software.
Citrix now joins a growing list of OAI partners, that includes rPath and RightScale as well as data warehousing appliance vendors like Netezza, Datallegro, Greenplum, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Teradata.
The Crystal Reports Server XI virtual appliance is expected to ship in first-quarter of 2008.
Business Objects made announced the partner initiative at the Citrix’s iForum 07 App Delivery Expo in Las Vegas this week.
Business Objects is currently the subject of a $6.8bn takeover bid by German business applications giant SAP. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of next year pending regulatory approval.
