Virtualization is a current hot topic and money saving practice for many organizations; however, the platforms and tools chosen for the organization can make or break virtualization success.  Therefore, we did some research to find out how the platforms and tools stacked up.  Below is the most complete information we found on the subject, from the Virtualization Journal Reader’s Choice Awards.  The original article was posted on April 15, 2009, by Sys-Con, and can be found at http://virtualization.sys-con.com/node/921426.

Following is a list of the 2008 Virtualization Journal Reader’s Choice Awards winners and finalists:

Best Application Virtualization
Winner
-Altiris Software Virtualization Solution, Symantec

Finalists
-VMware Application Virtualization (powered by Thinstall), VMware
-Citrix XenApp”, Citrix Systems
-Solaris Containers, Sun Microsystems

Best Desktop Virtualization Platforms
Winner
-Virtual Access Suite, Provision Networks, a division of Quest Software

Finalists
-VMware Workstation, VMware
-Altiris Software Virtualization Solution Professional, Symantec
-Citrix XenDesktop, Citrix Systems

Best Device Virtualization
Winner
-Wyse TCX Suite, Wyse Technology Inc.

Finalists
-HP VMware ESX Server 3i for HP ProLiant, Hewlett-Packard
-Cisco Application Control Engine (ACE), Cisco Systems
-PowerVM, IBM

Best Grid Virtualization
Winner
-HP Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager, Hewlett-Packard

Finalists
-Tivoli Dynamic Workload Broker, IBM
-GridServer, DataSynapse
-GigaSpaces eXtreme Application Platform (XAP), GigaSpaces Technologies

Best Network Virtualization
Winner
-VMware ESX Server, VMware

Finalists
-Cisco AXP, Cisco Systems
-HP Virtual Connect and Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager (VCEM), Hewlett-Packard
-Xsigo VP780 I/O Director, Xsigo Systems

Best Open Interfaces
Winner
-IBM Service Management, IBM Service Management

Finalist
-Neocleus Desktop Hypervisor Framework, Neocleus

Best P2V Migration
Winner
-Backup Exec System Recovery 8, Symantec Corp.

Finalists
-VMware Converter, VMware
-PlateSpin PowerConvert, PlateSpin Ltd.
-vConverter, Vizioncore Inc.

Best Server Virtualization Platforms
Winner
-VMware Server 1.0.4, VMware

Finalists
-Citrix XenServer, Citrix Systems
-HP VMware ESX Server 3i for HP ProLiant, Hewlett-Packard
-Virtual Iron 4.2, Virtual Iron Software

Best Storage Virtualization
Winner
-Veritas Storage Foundation 5.0, Symantec Corp.

Finalists
-VMware Storage VMotion, VMware
-F5 Acopia ARX, F5 Networks
-HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA), Hewlett-Packard

Best VDI – Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Winner
-Virtual Access Suite, Provision Networks

Finalists
-VMware VDI, VMware
-Wyse Viance Desktop Appliance, Wyse Technology
-Pano Logic, Pano Logic

Best Virtual Lab Automation
Winner
-VMware Lab Manager, VMware

Finalists
-VMLogix LabManager, VMLogix
-Skytap Virtual Lab, Skytap
-Surgient Lab Management Platform, Surgient

Best Virtual Security
Winner
-VMware ESX Server, VMware

Finalists
-Acronis True Image Echo Enterprise Server with Universal Restore, Acronis Inc.
-Third Brigade Deep Security, Third Brigade
-Solaris Trusted Extensions, Sun Microsystems
-Reflex VSA, Reflex Security

Best Virtualization Configuration Management
Winner
-Virtual Essentials, Fortisphere, Inc.

Finalists
-VIRTERA, VIRTERA
-Enterprise Virtualization Management (EVM) Suite, ManageIQ

Best Virtualization Management Tools
Winner
-eG Enterprise Suite, eG Innovations, Inc.

Finalists
-VMware VirtualCenter, VMware
-Altiris Server Management Suite, Symantec
-Veritas Virtual Infrastructure, Symantec Corporation

Original Source:  http://virtualization.sys-con.com/node/921426