With all the issues that VMware have experienced over the past 12-18 months it’s massively important (I feel) that this beta is well represented and as many people as possible download the bits and put to the test the new vSphere platform. There is no doubt that this next release will be VMware’s most important when you think about the 5.5 and 6.0 issues as well as the perceived pressure being heaped by Nutanix and…to a less extent Microsoft with Hyper-V.
VMware need to nail .NEXT!
I say this because the one thing that VMware need to combat AHV, Hyper-V and other hypervisors out their is a return to core platform stability and that can be further achieved if there are enough people testing and then reporting back to the VMware beta teams about their issues…the more diverse the beta base is the great the exposure to potential issues and bugs. This isn’t a guarantee that the perception of reduced stability and increased bugs won’t be totally eradicated but it goes some way to helping.
If selected to participate in the beta there are a set of expectations that people need to commit to.
Participant Expectations:
- Online acceptance of the Master Software Beta Test Agreement will be required prior to visiting the Private Beta Community
- Install beta software within 3 days of receiving access to the beta product
- Provide feedback within the first 4 weeks of the beta program
- Submit Support Requests for bugs, issues and feature requests
- Complete surveys and beta test assignments
- Participate in the private beta discussion forum and conference calls
I highlighted the dot point above relating to participants being active when part of a beta program. If you are just wanting to download the bits and install them for a quick look then you are probably not going to get anything substantial out of a beta program. One of the key reasons they exist is to generate feedback and testing on software thats not yet feature set and potentially has undiscovered bugs. Computer game companies have of recent times been putting out open betas (such as the recent one for the new Doom) to put their software through harsh testing at the hands of their potential customer base…this is no different to what betas such as the vSphere Beta.
When I participate in Beta’s I know that I am helping to shape the future of the product…people that know me know that I am a bit of a “beta whore” but that’s only because I understand the benfits of being involved in the programs and understand that it’s not only important for the vendor…but also important for the customer…after all you are getting a look at what’s next and essentially get to contribute in the final release.
vSphere 6 Beta Details:
This program enables participants to help define the direction of the most widely adopted industry-leading virtualization platform. Folks who want to participate in the program can now indicate their interest by filling out this simple form. The vSphere team will grant access to the program to selected candidates in stages. This vSphere Beta Program leverages a private Beta community to download software and share information.
We will provide discussion forums, webinars, and service requests to enable you to share your feedback with us.
You can expect to download, install, and test vSphere Beta software in your environment or get invited to try new features in a VMware hosted environment. All testing is free-form and we encourage you to use our software in ways that interest you. This will provide us with valuable insight into how you use vSphere in real-world conditions and with real-world test cases, enabling us to better align our product with your business needs.
So if you want to contribute to the future of vSphere…register for the BETA and be active in your participation!
References:
http://info.vmware.com/content/35853_VMware-vSphere-Beta_Interest
