For the first time, server vendors from around the world which participate in the Intel Enabled Server Acceleration Alliance (ESAA) program will have an opportunity to adopt and market VMware's popular products to their IT customers.

Intel Corporation today announced that it is now providing VMware Inc. certified virtualization solutions for some of the company's server platform and motherboard products.

ESAA aligns with leading software providers and includes a validation service within Intel's Enterprise Platform and Services division. The alliance is aimed at combining robust Intel-based server platforms and building blocks with software applications from other companies to provide certified server solution offerings to resellers.

"Authorizing ESAA resellers to sell VMware Infrastructure 3 on some of the most popular and powerful server building blocks in the world is a big revenue opportunity for the channel and a way to expand the benefits of VMware products to more and more companies around the world," said Kirk Skaugen, vice president, Digital Enterprise Group and general manager of Intel's Server Platforms Group. "This is an exciting addition to the growing number of validated Intel Xeon server-based software solutions Intel can offer its resellers through our ESAA program."

"VMware Infrastructure 3 now delivers a full set of capabilities that support a dynamic, pooled data center, resulting in cost savings and simplification for IT organizations large and small," said Brian Byun, VMware vice president of products and alliances. "VMware is pleased to expand the availability of this software suite globally on the Intel ESAA platform, and we look forward to working with Intel and participating resellers."

Intel ESAA platforms are now included on VMware's hardware compatibility list, which expands the range of certified target platform for VMware Infrastructure to companies such as ACER, Bull, Compusys, HCL, Itautec, Gateway, Lenovo, Inspur, Maxdata, MPC, Powerleader, Samsung, Verari and WiPro.