Windows and cloud computing. It wasn’t too long ago that those two systems were on very divergent paths. But even as it continues to evolve its desktop products, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has embraced cloud services, moving even parts of its Office suite of productivity applications to the cloud. Now rPath has rolled out a service that gives enterprises more options to move Windows to the cloud. The new rBuilder 5.8 is designed to let enterprise build customized Windows application stacks that can be deployed locally or to the cloud. It’s all part of a push by rPath to help IT automate the datacenter. Datamation has the details.
Back in 2006, Raleigh, North Carolina-based rPath helped to pioneer a new market for Linux based software appliances with the rBuilder service. Now rPath is moving beyond its Linux roots into the Windows world.
With rBuilder 5.8, rPath is delivering a service that will enable enterprises to build customized Windows application stacks that can then be deployed to local or cloud instances. Part of the goal in developing a Windows application stack image is to help enable enterprise IT automation. In 2009, rPath began a push toward datacenter automation with tools to enable administrators to map and replicate their IT operations.