VMware returns to low-end server virtualization with 'vSphere Express' * The Register By Simon SharwoodNov 4, 2026, 12:01 pm73 ptsTrending As first reported by The Register, VMware has returned to the low-end server virtualization market with a product called "vSphere Express." The product will run on up to 128 processor cores and includes vMotion to allow live migration of VMs, automated restart of failed VMs, a distributed switch, rapid... Read Article Share Article * email * x.com * facebook * pocket * reddit * tumblr * linkedin * pinterest Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines. Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device. Discover more Read Tech News Get Mobile Apps Learn Engineering

Cloud architect Andrija Panić has built OpenVDDK, an open-source replacement for VMware's Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK). VMware restricted VDDK downloads to partners in August, which left customers without the tool and weakened some rivals' migration tools. OpenVDDK is an independent, drop-in substitute for VMware's disk library. Written in Go from public documentation and black-box testing, it contains no VMware code. It can only read disks, not write them, for backup and migration. Panić says he tested it on vSphere versions 6.7 U3, 7.0.3, 8.0.3, and 9.1.1. He has received reports of production use, including a German cloud provider and a US company moving to Apache CloudStack/KVM. These are not audited endorsements, he cautions. OpenVDDK is released under an Apache license.

Most popular posts of 2026. By Vladan SEGET | Last Updated: October 31, 2026 This blog has been running since 2008, and there is a real person behind it. A real professional, not some AI agent. I occasionally use AI for graphics to make things a bit easier for me so that you, my readers, can enjoy a better visual experience while reading the posts. That's pretty much it. Today I thought it might be a good idea to look back at the posts that performed best so far in 2026. I used to do this kind of ranking for my audience in the past, and they usually just point to the articles that attracted the most traffic. These are the posts that people searched for across the internet and where the blog ranked well in the search results. Doing this exercise is useful for me too. It gives me fresh ideas for future articles and future topics. Yes, I'm still actively looking for new things to write about. If you come across an interesting IT or virtualization topic that you think would be worth covering, just let me know. I'm always open to suggestions. One quick side note before Vladan dive in: I still think AI is overhyped, and eventually the bubble will burst. Useful tool in limited cases, sure, but the current level of noise around it feels disconnected from day-to-day reality for most of Vladan working in infrastructure. So here Vladan go. These are the best-performing blog posts from January to October 2026, listed in no particular order. Top posts 2026. * LAB: Xen Orchestra 6 and XCP-NG - installation from the source via script from Roni Väyrynen - This one continues to attract a solid audience. Many readers are exploring open-source alternatives more seriously these days, and a clear, practical guide to getting Xen Orchestra 6 running from source still resonates. The script from Roni makes the process much smoother, and the post seems to help people who want a reliable web interface for XCP-ng without unnecessary complexity. * Thinware SimpleVM - A Free-Forever Hypervisor Alternative for VMware Admins Tired of Broadcom's Rising Costs - The pricing changes after the Broadcom acquisition have pushed many administrators to evaluate options. This post about Thinware SimpleVM landed at the right time. Readers appreciate straightforward comparisons and the fact that it is positioned as a free-forever alternative. It is one of those articles that keeps getting shared in community discussions. * VMware Releases ESXi 8.0 Update 3i - Build 25205845: Bug Fixes, Security Patches, and How to Upgrade Your Hosts - Update posts for ESXi almost always perform well. This one covers a specific build with useful security patches and bug fixes, plus the practical upgrade steps. Many people still run production environments on the 8.0 line and need reliable, no-nonsense upgrade guidance. The combination of release notes summary and hands-on instructions seems to be what keeps the traffic coming. * Veeam Backup & Replication Q1 2026 Updates: Deep Dive into v13 Capabilities, Patches, and Emerging AI Governance Features - Veeam remains one of the most followed topics on the blog. The move toward version 13 and the related patches generated a lot of interest. Readers want clear explanations of what actually changed, what the new capabilities mean in practice, and how to plan upgrades. The section on AI-related governance features also drew attention, even from people who are skeptical about the broader AI wave. * Microsoft Windows 11 Point-in-Time Restore Feature - Not every high-traffic post is pure virtualization. This one shows that Windows-related recovery features still matter a lot to the audience. Point-in-Time Restore is a practical capability, and a clear explanation of how it works (and its limitations) helped the article perform strongly throughout the year. * StarWind VSAN Free vs Paid: Real Production Savings with Software-Defined Storage - Storage costs and licensing continue to be hot topics. Comparing the free and paid editions of StarWind VSAN with real-world production considerations seems to strike a chord. Many readers are looking for ways to reduce expenses without sacrificing reliability, and this post provides concrete points they can use in internal discussions. * Migrating from Veeam Backup & Replication 12.x on Windows to Veeam 13 on Linux (Veeam Software Appliance) - Migration guides tend to age well when they are practical. Moving from the traditional Windows-based Veeam deployment to the Linux-based Software Appliance is a significant change for many environments. The post walks through the key considerations and steps, which is exactly what administrators need when planning such a move. * How to update your ESXi 7.x or 8.x to the latest ESXi 8.0U3k via command line - Command-line upgrade instructions remain popular because not every environment can (or wants to) use the usual GUI or lifecycle tools. This article focuses on the CLI method and covers both 7.x and 8.x starting points heading to the latest 8.0U3k build. It is the kind of focused, technical post that keeps getting found via search. * NAKIVO Backup & Replication v11.2.2: Full vSphere 9.1 + Proxmox VE 9.1/9.2 Support (and the Practical Bits That Matter) - Support for newer platforms always generates interest. The addition of full support for recent vSphere and Proxmox versions, plus the practical notes about what actually works well in real deployments, made this post useful for people evaluating or already running NAKIVO. * Tiny11 Builder WinUI 0.1.1 is out - and it finally has a proper modern UI - Lightweight Windows images and customization tools continue to attract attention, especially in lab and specialized environments. The update that finally brings a proper modern UI to Tiny11 Builder was welcomed by readers who use these tools regularly. It is a smaller, more specialized topic, yet it still performed solidly. These ten posts reflect what many of you have been searching for and reading this year: practical upgrade guides, cost-conscious alternatives, backup and recovery topics, and solid open-source options. As always, the blog will keep focusing on real-world virtualization, backup, and infrastructure content. If there is a specific topic, product, or scenario you would like me to cover next, feel free to leave a comment or reach out. I'm still very much open to ideas.