Over the weekend, VMware quietly released the latest version of VMware Capacity Planner. Here is a list of new features available:

• Desktop Virtualization. VDI assessments enable you to virtualize destops utilizing software profiles and base images.
• Software Profiles. Software profiles replace application profiles and can now be edited by partners. Software Profiles allow tags to describe the software. Software Profiles can represent applications and operating systems. They keep track of individual process utilization as well as system-wide use. More computing resource utilization dimensions are shown for each profile.
• Base Image Creation. System Software Cluster analysis is used to build a few images that maximize software usage.
• VM Template Sizing. You can create VM Templates, based on various base images, during an Optimization Scenario Analysis.

and more... In a nutshell, VMware Capacity Planner now enables planning for virtualized desktop and server infrastructure. This new release also shows that VMware is getting serious about desktop and application virtualization.

In contrast, Lanamark Suite enables solution providers to design desktop virtualization and server virtualization solutions, including the underlying storage infrastructure for virtualization platforms from all major vendors:

• Citrix
• Microsoft
• Parallels
• Virtual Iron (Oracle)
• VMware