Helps to optimize hardware usage for maximum efficiency, while lowering power consumption.

Parallels, a provider of virtualization and automation software, today announced that it is powering a new offering for small-to-medium businesses from STRATO, a European web hosting provider. The company states that the STRATO Oracle Server XE offering uses Oracle Database 10g Release 2 Express Edition, Parallels Virtuozzo Containers, Parallels Plesk Control Panel, and Parallels Automation.

It avers that the pre-configured database solution addresses the needs of both beginner and professional developers by providing an easy-to-use, cost-effective database platform for developing web applications. STRATO customers will benefit from a full service database solution that includes monitoring, systems management, security and backup, it adds.

The company explains that its Virtuozzo Containers enables STRATO to virtualize the database server while Parallels Automation allows STRATO to manage ordering, billing, and reporting for resources across several servers. STRATO's customers use Parallels Plesk Control Panel to manage their virtual servers through a web interface. In addition, Parallels Virtuozzo Containers comes with extensive controls so that available hardware resources can be reallocated in real-time to manage workload fluctuations. 

"Parallels virtualization and automation solutions guarantee service delivery independent of other customers on the same physical server and give us the flexibility to meet the needs of our customers," said Julien Ardisson, CTO of STRATO. "In addition, Parallels solutions help us optimize hardware usage for maximum efficiency, while lowering power consumption, which is cheaper for the customer and good for the environment."

"STRATO's new virtual database servers powered by Parallels software provide businesses with the infrastructure needed to take advantage of two key hosting trends – virtualization and SaaS," said Serguei Beloussov, CEO of Parallels. "The new offering gives SMBs innovative technologies that have traditionally been reserved for large enterprises due to technical requirements and previously high cost."