Virtualisation firm VMware has unveiled its vStorage offering designed to help customers reduce their storage costs.

VStorage is just one component of VMware's new Virtual Datacenter Operating System, a strategy which the firm claims will allow businesses to aggregate all hardware resources, servers, storage and networks into an on-premises cloud.

Stephen Herrod, VMware chief technology officer, said during his keynote at VMworld 2008 that system will use new technologies such as thin provisioning and 'linked clones' to maximise the efficient use of storage by virtual machines.

Thin provisioning improves storage allocation for virtual machines by consuming physical storage only when needed. Linked clone technology eliminates duplicate storage of virtual machine data.

Together these technologies should reduce storage requirements by up to 50 per cent, claimed the firm.

Herrod added that VMware will continue to expand its previously announced vMotion product, which allows information on one storage device to move to another.

But he said that VMware will work on safeguards so that firms do not "over commit" their storage resources and "get into trouble", although he did not expand on the technology that would allow such security.

Additionally, the VMware Ready programme, also launched at the conference, will enable storage partners to integrate and optimise their products.

"VStorage in combination with products from our storage partners automates hand-offs between the VMware platform and the storage infrastructure, simplifies storage operations, and maximises efficient use of customers' storage infrastructure," said Raghu Raghuram, VMware vice president of products and solutions.

VMware parent company EMC will increase performance on VMware servers by integrating VMware infrastructure with EMC's PowerPath software which maximises application availability and automates path management. The new API will be available with the next release of the VMware platform.

EMC will also integrate its Replication Manager with VMware's VirtualCenter to increase backup efficiency.

VMware will also expand NetApp's storage capabilities for VMware customers. Among a number of solutions launched for NetApp customers, SnapManager for Virtual Infrastructure will give VMware customers an automated backup and recovery solution.