rPath™, provider of a platform for creating and maintaining virtual appliances, today announced that virtual appliances intended for the VMware Virtual Appliance Marketplace (http://vam.vmware.com ) can be developed using the rPath Appliance Platform to automate some of the certification requirements of the VMware Virtual Appliance Certification Program. In addition to complying with VMware best practices for developing virtual appliances, virtual appliance developers can now add the VMware Tools package, which is required for certification, directly inside the virtual machine using rBuilder™. After the virtual appliance has been created using rBuilder, a developer can submit it to VMware for certification. In addition, a developer can automatically publish an uncertified virtual appliance from rBuilder to the Community section of the VMware Virtual Appliance Marketplace.

Virtual appliances are pre-built, pre-configured and ready-to-run enterprise software applications packaged along with an operating system in a virtual machine. A VMware certified virtual appliance must go through an extensive series of tests to ensure consistency and completeness before it is certified. Now, using the rPath Appliance Platform to create their image, application providers can automatically create appliances that meet some of the certification requirements such as the inclusion of the VMware Tools package inside the virtual appliance image, eliminating what was typically a manual process.

The VMware Virtual Appliance Certification Program was launched in late 2006 and is designed to enhance end-user experience with virtual appliances running on the VMware virtualization platform. It addresses the need for manageability, reliability, security and supportability of virtual appliances built for VMware products.

"Virtual appliances are transforming how enterprise software is developed, distributed, deployed and managed," said Brian Byun, vice president of global partners and solutions at VMware. "Certified virtual appliances from the VMware Virtual Appliance Marketplace are optimized for VMware Infrastructure and designed for performance, usability and manageability. We are excited that rPath has updated rBuilder to automate some of the certification requirements.”

"Software applications are far easier to implement and manage when they are delivered as virtual appliances," said Billy Marshall, chief executive officer of rPath. "VMware is leading the way to better software application value by establishing certification processes and a viable marketplace to showcase the extraordinary benefits of virtual appliances."

rPath is currently running an Application to Appliance Program to convert qualified commercial Linux-based software applications into virtual appliances at no charge. Application providers can register for the program at http://www.rpath.com/app2app.