Imagine being the very last demonstrator at DEMO. A tough slot to fill indeed. Virtual Iron showed a virtual computer assembly solution that allows a customer to use a graphical client to assemble on-demand server configuration in the data center. While the presenter was describing the process, his partner actually built the server, booted it up, and began running a risk analysis application written in Java and running under Linux on the remote server. Why is this a big deal? Because instead of overbuying capacity, an IT administrator can instantly add additional processors, memory, storage, or other components to the virtual computer. Performance can be improved on-demand as workloads require and can be ratcheted back down when the peak requirements have been met. My geek pick for best-in-show.

Apparently DEMO agreed as Virtual Iron was one of this year's DEMO Gods. I caught up with the Virtual Iron team last night and they told me (with justifiable pride) that they won a best-in-show award at Linux World yesterday as well.