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SOFTWARE-LED INFRASTRUCTURE (SLI)
Contents |
The Software-led Datacenter
Wikibon’s current top two research themes are Big Data and Software-led Infrastructure. See Wikibon.org/BigData for a full catalog of research on the Big Data Theme. Software-led infrastructure is a wave of innovation that follows the lead of hyperscale data centers and will result in operational and application changes on a scale that IT has not experienced in more than 15 years. For a list of Wikibon clients, click here.
This article defines the software-led trend and what differentiates this era from the waves of technology that have led to this point. Pervasive virtualization across the entire IT value chain is key driver to putting software-centric IT, not hardware in control of the datacenter.
Whiteboard primer video on how hyperscale architectures and operational models are moving into enterprise datacenters. Includes a discussion of software-led infrastructure with a focus on how converged infrastructure and new hyperconverged solutions are affected.
Wikibon Peer Incite: Software is Eating the World
It isn’t the zombie apocalypse, but for too long, IT administrators have been shackled to infrastructure that was as friendly and stable as the stumbling undead. Adoption of a new stack that can coordinate from application, through infrastructure and including the data center can yet again improve efficiencies and finally move the needle on operational efficiencies. Large enterprises can stop being envious of hyperscale IT and start to look at ways to close the gap.
See all articles in the Software-led infrastructure category
Pervasive Virtualization
The increasingly dynamic nature of the datacenter means that not only must all infrastructure silos adopt virtualization, but also there must be alignment between the layers of the stack.
Server Virtualization
While server virtualization has reached maturity, it is by no means a steady state technology space. See Wikibon's VMware microsite for extensive research, analysis and videos on the market leader.
Updated with 2013 Research including the impact of multi-hypervisor and cloud deployments on hypervisor choice
Wikibon’s multi-year research examining how the storage industry has worked to create deep integration between storage and virtualization. Includes customer surveys on virtualization feature adoption and a vendor scorecard.
VMware is the market leader and has the most advanced feature set, but it is under attack from many angles and faces tough challenges to grow revenue with its Software-defined datacenter (SDDC) strategy while not alienating the ecosystem that helped it reach its current state.
The vast majority of VMware virtual machines are applications are Microsoft-based. With Windows 2012 and Hyper-V 3.0, Microsoft is redoubling its server virtualization efforts. See Wikibon’s analysis of Windows 2012: Windows Server 2012 Falls Short on Software-Defined Storage and Microsoft Attacks Storage with Windows 2012
KVM
Developers and OpenStack are the primary drivers for the adoption of open source hypervisors.
Top Videos on Server Virtualization
Software-defined Networking
- Networking Revolution: Software Defined Networking and Network Virtualization
- Sorting out SDN, NFV, Network Virtualization and the New Networking
- Networking in Hyperscale Environments
- Users and the Open Networking Revolution
- SDN for the CIO: Introduction To Software Defined Networking
- Related: Network Function Virtualization or NFV Explained
Top Videos on SDN
The latest on SDN, NFV, OpenDaylight, OpenFlow, OpenStack and more at #ONS2014.
- Lots of networking at VMworld 2013 including the launch of VMware NSX - discussions include Martin Casado of VMware/Nicira, Soni Jiandani of Insieme/Cisco, Brocade, Juniper, Cumulus Networks and more
- Martin Casado at VMworld 2012, at OpenStack 2013 and article: Martin Casado on Changing Networking
- Ivan Pepelnjak at EMC World 2013
- Greg Ferro at Brocade Tech Day 2012
- VMworld networking panel with Big Switch and Broadcom
- HP’s Saar Gillai on SDN at HP Discover 2012
- Cisco’s Dom Delfino on SDN at VMworld 2012
More in the Wikibon SDN category
Software-led Storage
This article introduces a new market category of server/storage architecture called "Server SAN". Server SAN is defined as local distributed storage, combining the scalability of hyperscale, low latency and high performance of DAS with the functionality of networked storage. The article defines requirements, benefits, challenges and market landscape.
For the market forecast, industry discussion and more - see Wikibon's Server SAN page.
Software-led Storage: Hyperscale Storage Requirements
Software-led Infrastructure: Moving to Virtualized Clustered Storage
Top Videos on Software-led Storage
- Wikibon's Stu Miniman discusses VMware's Virtual SAN (VSAN) GA and the impact on Server SAN and the broader storage market
- David Floyer and Dave Vellante discuss SDS and EMC’s ViPR
- David Floyer Breaking Analysis on SDS
More in the Wikibon Software-led storage category
Flash Driving New Architectures
2011 Flash Memory Summit Enterprise Roundup Flash memory/storage is not a single market, rather it is a number of distinct markets that each have use cases. This seminal article differentiated and forecast the market for each of these segments. Also see the related Flash Infographic
This article examines the intersection between Big Data and Software-led Infrastructure. The diagram shows the relationship between Big Streams, Big Systems, Big Data, Big Flash (Big Metadata) and archives.
Flash-only_Arrays_at_Full_Gallop includes a look at the all-flash solutions from traditional storage players and start-ups.
Flash Disruption Accelerates with Software-led Hybrid and Server Solutions: includes discussion of extending server flash to the network with solutions like PernixData and QLogic FabricCache. Also see Attacking the VM Performance Problem with Software which also looks at Infinio and Proximal Data.
Flash-related Peer Incites
- Data on Disk is Dead Data - How Flash is Changing Systems Design Forever
- Squinting through the Glare of Project Lightning
Top Videos on Flash
- Wikibon FlashCUBE on Flash Storage
- EMC Flash GM Zahid Hussaid at EMC World 2013
- Dave Vellante on the Evolution of Flash Storage
Converged Infrastructure
While much attention is spent on the hardware components of converged infrastructure, it is the new operational models and automation software that is of critical importance to make these solutions more than just a new hardware configuration.
See Industry Coverage of Server SAN (Wikibon's take on hyper convergence) including the market definition and forecast.
Industry first market forecast on converged infrastructure market, published in April 2012. Predicts that by 2015 that 2/3 of datacenter infrastructure will be sold as part of a converged solution.
Wikibon Primer on Converged Infrastructure
Converged Infrastructure Moves from Infant to Adolescent
Convergence Moves Up the Stack to Applications and Greater IT Efficiency
Rack Level Architectures and Hyperscale Operations
Is VDI the Killer App for Converged Infrastructure
How Convergence Moves From Tactical Savings to Strategic Foundation gives an industry update from September 2013 on how vendors are delivering on the promised value of solutions, leveraging flash more and moving up the stack to add value.
New Hyper-Converged Product Options Provide New CIO Opportunities provides an update on expansions to the portfolios of Nutanix and SimpliVity.
VMware VSAN vs the Simplicity of Hyperconvergence looks at VMware VSAN and how it compares and contrasts with Scale Computing, Nutanix and SimpliVity.
Top Videos on Converged Infrastructure
- Broad coverage from VMworld 2013 including Nutanix, SimpliVity, Scale Computing, VCE, NetApp, HP and Dell.
- VCE – CEO Praveen Akkiraju and CTO Trey Layton from EMC World 2013
- NetApp’s Brendan Howe on FlexPod
- Stu Miniman Breaking Analysis on IBM Pure Systems
- HP’s Duncan Campbell on Converged Infrastructure
- Nutanix CEO Dheeraj Pandey at VMworld 2012
More in the Wikibon Converged infrastructure category
Metadata
Peer Incites: Cloud Meta Data: Driving New Business Model, Archiving Is Broken and Cloud Archiving Forever without Losing a Bit
