Microsoft didn’t have to lose data center virtualization to VMware. It wasn’t a question of inferior technology or product functionality. They lost because their business model was wrong. Microsoft’s Server and Tool Business (STB) has done extremely well by identifying markets where complex software functionality can be engineered for simple installation and use, and then brought […]
Ruminations, Insights & Confusions...
A Shoutout to Marvin Wheeler .…
I just learned that Marvin Wheeler is leaving Terremark, having completed their transition into Verizon. Marvin is one of nicest and most interesting people I’ve worked with. I met Marvin at EMC’s “Road to the Private Cloud” analyst meeting late in 2009. Terremark was a featured EMC customer “poster boy” talking about the government business they had […]
VMware VSphere 5: So What?
Last week VMware introduced vSphere 5 with a very professional, Web-based launch (best Paul Maritz talk I’ve ever heard). The reaction has been minimal… Why? I think there are two reasons: VMware doesn’t really have any competition any more. The adoption of Cloud solutions in the Enterprise is limited more by the rate at which the customers […]
Cisco: And Now the Wake
Not unexpectedly, Cisco announced their immanent intent to lay off roughly 4,000 people in addition to those who took early retirement, as part of making whole a $1B expense reduction, as well as the commitment to streamline the company functioning. Although the layoffs were not discussed in any of the general Live! sessions, John answered […]
Cisco Live! Wake or Celebration?
I’ve never been to a Live! meeting before. I’m fascinated by how each user group has it’s own personality. Live is a lot more like Microsoft TechEd than DreamForce: largely male geeks, look to be in somewhat better shape than programmers. Whatever worries the industry has about Cisco, they weren’t apparent here. Cisco blew out […]
Citrix Acquires Cloud.com — What’s the Market?
Today Citrix announced the acquisition of Cloud.com. Cloud.com is clearly a leader at providing an alternative to VCloud, and one based on Open Source and standards. They aspire to be the “Red Hat” of OpenStack. From this perspective, they fit will into the Citrix Cloud initiatives. But all that said and done, I think it’s worth […]
It Should Be Quite a Week .…..
Next week (July 8 — 12) should be exciting (hardly the summer doldrums). I’ll be at Cisco Live in the fast part for their annual analyst event. It’s going to be illuminating to hear what the story is now and how it’s changed since they hit rough waters. In addition to problems in the core […]
Open Source and The Cloud — The Conundrum(s)
Open Source has always fascinated me. On the one hand it make so much sense; on the other hand it requires imagining a conversation between Karl Mark and John Doerr. Up until recently at least the economic model was understandable: Open Source offered free functionality for individuals or students who couldn’t afford it otherwise (especially […]
Yes the Cloud Will Cost IT Jobs
One of the topics that was gracefully skirted at Structure 2011 was the question of whether Cloud computing would cost jobs in IT. The honest answer is of course jobs will be lost: Remember that IT is a cost center and cost savings is always good. Remember that Cloud technology (public or private) brings automation that replaces […]
GoDaddy Gets Very Deep Pockets (the data center business gets red hot)
GoDaddy just announced that they have taken an investment from and formed a strategic relationship with three of the largest private equity firms (KKR, Silver Lake and TCV). The financial details weren’t disclosed but it’s fair to say that a company that has grown largely by self-funding just got access to a very large war […]
