VMware Wants To Virtualize Everything
While Microsoft has a series of discrete tools for servers, PCs, applications
and management, VMware is now
talking
about what it calls a Datacenter Operating System. If that wasn't bold enough,
this OS (well, it's not really an OS) handles computers, networks and storage
(not sure how Cisco and NetApp feel about all that).
Essentially, VMware wants you to build your own clouds. The cloud isn't just
Google et al., but the datacenter right down the hall. Under this plan, computing
becomes a utility -- carefully managed by VMware.
This works for fine Google, which invests billions in built-from-scratch server
farms to which it adds built-from-scratch applications. But how do you do that
when you don't have billions to invest in built-from-scratch server farms to
which you can add built-from-scratch applications? You have to deal with all
things legacy.
To me, going forward this is a fine IT goal, but while the end result sounds
simple, getting there is immensely complex. If VMware succeeds with these plans,
it will not only become the new Microsoft, but the new Cisco and EMC, as well
(oh, yeah, they already are EMC).
Is this pie in the sky or money in the bank? Answers readily accepted at [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on September 17, 2008