It’ generally acknowledged that VMware are the leaders in virtualization technology. Products like the the vSpere has probably been installed in more data centers than any ofther virtualization platform. Not to minimize the importance of other platforms, like the Citrix XenServer and Linux KVM, the vSphere is the market leading virtualization platform that together with its strong installed base and head-start set VMware in a comfortable position for developing its cloud computing strategy. And then the question emerges – how is VMware cloud computing strategy actually playing out?
Well, first of all we know that by enabling multiple logical server instances on a single physical server, virtualization is usually seen as one of the fundamental enablers of cloud computing. But exactly how important is virtualization as a cloud computing enabler? By many, the importance of virtualization is considered to become less significant when cloud-based application platforms mature to the point where applications are built and deployed without any reference to current notions of servers and operating systems. Developers using Plaform-as-Services, like Google App Engine and Microsoft Azure, are never going to have to think about virtualized infrastructure. The same goes with Software-as-a-Service. So as companies migrate services to the cloud, they are less likely to purchase VMware’s vSphere virtualization platform, unless they are going to establish their own cloud computing environment.
VMware has unofficially acknowledged this transformation. Their CEO, Paul Maritz, speaking on the 2010 GigaOM Structure conference, said that “the cloud at the infrastructure level is the new hardware”. What Mr. Maritz means is that “as the cloud infrastructure becomes more complex, or hardened, there is a point where we will stop seeing the details behind the infrastructure making it agnostic” and, hopefully, interconnected clouds from multiple cloud providers (federated clouds). All this of course is heavily dependent upon standardization work. Several bodies are now working on cloud standards, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which have formed a Focus Group for that purpose
So where does all this leave VMware when it comes to their cloud initiative, especially if virtualization is to be a given thing – and ultimately more restricted to cloud provider and large company data centers? Well, VMware is already offering cloud platforms for various needs, both for public and private clouds. Their cloud vCloud Express platform was built for IaaS providers in particular, to offer services to end-users and to create PaaS services. Already, it seems that VMware, e.g. through its partnership with SalesForce around VMforce, is moving more into the realm of PaaS by its Java Cloud enterprise offering. In the longer term, it is likely that virtualization will become less important when it comes to PaaS offerings and public clouds, while it probably will last longer in private cloud environments.
This is not surprising. Quality of service delivery in the Cloud is intrinsically integrated with the network, its infrastructure and capacity. As migration to the Cloud continues, network operators face increasing challenges of upgrading the network infrastructure. This includes fixed infrastructure, including last-mile and first-mile as well as mobile networks like 3G and 4G. Many operators are already challenged with current unsatisfactory ROI – mainly due to flat pricing structures and “all-you-can-eat” data packages. How operators can justify increased investments in network infrastructure without changing pricing models remains difficult to see – unless they are, perhaps, also the Cloud provider themselves.
My analysis, opinion and news about cloud computing technologies and services.
