Oh My!

Many of us are still contemplating the enormous implications of VMware's announcement from the Google I/O conference.

Without getting too technical on you, the pitch is simple: build your applications on SpringSource's enhanced Java stack.  If you do, you can run them on any cloud: VMware's, Amazon's -- even Google's.

And that, my friends, presents an interesting opportunity for IT architects everywhere.

VMware Cloud Proposition Part 1

The infrastructure part of the story has been thoroughly explored here and elsewhere -- use VMware's cloud operating system to "cloudify" your existing application stacks: Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, IBM, etc.

Indeed, a key rationale of the VCE coalition -- and its most visible offspring, the Vblock and Acadia -- is to accelerate this transition from verticalization to virtualization.

If you're an infrastructure person, this continues to be a compelling proposition.

But what about the application side of the house?

VMware Cloud Proposition Part 2

With the VMware and SpringSource announcement, the other half of the equation is now fully visible.  Write your applications once, run them in any open cloud. 

As a result, we now must add the new attribute of "cloud agnostic" to our taxonomy of application stacks.  Cloud infrastructure can now be dynamically selected based on its intended needs: performance, cost, security, resiliency, geographic reach, private, public, hybrid, etc.

VMware Cloud Propositions Part 3, 4, 5 ...

Embrace both halves of the fundamental proposition, and there's much more to be had.

Security and compliance unachievable in the physical world.  Access to legacy-free databases and data management technology.  A browser-based user experience.  End-to-end service level delivery.  Access to the richest open source ecosystem on the planet.  Etc. etc.

We now can see the full vision of next generation IT.  All other visions pale in comparison. 

And it is truly something to behold.

Comments

[Mike Foley]

If you're playing IT Battleship, then I think we can safely say that the SS Azure has just taken a hit.

Brilliant move by VMware!

Time to make more popcorn because this movie is only just getting started!

[Chuck Hollis]

Just saw this piece on Forbes saying pretty much the same thing: http://www.forbes.com/2010/05/20/salesforce-microsoft-virtualization-intelligent-technology-vmware.html

[GregR]

Now you've done it. Barry and the boyz will have a Cloudified Storageilization Campaign up by the end of the week. ;)

This will leave a mark in Redmond, but not on the Azure team. More likely on the VB and OS teams.

It will also be interesting to see how this democratization of storage will play out. How will the corporate IT stacks react when any developer can provision storage anywhere? What about leakage, or key management, or ediscovery, or audit, or even finding your data when some formerly gruntled developer goes commando?

Very interesting implications. Cool, but interesting.

[Chuck Hollis]

GregR

Developers provisioning storage on demand? The very idea! The next thing you know, they'll be demanding pencils! And paper! And those expensive Post-It notes as well!

What will we do to handle security for all that paper? Or data leakage when they take the paper home? Or managing the keys on all those locking file drawers? Or what happens when the lawyers come looking for all that paper?

Seriously, all of your concerns are valid -- but not without precedent, either.

Developers create value by what they do. And anything we can do as infrastructure people to accelerate and simplify that value delivery is a good thing -- all other things being equal.

Like giving them secure, protected and compliant places to do their work :-)

-- Chuck

[GregR]

You let them have paper? ;)

In a private cloud setting, I agree with you completely. I was thinking more of the case where they can connect to a public cloud provider without the knowledge or policy of people like your CIO.

Remember the case of the city of San Francisco and a very qualified network admin? Now imagine 100 different data pools spread over 10 providers with any number of encryption keys all controlled by individuals.

It's a brave new world. And for those lucky enough to be surrounded by a secure, protected, and compliant workplace it will be a nice place to be.

But there are a lot of cow punchers out there as well.