Networking World: Tooling up for the new data center

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
10/26/05

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* The four critical pillars of data center infrastructure
* Links related to Networking Technology Update
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Intel
Optimizing the Value of Today's Server Hardware Transitions

Infrastructure demands are increasing, and the computing
industry is transitioning to multi-core processors, server
virtualization, and 64-bit computing to support next-generation
workloads. Read Optimizing the Value of Today's Server Hardware
and learn how Intel is integrating a broad set of new server
technologies to support these transitions.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=118093
_______________________________________________________________
MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORKS ARE OUT - BUT WHAT'S IN?

Many vendors stopped using the term "frameworks" when they
became synonymous with endless deployment cycles. So, if
management frameworks are out, what is the alternative? Does a
series of multiple products from multiple vendors work? Will
Configuration Management Database (CMDB) emerge as the new
"framework" or "platform" for the enterprise? Click here for
more:
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=118209
_______________________________________________________________

Today's focus:

Tooling up for the new data center

By Andreas M. Antonopoulos

By now we're all well versed on the attributes of the "new data
center," characterized by service-oriented applications running
over a virtualized service-oriented infrastructure. This
next-generation data center brings the benefits of agility,
lower operational costs, better utilization and rapid
application deployment.

Architecturally, a next-generation data center relies on
commoditized pools of resources that can be combined to support
a variety of applications. This architecture applies to the four
critical pillars of data center infrastructure: management,
storage, computing and networking. But how can organizations
transform their data centers to the next-generation model? The
trick lies in translating this vision into a series of discrete,
incremental steps - a road map, in other words. The road map
comprises four major steps: consolidation, standardization,
virtualization and utility.

With consolidation, multiple devices are consolidated into a
single location. While standardization ensures that devices have
consistent interfaces and protocols. Virtualization abstracts
the physical infrastructure creating one or more virtual
(logical) instances running on a single physical resource. For
example, one physical server might be virtualized to appear as
eight virtual servers, perhaps running different operating
systems. And utility describes an infrastructure that appears as
a service for purchase on demand, similar to a utility such as
water, electricity or phone service.

These four steps apply across each of the critical
infrastructure pillars. An IT organization can start with
whichever pillar makes the most sense for it - or even all at
once. The best part is that even an incremental step in one area
can deliver tangible benefits.

After extensive research on the new data center, Nemertes
Research has identified some of the most interesting products
that "move the needle" in innovation. For each category, we
looked at approximately 30 products - 120 in all - and selected
those that best demonstrate customer-driven design that responds
to the needs of IT executives implementing the new data center.
Each highlighted product adds a key innovation or implements a
novel approach to data center design. (Product descriptions and
features are derived from vendor documentation. Nemertes has not
tested the products highlighted in this story.)

To read in depth about the four pillars and the associated
products, please go to:
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate9535>

Networking World

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Tooling up for the new data center

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