If customers combine products like Thumper with Sun's recent network innovations, such as the Magnum InfiniBand switch or Crossbow network virtualization technology, "it begins to look like we've got all the right ingredients to reinvent the data center," Schwartz said.
Sun's new systems team also is expected to continue development of standalone storage and networking, leveraging disk, tape, and future removable media as they build integrated systems, Schwartz said. "I'm expecting to see more innovation, faster time to market, and a breadth of opportunities emerging from serving our current customers better than ever, while inviting new customers with a constant stream of high-value innovation."
In a recent research note, Illuminata said it is seeing the industry swing toward server-storage dependence. Virtualization is among the factors pulling the industry in that direction. Virtualization vendor XenSource, for example, signed an agreement with Symantec to embed the Veritas Storage Foundation software into XenEnterprise, and "to collaborate further on delivering additional server-based storage and data management services," Illuminata said. XenSource rival VMware also is moving in a similar direction.
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
Maintaining existing network infrastructures often incurs huge technical debt before newer technologies are adopted over time.
Amid ongoing regional uncertainties, telecom infrastructure in the Middle East has expand to include terrestrial low-latency network infrastructure, which offers resilience and agility in navigating political complexities without relying solely on undersea networks.
