Convergence at the Edge
Q & A with Neil Knox , Executive Vice President, Volume Systems Products
Thursday, Jan 29, 5:00 PM PT
Q: Can you discuss the convergence of Computing and Networking?
A: Traditionally, networking and compute services have been managed separately in data centers. Like many other technology leaders in the computing and networking markets, Sun sees the convergence of computing and networking as an inevitable process that began years ago with the introduction of networked servers. Since Sun focuses on the entire system solution, not at the component level, this is a natural technology progression for us.
Q: How does your recent acquisition of Nauticus Networks fit into this?
A: Sun and Nauticus share a vision that horizontally-scaled computer systems must feature a tight integration of microprocessor, operating system, high-speed backplane and content switching. For this reason, Sun saw a great fit between technology developed in Sun's Volume Systems Product organization and at Nauticus Networks.
Now that the Nauticus acquisition is complete, the combined engineering team can now focus on building this integrated computer system. They will be working closely with Sun's software group that is developing provisioning and virtualization software for system and data center management, collectively known as N1.
Sun's focus on attacking cost and complexity in the data center is furthered by having application-layer packet processing being closely integrated with the applications that are being served. Sun believes that there is incremental value in the synergy of wire-speed content switching designed into Sun's dense blade systems. In other words, having content switching within the computer system. With Nauticus, Sun will be able to provide tighter integration of compute and networking, particularly in the form of blade systems, which feature load-balancing, security and virtualization.
Q: How does this benefit customers?
A: We believe the acquisition of Nauticus Networks' technology will help Sun provide computer systems with new capabilities demanded by IT and network managers facing a "perfect storm" of demand for new network services, requirements to secure the entire data center, and cost and complexity spiraling out of control.
In certain domains of the data center, IT managers will realize higher performance and ease-of-use at lower cost because their computer systems feature wire-speed encryption by default, fine-grained application control, load-balancing and virtualization, all embedded into a switched compute "fabric". In other parts of their data centers and enterprise networks, customers will continue to realize the benefits of lower-layer network functions, such as layer three routing, that computer systems will not provide.
Our goals are aligned for the next-generation data center ecosystem–-increased functionality and performance of computer systems combined with superior network or edge services and routing will ultimately increase end-user satisfaction with networked applications. This is a goal we share with our customers and technology partners.
Q: How does this fit into your N1 software strategy?
A: Sun's N1 vision, which will help customers simplify, accelerate and improve quality of service deployment. When Sun's N1 Strategy for reducing cost and complexity in the data center was announced in 2002, we introduced 3 major phases--infrastructure virtualization and provisioning, application service deployment and finally, automated service level management. Nauticus' technology will conform well to N1 virtualization software by providing customers the ability to virtualize the edge and to operate data centers in a highly efficient and highly flexible manner.
Q: Is this a new or established category for Sun? How does this acquisition strengthen Sun's position in the market?
A: In the early years of the Internet, many of the new network edge services that were developed (load balancing, firewalls, caching, SSL encryption) were deployed as software on Sun's volume servers, such as Sun's IU and 2U rack-mounted servers that were deployed in large volumes in many data centers around the world. Sun has been intimately involved in the development of the edge networking industry, and Sun's products such as Solaris OS, Java web and application servers are optimized to work closely with edge networking functions. The maturing of the internet has led to technological and architectural changes that are driving greater consolidation and tighter integration of edge services with horizontally scaled server platforms, such as blade systems. The acquisition of Nauticus Networks will help Sun to offer a well-architected, tightly-integrated set of converged networking and computing functions in the front end of the data center.
Q: Does this put you into competition with Nortel or Cisco?
A: The intent of this acquisition is not to enter into competition with important networking partners such as Cisco, Nortel and Lucent. Sun's objective is to integrate the Nauticus technology as part of Sun's scaled out server value proposition.
Customers demand best of breed; when a Sun combined with Cisco or Nortel ecosystem can be marketed as best of breed, Sun will continue to do so. Similarly, we would expect our networking equipment partners to market an ecosystem that includes Sun products in the same light.
Q: When will we see products with the Nauticus technology?
A: Subsequent versions of this technology will be developed and shipped within the overall Volume Systems strategy and product development cycle. This product will be sold as key components of Sun's volume systems strategy.
Q: How does this acquisition fit into Sun's greater strategies?
A: Nauticus Networks supports Sun's three core strategies – Attacking Cost and Complexity by providing horizontal scaling and virtualization in enterprise data centers, Accelerating Network Service deployment by providing differentiated quality of service for network based applications and finally, Unleashing Mobility with Security by providing an easily deployed SSL-based security for mobile workforces.
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