Systems Management

VM Stall – More Than Four Reasons

July 26, 2010
By Andi
VM Stall – More Than Four Reasons

I recently saw a great article in IT World Canada titled “Virtual stall: What it is and why you have it,” written by Jay Litkey, that took up my idea of VM stall, which I first came up with in my blog from May ‘Is “VM Stall” the Next Big Virtualization Challenge?‘. Though they...
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Posted in Systems Management, Virtualization | 7 Comments »

Myopic View of DevOps Misses the Mark

March 26, 2010
By Andi
Myopic View of DevOps Misses the Mark

I am hearing a lot about the rise of a concept called ‘devops’ – a mashup of ‘development’ and ‘operations’. I am not at all an expert in this area, but from what I can tell, devops is aimed at streamlining rapidly iterative application delivery to allow for greater development and business agility. Devops...
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Posted in Cloud Computing, Data Center Automation, Systems Management, Virtualization | 39 Comments »

In Cloud, ITIL, and SOE – Heterogeneity is the New Standard

March 15, 2010
By Andi
In Cloud, ITIL, and SOE – Heterogeneity is the New Standard

I read recently a good blog post from Thomas Bittman (@tombitt) of Gartner Group, about how sometimes close enough is good enough. Talking specifically about private cloud, he talked about how an ‘imperfect’ cloud deployment – one that does not have all five essential characteristics, for example – might be enough for some organizations. I...
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Posted in Cloud Computing, Systems Management | 8 Comments »

On My Leaving EMA to Join CA

February 26, 2010
By Andi
On My Leaving EMA to Join CA

For those who have asked, and others who may care to know – the rumours are indeed true. After many happy years leading the fantastic systems and storage management team at one of the very best IT industry analyst and consulting firms, Enterprise Management Associates (EMA), I have moved on to take up an...
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Posted in CIO, Systems Management, Virtualization | 29 Comments »

Is KVM a credible choice for x86 server virtualization?

January 12, 2010
By Andi
Is KVM a credible choice for x86 server virtualization?

The other day I saw someone post a poll question, “Is KVM a credible choice for x86 virtualization?” My immediate response was – “Is that even a credible question?” If you read my many contributions to TechTarget, you will know I am no great supporter of KVM (Kernel Virtual Machine). In my analysis, it...
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Posted in Cloud Computing, Systems Management, Virtualization | 11 Comments »

Microsoft Acquires Opalis

December 11, 2009
By Andi
Microsoft Acquires Opalis

Today Microsoft Corporation (NASD:MSFT) announced a definitive agreement to acquire Opalis Inc., the leading independent vendor of IT Process Automation (ITPA) software. IT Process Automation (ITPA) is a Data Center Automation (DCA) discipline that EMA defines as “the ability to automate and integrate the workflow of complex, multi-discipline IT management processes.” This automation can replace...
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Posted in Data Center Automation, Systems Management | 11 Comments »

Novell Announces Intelligent Workload Management (IWM)

December 8, 2009
By Andi
Novell Announces Intelligent Workload Management (IWM)

Today Novell released the details of their eagerly awaited Intelligent Workload Management (IWM) solutions. Novell has an exceptional opportunity, great development, and an excellent product line that clearly makes sense in this newly defined ‘market’. Plus, Novell really had to respond to their seriously lackluster financial performance in their 4th Quarter and Annual earnings...
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Posted in Cloud Computing, Systems Management, Virtualization | 9 Comments »

You Cannot Separate Security and Systems Management

December 1, 2009
By Andi
You Cannot Separate Security and Systems Management

A few days ago I was pleased to brief again with Reflex Systems. Apart from the fact that they are doing some very cool things with virtualization management, their approach struck me as, if not unique, at least pleasantly rare. Good for them! What I liked most was that they are trying to break down the...
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Posted in Systems Management, Virtualization | 9 Comments »

Virtual Appliances – More Risk than Reward?

October 29, 2009
By Andi

I have to say – and I have said it before – I am not a great fan of the ‘virtual appliance’ model for delivering enterprise management software. Specifically, I have ongoing concerns about how these software appliances break compliance, security, and other important management and policy requirements.
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Posted in Systems Management, Virtualization | 8 Comments »