Tag Archives: VMware

Editorial on: VMware to launch Public Cloud to fight Amazon

VMware to launch public cloud to fight Amazon & Nicira-based software-defined data centers | VentureBeat.

This is a natural progression for VMware, and as mentioned in the article, the biggest challenge for VMware, at least on the large scale implementions may be a tendency for some companies, especially for firms requiring high security such as financial institutions, regardless of rational behavior, may decide to go with a private cloud solution.  All of the articles in the news also seem to weigh heavily on this decision, although this maybe a philosophical decision beyond the technical arguments.

An argument to use a public cloud might be a relatively no brainer for the small to mid-sized firms, who are prohibited by the cost of implementing a private cloud; however, the security, audit and compliance of handing over your cloud into a ‘public’ arena, may have benefits, such as external audit and control.  Handing over control, may also be a major philosophical reason why people would in fact go with private clouds.  Age old questions.

The other bit, I am hoping to see develop, as per the stack picture implies, using those VMs to implement Mobile OS VMs, which may solve the corporate and private segregation of data and applications, which was sited as an issue, and from a previous post, Solving the Corporate and Personal Data Dilemma for Mobile Devices.  I’ve also mentioned this as a predicted trend, and it is possible, although unlikely, that a new Mobile OS player may emerge as a result of this unexplored opportunity.  We may also see a down, but not out Mobile OS player take advantage of this opportunity, ahem, WebOS.or RIM, especially with the transparent lost ground this traditional corporate player once had, and may reclaim.

Elastic Computing for Mobile Devices: Mobile OS Hosting Maximizing Computing Capacity

Why not port each mobile OS over to a cloud, a server farm of virtual machines where users are able to scale their CPU, RAM and storage needs to streach as far as their imagination, and keep the local processing power focused on local needs, e.g. antenna, input.  I worked on a project where we used a server farm of mobile devices, DeviceAnywhere, to test our mobile applications.  The product was in its relative infancy, they racked the devices.  I’m thinking you image the mobile OS, and allow for scalability. The primary limitation, bandwidth and refresh rate for the device user interface (UI), AND local mode for truly ‘remote’ or ‘unplugged’ access.  The first issue will gradually go away with the expanded speed of the global networks.  We also had accelerometer and GPS issues with the rack / Cloud configuration, but that can be easily fixed with an alternate VM architecture where the device passes this information to the VM.  This way local computing power would focus on GPU and other local access requirements.  Their could be a lightweight Mobile OS for a truly ‘unplugged’ experience.  Why? Simple.  Mobile companies are almost on a ‘space race’ similar to the 1960s.  This time there is no moon as the limit.  This way innovation can go back to focusig on all local breakthroughs, the integrated devices just like what got us here, an accelerometer, GPS, music enhancenents, usability design, and so on.