Can Nicira's Network Virtualization Platform Keep Its Promises?
By Robert Mullins- Network Computing
InformationWeek
But following the initial hoopla, some questions are being asked about how well the Nicira platform can deliver network services via software through all of the layers of a typical enterprise network. And others ask whether decades of legacy physical network innovation can so easily be replaced.
"Think of the number of man-years that have been sunk into the networking layers that they are trying to recreate in software," said Jon Oltsik, a principal analyst at the research firm Enterprise Strategy Group. "Conceptually they are spot-on, but I think to go in and replace IP backbone networking with virtual software is a tall order."
Another analyst, Zeus Kerravala of ZK Research, also called the Nicira news significant "in theory."
To be sure, analysts like Oltsik understand the problem, which he has defined as "data center network discontinuity." The use of server virtualization has consolidated the size of data centers and improved operational efficiency, but the network has not kept up. At the same time, more demands have been placed on the network to deliver services such as intrusion detection and prevention, firewalls, and load balancing. So Nicira's Network Virtualization Platform (NVP) is certainly compelling, he says.
According to a recent InformationWeek Research trending survey, if enterprises don't plan to virtualize the majority of their servers by the end of 2012, they'll be firmly in the minority. The largest growth came in the number of respondents who say they'll virtualize servers. Just 13% planned to do that back in 2010. This year, the number almost doubled, with 25% citing that goal. Server consolidation was the top driver, by far, for virtualization efforts in 2010. Now that's tied with desires for high availability, better disaster recovery, and improved flexibility and agility.
Nominate your company for the 2012 InformationWeek 500--our 24rd annual ranking of the nation's very best business technology innovators. Deadline is April 27. Organizations with $250 million or more in revenue may apply for the 2012 InformationWeek 500 now.
Federal agencies must eliminate 800 data centers over the next five years. Find how they plan to do it in the new all-digital issue of InformationWeek Government. Download it now (registration required).
 |
To upload an avatar photo, first complete your Disqus profile. | View the list of supported HTML tags you can use to style comments. | Please read our commenting policy. |
Subscribe to RSSVirtual Infrastructure Reports
Informed CIO: VDI Snake Oil Check
You won't lose your shirt on a desktop virtualization initiative, but don't expect it to be simple to build or free of complications. This report examines the three biggest problems when developing a business case for VDI: storage costs, ongoing licensing, and the wisdom of prolonging the investment in PC infrastructure.
Fundamentals: Next-Generation VM Security
Server virtualization creates new security threats while turning the hypervisor into a network black hole, hiding traffic from traditional hardware defenses -- problems a new breed of virtualization-aware security software tackles head-on.
Delegation Delivers Virtualization Savings
IT can't-and shouldn't-maintain absolute control over highly virtualized infrastructures. Instituting a smart role-based control strategy to decentralize management can empower business units to prioritize their own data assets while freeing IT to focus on the next big project.
The Zen of Virtual Maintenance
Server virtualization has many advantages, but it can also lead to chaos. Many organizations have unused or test VMs running on production systems that consume memory, disk and power. This means critical resources may not be available in an emergency: say, when VMs on a failed machine try to move to another server. This can contribute to unplanned downtime and raise maintenance costs. Easy deployment also means business units may come knocking with more demands for applications and services. This report offers five steps to help IT get a handle on their virtual infrastructure.
Pervasive Virtualization: Time to Expand the Paradigm
Extending core virtualization concepts to storage, networking, I/O and application delivery is changing the face of the modern data center. In this Fundamentals report, we'll discuss all these areas in the context of four main precepts of virtualization.
Virtually Protected: Key Steps To Safeguarding Your VM Disk Files
We provide best practices for backing up VM disk files and building a resilient infrastructure that can tolerate hardware and software failures. After all, what's the point of constructing a virtualized infrastructure without a plan to keep systems up and running in case of a glitch--or outright disaster.