Software makes the hardware in IT infrastructures interchangeable – IT-Business

hardware is past – today dominate topics such as cloud computing, big data and social collaboration the IT world. They share a common goal: more efficient processes in terms of the IT organization and thus also for higher-level business objectives. The hardware is increasingly playing a subordinate role, it is only a means to an end

Took a few years ago even a medium-sized giant hardware racks, so he now comes from a fraction of the space required -. And the at enormously increasing volumes of data. Although a high-availability, high-performance hardware is still the basis of the data center – but it is the software that drives the Future

The actual efficiency and increasing the value obtained businesses and consumers by the software.. They want elastic IT structures that adapt to the needs – similar to cloud computing principle, but just in your own data center and reacted with cheaper but scalable hardware

This requires flexible and intelligent software. all levels, whether for server, network and storage. This does not require more hardware than in two rack units – also known as 2U – rack of suits. If required, simply be another 2U box to ask. The software appropriately scaled with – it is inflexible in this way, it is either not survive or adapted. In between, there is only room for niche.

Small startups as a driver

Interestingly, it is not known global players that bring new life into this market, but small Startups like Simplivity. They have recognized the power of software and exploit the potential. The major manufacturers observe the resourceful young entrepreneurs exactly – and take it further ado, if they can enhance meaningful. For example, bought VMware for 1.26 billion US dollars network experts Nicira and integrated its solutions into its own product portfolio

In the beginning was the hardware, then came the Cloud -. Now prevails software ?

Today, the software distributes the hardware capacity, not vice versa – in the jargon is called the Distributed Software Defined or hyperconverged computing. Originally, these methods were used in projects to use, requiring a lot of resources, such as pharmaceutical research.

Meanwhile, the concepts have reached the mass market, breaking the previous silo structures in areas such as storage or server and distribute the intelligent computing resources as needed. The performance of the hardware is assumed in this case it has become a matter of course, even the most challenging projects such as business analytics.

One thing is certain. The importance of software continues to increase. Hardware becomes less complex, it will be interchangeable, as long as the performance is secured. Software, however, is more extensive, more agile and increasingly plays a key role in all processes. This creates new operational concepts that make IT management and operation of network infrastructures more efficient: In daily use, the company can save alone, for example in IT management services in the field of storage up to 80 percent of the cost, as our experience shows.

is About the Author

Maik Hahnel Executive Enterprise Architect Data Center Services at Fritz & amp; Macziol.