GNESS's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/132164/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/128481-the-tipping-point-for-network-automation?source=feed#comment-448076 448076
Its amazing what IBM has accomplished. I remember the WSJ article from the 80s that said that they were on a one way track to an unglamorous end... and look how far they've come given the sea change in computing. Amazing.

Thanks for the comments
Greg]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:08:05 -0400
Its amazing what IBM has accomplished. I remember the WSJ article from the 80s that said that they were on a one way track to an unglamorous end... and look how far they've come given the sea change in computing. Amazing.

Thanks for the comments
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128481-the-tipping-point-for-network-automation?source=feed#comment-448073 448073
Excellent comment! Yet many of the networking vendors have been slow to embrace network automation. DNS, for example is offered as freeware that needs manual spreadhseet updates. The CIO needs for hte network what hte CFO has for the business: real time status of everything connected, etc.

Thanks,
Greg]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:06:11 -0400
Excellent comment! Yet many of the networking vendors have been slow to embrace network automation. DNS, for example is offered as freeware that needs manual spreadhseet updates. The CIO needs for hte network what hte CFO has for the business: real time status of everything connected, etc.

Thanks,
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128481-the-tipping-point-for-network-automation?source=feed#comment-448068 448068
If you go back far enough plenty of the ideas/concepts in virtualization and cloud can be traced back to mainframes. I think who you see as havoing better offerings will depend on your needs, apps, etc. If you're at home or in an SMB chances are you're thrilled about cloud services; and if you're in the enterprise for the most part much less thrilled.

As soon as Amazon and Google start showing material revenue, sharing availability and security information and deliver robust apps suitable for the enterprise I'll take them more seriously from an enterprise standpoint.

They are, indeed, creating a huge amount of interest. At the end of the day they are impacting everyone's expectations. Just how those expectations are fulfilled (as a business) will shape how fast cloud is adopted.

Thanks for the comment.

Greg]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:03:11 -0400
If you go back far enough plenty of the ideas/concepts in virtualization and cloud can be traced back to mainframes. I think who you see as havoing better offerings will depend on your needs, apps, etc. If you're at home or in an SMB chances are you're thrilled about cloud services; and if you're in the enterprise for the most part much less thrilled.

As soon as Amazon and Google start showing material revenue, sharing availability and security information and deliver robust apps suitable for the enterprise I'll take them more seriously from an enterprise standpoint.

They are, indeed, creating a huge amount of interest. At the end of the day they are impacting everyone's expectations. Just how those expectations are fulfilled (as a business) will shape how fast cloud is adopted.

Thanks for the comment.

Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128481-the-tipping-point-for-network-automation?source=feed#comment-447089 447089
I'm extremely sympathetic to the situation thet network administrators are in, hence the emphasis on automation. Yet there are admins who prefer to keep their spreadsheets because it has been what they did for years. Every market has late adopters.

The issue is about DNS/DHCP, IPAM, NTP, RADIUS and other services as well as manual configuration of various types uf network gear. I think cloud is more than a repackaging of the mainframe etc but rather a new approach to IT service delivery... scale, efficiency, flexibility, cost etc are all elements.

Thaks for an excellent cooment.

Greg]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:30:53 -0400
I'm extremely sympathetic to the situation thet network administrators are in, hence the emphasis on automation. Yet there are admins who prefer to keep their spreadsheets because it has been what they did for years. Every market has late adopters.

The issue is about DNS/DHCP, IPAM, NTP, RADIUS and other services as well as manual configuration of various types uf network gear. I think cloud is more than a repackaging of the mainframe etc but rather a new approach to IT service delivery... scale, efficiency, flexibility, cost etc are all elements.

Thaks for an excellent cooment.

Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128423-preparing-for-the-shift-to-club-cloud-computing?source=feed#comment-446615 446615
I've been following it a bit, but thats a fair point. When I get a chance to dig in and ask around I may include it in future columns.

Thanks for the astute comment.

Greg]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:24:56 -0400
I've been following it a bit, but thats a fair point. When I get a chance to dig in and ask around I may include it in future columns.

Thanks for the astute comment.

Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128481-the-tipping-point-for-network-automation?source=feed#comment-446608 446608
Our household portfolio has stock in Cisco as disclosed. We may have some VMW. That's about it as I recall. I do tend to invest and write about stocks I like but I'm not offering any investment advice, mere thoughts about bigger picture tech trends and who could win or lose.

G]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:23:15 -0400
Our household portfolio has stock in Cisco as disclosed. We may have some VMW. That's about it as I recall. I do tend to invest and write about stocks I like but I'm not offering any investment advice, mere thoughts about bigger picture tech trends and who could win or lose.

G]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128423-preparing-for-the-shift-to-club-cloud-computing?source=feed#comment-445770 445770
That would be very interesting. And I think the question would be just how far behind will enterprises alllow their IT services to be as consumers and SMBs see an increasing pace of breakthrough innovations. I htink Cisco gets this, hence the Unified Computing initiative.

Thanks for the comment
Greg]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:17:10 -0400
That would be very interesting. And I think the question would be just how far behind will enterprises alllow their IT services to be as consumers and SMBs see an increasing pace of breakthrough innovations. I htink Cisco gets this, hence the Unified Computing initiative.

Thanks for the comment
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128423-preparing-for-the-shift-to-club-cloud-computing?source=feed#comment-445766 445766
With enterprise cloud we are certainly talking about something 3-5 years out that will most likely be adopted privately moreso than publicly. This is important today because it represents a massive shift in how IT services are delivered and it will influence all of IT, both those who use it and those who must compete with it- in the same way the proliferation of the browser drove the webification of once LAN-bound enterprise apps. It wasn't necessaily a clean migration by everyone at once, but when it began its influence was unquestionable.

Thanks for hte comment.

Greg]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:15:05 -0400
With enterprise cloud we are certainly talking about something 3-5 years out that will most likely be adopted privately moreso than publicly. This is important today because it represents a massive shift in how IT services are delivered and it will influence all of IT, both those who use it and those who must compete with it- in the same way the proliferation of the browser drove the webification of once LAN-bound enterprise apps. It wasn't necessaily a clean migration by everyone at once, but when it began its influence was unquestionable.

Thanks for hte comment.

Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128423-preparing-for-the-shift-to-club-cloud-computing?source=feed#comment-445331 445331
You've made some excellent points. However, I might add that AAPL had been a company of incredible vision and breakthrough thinking. What they have done with iTunes and the iPhone reminds me that anything is possible; and if they're still interested in the business customer their strength in interface, form factors and user experience might come in handy. Maybe they just need a partner or another killer innovation...

Thanks,
Greg]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:46:22 -0400
You've made some excellent points. However, I might add that AAPL had been a company of incredible vision and breakthrough thinking. What they have done with iTunes and the iPhone reminds me that anything is possible; and if they're still interested in the business customer their strength in interface, form factors and user experience might come in handy. Maybe they just need a partner or another killer innovation...

Thanks,
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128423-preparing-for-the-shift-to-club-cloud-computing?source=feed#comment-445325 445325 No where have I claimed to be sane. I do suggest that cloud can be very compelling for the enterprise, although they may never adopt public cloud over private cloud (where they own the service but it is delivered decoupled from specific facilities/hardware). Some large corporations have outsourced their sales lead management systems and their revenue forecasting etc to SaaS...

Thanks for the comment and the sanity check.

G
]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:42:04 -0400 No where have I claimed to be sane. I do suggest that cloud can be very compelling for the enterprise, although they may never adopt public cloud over private cloud (where they own the service but it is delivered decoupled from specific facilities/hardware). Some large corporations have outsourced their sales lead management systems and their revenue forecasting etc to SaaS...

Thanks for the comment and the sanity check.

G
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/128321-bringing-cloud-computing-down-to-planet-earth?source=feed#comment-445065 445065
Agreed. I think automation has thus far been focused on systems versus networks and that will make all the difference as virtualization and cloud spread.

Thanks for the comment.

Greg]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:42:14 -0400
Agreed. I think automation has thus far been focused on systems versus networks and that will make all the difference as virtualization and cloud spread.

Thanks for the comment.

Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/126406-the-dawn-of-network-infrastructure-2-0?source=feed#comment-434830 434830
Greg]]> Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:47:10 -0400
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/126406-the-dawn-of-network-infrastructure-2-0?source=feed#comment-429481 429481 seekingalpha.com/artic...

G]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:00:05 -0400 seekingalpha.com/artic...

G]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/123190-cloud-computing-its-evolution-depends-on-economics?source=feed#comment-415012 415012
Cisco's Doug Gourlay recently shared data with me about the state of legacy data center infrastructure and the massive opportunity for leaps in economy, efficiency, energy savings etc. In addition to the obvious motive to invest in new infrastructure to address the demands of endpoint growth and network complexity and the emergence of VMotion he made a great case for bringing our installed IT infrastructure up-todate. That of course means automation and additional capacity.

CIOs will need to take a step back and a fresh look at how their IT is deployed and the extent of recurring costs (from electricity to labor and process delay) in addition to addressing the network effects of VMotion and cloud. Thanks for the comment.

Greg]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:16:57 -0500
Cisco's Doug Gourlay recently shared data with me about the state of legacy data center infrastructure and the massive opportunity for leaps in economy, efficiency, energy savings etc. In addition to the obvious motive to invest in new infrastructure to address the demands of endpoint growth and network complexity and the emergence of VMotion he made a great case for bringing our installed IT infrastructure up-todate. That of course means automation and additional capacity.

CIOs will need to take a step back and a fresh look at how their IT is deployed and the extent of recurring costs (from electricity to labor and process delay) in addition to addressing the network effects of VMotion and cloud. Thanks for the comment.

Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/123190-cloud-computing-its-evolution-depends-on-economics?source=feed#comment-409247 409247
Good point. Clearly there was huge growth in endpoints before the netbook. I just think that:1) the netbook will put disproportionately more strain on the network; 2) its yet another mobile device; and 3) it could eventually outsell PCs with hard drives.

Thanks,
Greg]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:55:57 -0500
Good point. Clearly there was huge growth in endpoints before the netbook. I just think that:1) the netbook will put disproportionately more strain on the network; 2) its yet another mobile device; and 3) it could eventually outsell PCs with hard drives.

Thanks,
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/123190-cloud-computing-its-evolution-depends-on-economics?source=feed#comment-408583 408583
Thanks for your comments and the points you raised about infrastructure and scale. Its interesting that more PC demands seem to be related to browsers versus hard drive-installed software these days. With netbook sales taking off one has to wonder if we'll see another even larger explosion in endpoints. Cisco has predicted about 10 billion I recall by 2010... and I wonder if they took netbooks into account.

Thanks,
Greg]]> Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:17:55 -0500
Thanks for your comments and the points you raised about infrastructure and scale. Its interesting that more PC demands seem to be related to browsers versus hard drive-installed software these days. With netbook sales taking off one has to wonder if we'll see another even larger explosion in endpoints. Cisco has predicted about 10 billion I recall by 2010... and I wonder if they took netbooks into account.

Thanks,
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/123190-cloud-computing-its-evolution-depends-on-economics?source=feed#comment-408580 408580
Thanks for asking. Infoblox solutions automate the core network services that TCP/IP networks utilize, thus making networks more resilient and more able to keep up with growth and an increased velocity of change. Virtualization increases the ease of change and cloud implies changes/movment over larger areas. I think it will be challenging, risky and costly for enterprises to deploy new automation initiatives (virtualization, RFID/supply chain, cloud) without automating core network services. Ultimately I see collaborations between Infoblox and others leading to other breakthroughs (including IF-MAP).

I joined Infoblox as Blue Lane was in the acquisition process. I was attracted by their sales success and the strategic role I perceived them playing in dynamic infrastructure. In a way, I saw once boring technology becoming strategic to most of the significant enterprise IT initiatives in an up or down economy.

Thx
Greg]]> Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:13:07 -0500
Thanks for asking. Infoblox solutions automate the core network services that TCP/IP networks utilize, thus making networks more resilient and more able to keep up with growth and an increased velocity of change. Virtualization increases the ease of change and cloud implies changes/movment over larger areas. I think it will be challenging, risky and costly for enterprises to deploy new automation initiatives (virtualization, RFID/supply chain, cloud) without automating core network services. Ultimately I see collaborations between Infoblox and others leading to other breakthroughs (including IF-MAP).

I joined Infoblox as Blue Lane was in the acquisition process. I was attracted by their sales success and the strategic role I perceived them playing in dynamic infrastructure. In a way, I saw once boring technology becoming strategic to most of the significant enterprise IT initiatives in an up or down economy.

Thx
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/123190-cloud-computing-its-evolution-depends-on-economics?source=feed#comment-405928 405928
Greg]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:36:45 -0500
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/120692-cloud-wars-are-on-the-horizon?source=feed#comment-399382 399382
I agree that there are tremendous opportunities for those who are "designed in" to the cloud. Yet I think some vendors will still have to reinvent their business models and make susbtantial changes to their cultures in order to thrive in hte more dynamic environment. Some advantages may become disadvantages; while some disadvantages may become advantages.

Some networking vendors are still figuring out what virtualization means...

Thanks,
Greg]]> Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:40:45 -0500
I agree that there are tremendous opportunities for those who are "designed in" to the cloud. Yet I think some vendors will still have to reinvent their business models and make susbtantial changes to their cultures in order to thrive in hte more dynamic environment. Some advantages may become disadvantages; while some disadvantages may become advantages.

Some networking vendors are still figuring out what virtualization means...

Thanks,
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/120692-cloud-wars-are-on-the-horizon?source=feed#comment-392938 392938
I think everything is up in the air at this point. Bootom line: I think the network needs an OS for cloud to take off and fullfill the promise. As Peter Raulerson mentioned a few weeks ago the network is in the same shape today with cloud looming as IBM was before the advent of the PC OS. Thanks for your question. Network vendors promise to live in interesting times if they continue to rely upon kludgenomics. More on that later.

Thanks,
Greg]]> Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:59:51 -0500
I think everything is up in the air at this point. Bootom line: I think the network needs an OS for cloud to take off and fullfill the promise. As Peter Raulerson mentioned a few weeks ago the network is in the same shape today with cloud looming as IBM was before the advent of the PC OS. Thanks for your question. Network vendors promise to live in interesting times if they continue to rely upon kludgenomics. More on that later.

Thanks,
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/120692-cloud-wars-are-on-the-horizon?source=feed#comment-389851 389851
Well stated. There are significant barriers to entry for the big cloud payoff.

Thanks,
Greg]]> Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:44:53 -0500
Well stated. There are significant barriers to entry for the big cloud payoff.

Thanks,
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/120692-cloud-wars-are-on-the-horizon?source=feed#comment-389488 389488
I could have named many more players but I think the head table of leaders will be at least MSFT, CSCO, F5, VMW, GOOG and AMZN. If VMW addresses the security with mobility issue they will become even more strategic to CSCO IMHO.

Greg]]> Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:46:25 -0500
I could have named many more players but I think the head table of leaders will be at least MSFT, CSCO, F5, VMW, GOOG and AMZN. If VMW addresses the security with mobility issue they will become even more strategic to CSCO IMHO.

Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/119473-the-coming-network-revolution?source=feed#comment-384334 384334
I think they are two distinct ideas with very similar perspectives. One is about the emergence of network intelligence based on enhanced application, endpoint and network feedback loops (e.g. this application and VM has moved to a new location and the security policy needs to remain in place, etc); the other seems more about a more sophisticated form of pattern recognition and analysis for web content. I'm not a Semantic Web expert but that is my best guess. Thanks for the comment and question.

Greg]]> Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:26:29 -0500
I think they are two distinct ideas with very similar perspectives. One is about the emergence of network intelligence based on enhanced application, endpoint and network feedback loops (e.g. this application and VM has moved to a new location and the security policy needs to remain in place, etc); the other seems more about a more sophisticated form of pattern recognition and analysis for web content. I'm not a Semantic Web expert but that is my best guess. Thanks for the comment and question.

Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/119473-the-coming-network-revolution?source=feed#comment-381721 381721
That would be tough. I think Cisco may be in a more commanding position in the network at this point in time versus Microsoft in the cloud. Yet potential developments in the next 12-18 months pose multiple wild cards. I do like Cisco's recent moves with VMware, which suggest that they understand the network opportunity better than perhaps their peers. Microsoft has an uincredible footprint in the market and massive software expertise, not to mention server clout. For me... its a toss up or a question of who could monetize better...

Thanks
Greg]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:36:48 -0500
That would be tough. I think Cisco may be in a more commanding position in the network at this point in time versus Microsoft in the cloud. Yet potential developments in the next 12-18 months pose multiple wild cards. I do like Cisco's recent moves with VMware, which suggest that they understand the network opportunity better than perhaps their peers. Microsoft has an uincredible footprint in the market and massive software expertise, not to mention server clout. For me... its a toss up or a question of who could monetize better...

Thanks
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/116903-peak-it-the-network-industry-s-core-challenge?source=feed#comment-371274 371274
Plenty of organizations are investing greater sums to simply keep networks and data centers operating while investing less in productivity/automatio...

This is because per unit costs often rise with complexity. That creates a potentially vicious cycle of rising expenses and dropping productivity.

QED: kinda looks like a mountains peak....

Greg]]> Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:29:50 -0500
Plenty of organizations are investing greater sums to simply keep networks and data centers operating while investing less in productivity/automatio...

This is because per unit costs often rise with complexity. That creates a potentially vicious cycle of rising expenses and dropping productivity.

QED: kinda looks like a mountains peak....

Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114286-has-google-declared-war-on-enterprise-it?source=feed#comment-363281 363281
I wouldn't underestimate the knowledge, experience and installed base of Cisco and Microsoft, especially when it comes to network intelligence, application intelligence and the necessary automation that would be required for Google to truly deliver enterprise IT services.

Greg]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:38:12 -0500
I wouldn't underestimate the knowledge, experience and installed base of Cisco and Microsoft, especially when it comes to network intelligence, application intelligence and the necessary automation that would be required for Google to truly deliver enterprise IT services.

Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/114286-has-google-declared-war-on-enterprise-it?source=feed#comment-353407 353407 blogs.zdnet.com/Gardne...]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:00:01 -0500 blogs.zdnet.com/Gardne...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/100592-cloud-computing-what-are-the-barriers-to-entry-and-it-diseconomies?source=feed#comment-336099 336099
Thanks for your comment and I look forward to your paper.

Sincerely,
Greg]]> Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:14:15 -0500
Thanks for your comment and I look forward to your paper.

Sincerely,
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/111346-network-industry-needs-a-new-vision-infrastructure-2-0?source=feed#comment-334114 334114
Thanks! Just saw this post at the F5 DevCentral blog this AM: devcentral.f5.com/webl...

Thx
Greg]]> Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:21:00 -0500
Thanks! Just saw this post at the F5 DevCentral blog this AM: devcentral.f5.com/webl...

Thx
Greg]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/111346-network-industry-needs-a-new-vision-infrastructure-2-0?source=feed#comment-334112 334112
You're right that a global recession will have a broad impact. I think the question really is who will be impacted the most and the least? I think a much-needed evolution of the network will serve those vendors who embrace this innovation and punish those who focus on speeds and feeds.

Thanks for your comment.

Greg]]> Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:19:49 -0500
You're right that a global recession will have a broad impact. I think the question really is who will be impacted the most and the least? I think a much-needed evolution of the network will serve those vendors who embrace this innovation and punish those who focus on speeds and feeds.

Thanks for your comment.

Greg]]>