Network World
- Newsletters
- Videos
- Events
- Resources
- Communities
- The Challenges of OS Migration
- Citrix's Mobile Enterprise 360
- Cloud Powered Work
- The Essential Guide to Managing Power
- Get an Integrated Approach to Data Management
- Oracle Cloud KnowledgeVault
- Virtualization Boosts SMBs
- Your IT Journey — Your Way
- Research
- Aruba Networks Bring Your Own Device
- BlackBerry: Build up your BlackBerry® 10 knowledge
- CA Technologies Transform Your IT Strategy
- HP + Microsoft Data Management Appliances & Architectures
- Network World The Next Generation Firewall Challenge
- Network World Data Center Challenge 2012
- Riverbed Accelerate Business Performance Solution Center
- Riverbed Cascade® Solution Center
- View all Solution Centers
- Insider
- More
- Linked In
VMware's Love/Hate Relationship with Open Source
Is it whatever suits them at the moment or just confused?
By Alan Shimel on Tue, 04/17/12 - 8:43am.
It would seem that VMware has a love/hate relationship going on with open source and the cloud. As my fellow Network World writer, Brandon Butler wrote about last week the VMware folks have taken to blogging fairy tales calling OpenStack, CloudStack and Eucalyptus the three ugly sisters, while VMware's Cinderalla rides off with Prince Charming.
Of course the problem with being Cinderalla is what happens when the clock strikes midnight. Who wants to be stuck holding the bag when VMware's closed source VCloud IaaS turns back into a pumpkin because it is not interoperable with the open APIs and open source clouds being built on the three sisters?
Now, VMware will tell you that the clock has stopped because so many providers have adopted VCloud that any VCloud user will have plenty of choices. To me that sounds like "sorry Charlie, Starkist wants tuna that taste good, not with good taste". Saying that VCloud gives you the same choice as open source solutions do because of the amount of providers using it sounds like the choice you really have is VCloud, VCloud or if you don't like that, you can have VCloud. That is no choice at all. Lets not confuse choice of providers with choice of platform.
I get that the three sisters have been getting a lot of press and attention lately. I also get that VCloud has signed up lots of providers and VMware is very proud of the accomplishment. But dissing the competition and stretching a story to make choice of provider equate with choice of platform is not the right way to go about this. Being a hater is not the way to play this game.
On the other hand at virtually the same time, VMware was praising that same open source system to celebrate the one year anniversary of its own open source PaaS system CloudFoundry. Many of the same arguments they used against the three sisters, apply to CloudFoundry as well.
CloudFoundry prides itself on supporting a wide range of languages and interfaces. Is the PaaS marketplace that much different than IaaS?
So what is it VMware? Are you on the open source bandwagon or not? Is it OK when it is convienient to your business goals and not when it is not aligned with your goals? I say you can't have it both ways.
Recent Blog Posts
- About Open Source Fact and Fiction
As co-founder and Managing Partner at The CISO Group, Alan Shimel is responsible for driving the vision and mission of the company. The CISO Group offers security consulting and PCI compliance management for the payment card industry. Prior to The CISO Group, Alan was the Chief Strategy Officer at StillSecure. Shimel was the public persona of StillSecure as it grew from start up to helping defend some of the largest and most sensitive networks in the world.
Shimel is an often-cited personality in the technology community and is a sought-after speaker at industry and government conferences and events. His commentary about the state of security, open source and life is followed closely by many industry insiders via his blog and podcast, "Ashimmy, After All These Years" (www.ashimmy.com). Alan is now also a regular contributor to The CISO Group’s security.exe blog and podcast.
Alan has helped build several successful technology companies by combining a strong business background with a deep knowledge of technology. His legal background, long experience in the field, and New York street smarts combine to form a unique personality.
Disclosure: The CISO Group sells a software-as-a-service PCI compliance application called SAQPro. The company is independent and does not represent any other vendor's products as a reseller.
Policy on comments: Respectful discussion is welcomed! However comments that use inappropriate language, consist of name calling or personal attacks, or include accusations of wrongdoing are not appropriate. Those comments will be deleted or edited.
-
-
Most Discussed Posts
- Blog Roll
-
Network World, Inc
The Connected Enterprise