* Introducing your new Servers Newsletter author
I’ve been covering all things server-related for Network World for nearly four years now, but this is my debut as author of the well-respected Servers Newsletter.
Starting this week, Deni Connor, who has been watching the server market for a lot longer than four years, is handing the server torch over to me. She’s leaving this forum to write the Storage in the Enterprise newsletter, a fine fit for her since she covers storage for NetworkWorld.com, as well as for our print edition. Sign up to receive her observations on the storage industry here.
In the meantime, I hope you stick with me so that we can muse over the fast-changing server landscape together.
For example, who would have thought that Sun and Intel would not only make-up, but, from all indication, be striking up a pretty hot and heavy partnership? Last week, the companies announced an alliance in which Intel promises broad support for Solaris on its Xeon processors and Sun says it will soon roll out a line of Xeon-based machines.
Check out the IDG News Service reports here and here. And what Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz says about the whole deal here.
It’s a pretty interesting move for both companies, as well as the industry. And it’s great news for anyone looking to run Solaris on Intel-based machines.
It was just a couple years ago that Sun phased out its Xeon-based servers in favor of systems built on AMD’s Opteron processor. Sun is committed to lowering power consumption and heat output in data centers and it determined that AMD was leaps and bounds ahead of Intel when it came to energy efficiency. And AMD was. But with its most recent processors, Intel is fast closing the gap.
So, Sun not only is reviving an Intel-based line, but it’s forging a tighter partnership with Intel than it has ever had before. Even AMD acknowledges that expanding customer choice and fostering competition is a good thing.
What do you think? Let me know.
And also let me know topics and companies you want to hear discussed in this newsletter. I’m always interested in your feedback. Feel free to e-mail me any time. I want to make sure this newsletter fits your needs.
