INGENIEUR
You’ll need a policy-driven control layer to would apply the policy for monitoring, business
control and co-ordinate all virtualization in the IT continuity, and disaster recovery and grant users
environment. This layer is also known as software- access to the new environment.
In the past, this would have taken weeks
defined and is the basis of a hyper-converged
infrastructure. It makes the server, network, and of planning and meetings. Change requests
storage virtualization from different vendors speak and testing had to be done every step of the
the same language and work together as one way. However, with the software control plane and
the ability to create pre-tested workflows, that’s no
large, well-oiled machine.
But, how does this work together and lay longer necessary.
a better foundation on which to build your
digital transformation project? Good question.
Let’s look at an example of how the layers of 3 rd Platform
virtualization make your IT work for you instead of
you working for your IT.
Once your foundation is built on solid virtualization
If the SAP/Oracle Instance that your principles and a robust policy control plane, you
development and operations group needs to start are ready to start digital transformation. IDC
testing its new application, the software control calls this the 3 rd Platform and it’s where the
plane would use its policies to create a workflow cloud combines with a mobile platform and a
that would find and allocate storage that matches social platform that interfaces into your cloud
the agreed service level agreement (SLA), environment. Big data functionality must stretch
regardless of vendor. It would then use the best across all aspects of your environment, even those
practices of the database and storage vendors to parts you may not own.
allocate the correct number of disks, file systems,
and servers. Next, it would find and allocate
proper networking with the correct level of backup, Industry Transformation
recovery, and – if needed – active/active failover.
After that it would automatically create virtual There are many industries whose futures depend
machines and install all the appropriate software on digital transformation and its many benefits,
using the vendor’s best practices. Finally, it including the promise to turn traditional IT
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VOL 73
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JUNE 2013 2018