Open architecture has transformed Enterprise computing and underpins current cloud economics. Decoupling hardware from software (server, operating system, applications) has stimulated competition and innovation, providing a diverse and rich choice of options. Storage and networking is now following the same path, as data centres scale and unit costs are reduced. By decoupling the hardware and software, and disaggregating the solution stack, vendors have the ability to separately compete and innovate in the hardware and software components. Open architecture allows choice in hardware and software meaning you are no longer restricted by legacy solutions or cross-vendor incompatibility. In addition by disaggregating the stack, and breaking single vendor lock in you also get to choose how your solution architecture evolves as new hardware and software components become available. Each can be independently changed without significant impact to the other. This new open ecosystem is set to grow rapidly as Data Centre operators, Enterprises, Network Providers and Cloud Service providers choose to exploit commodity hardware platforms and new virtualisation capabilities to improve flexibility and efficiency and lower unit cost.
