Re: [kictanet] IBM leads cloud innovation

18 Apr 2012


      Thanks Kui. Glad to get you out of the lurking:).
We needed to hear you. Sorry to put you on the spot but in your view, is 
Yawe being unfair or is he an industry player who needs some educating? Help 
us out.
Listers, see- lurkers are out there really reading Kictanet posts.
Long live Kictanet!

Gilda Odera
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marie-Ann Kinyanjui" <MARIEKIN@ke.ibm.com>
To: "Gilda Odera" <godera@skyweb.co.ke>
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 2:56 PM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] IBM leads cloud innovation
...
I believe Paul is referring to the article Yawe posted earlier
(http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/data_centers/232900099), but
here is the official announcement for those who are interested:
IBM SETS THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT ERA OF COMPUTING
Deep integration points to new ‘Scale-In’ approach to system design from
  IBM
  Built-in ‘expertise’ makes new family of systems simple to run and
  manage
  Gives enterprises the ability to change the economics of IT
NAIROBI, KENYA and ARMONK, N.Y., April 11, 2012 -- IBM (NYSE:IBM) today
announced a major step forward in a new, simpler era of computing with the
introduction of a new category of "expert integrated systems." This new
family is the first with built-in expertise based on IBM's decades of
experience running IT operations for tens of thousands of clients in 170
countries.
IBM’s expert integrated systems family – PureSystems – is the result of $2
billion in R&D and acquisitions over four years, an unprecedented move by
IBM to integrate all IT elements, both physical and virtual. The new
systems family offers clients an alternative to today’s enterprise
computing model, where multiple and disparate systems require significant
resources to set up and maintain.
The prime challenge facing companies worldwide is the need to spend 70
percent or more of IT budgets on simple operations and maintenance, 
leaving
little to invest in innovation. IDC Analyst Matt Eastwood, IDC Directions
Presentation, 2011 Two-thirds of corporate IT projects are delivered over
budget and behind schedule, according to a recent study by IBM which also
found that only one in five corporate IT departments are able to spend the
majority of their IT budget on innovation. To join the conversation, visit
#IBMPureSystems on Twitter.
With the introduction of the new PureSystems family, IBM is unveiling 
three
major advances that point to a new era of computing technology that is
designed to allow businesses to slash the high costs and nagging 
complexity
associated with managing information technology.
· “Scale-In” System Design:  With PureSystems, IBM is introducing a new
     concept in system design that integrates the server, storage, and
     networking into a highly automated, simple-to-manage machine.
     Scale-in design provides for increased density – PureSystems can
     handle twice as many applications compared to some IBM systems,
     doubling the computing power per square foot of data center space.
     Compared utilizing virtualized applications between PureFlex System
     and previous generation BladeCenter HS22V. Specific client
     environments and results may vary.
  · Patterns of Expertise:  For the first time, IBM is embedding
     technology and industry expertise through first-of-a-kind software
     that allows the systems to automatically handle basic, time-consuming
     tasks such as configuration, upgrades, and application requirements.
  · Cloud Ready integration:  Out of the box, all PureSystems family
     members are built for the cloud, enabling corporations to quickly
     create private, self-service cloud offerings that can scale up and
     down automatically.
“With its new scale-in design and built-in expertise, PureSystems
represents an important advance in the evolution of computing,” said
Anthony Mwai, Country General Manager, IBM East Africa. “By tightening the
connections between hardware and software, and adding incomparable 
software
know-how, PureSystems is designed to help clients to free up time and 
money
to focus on innovation that many businesses cannot address due to ever
rising costs and staffing needs in the traditional data center.”
Scale-In Design Marks New Path for 21st Century Technology
PureSystem’s scale-in design integrates and optimizes all of the critical
components required in today’s data center – system networking, storage,
compute, management, etc. -- and provides for a single-view management
system. The result is a system that is intuitive to set up and can be far
less expensive to maintain and upgrade.  For example, PureSystems can go
from its single shipping crate to being up and running in one-third the
time as compared to other IBM technology. Compared to previous generation
blade servers. Specific client environments and results may vary.
PureSystems can automatically and quickly scale compute resources,
networking and storage.
Bottling Expertise – ‘Patterns’ Package Know-how
At the center of the PureSystem is new software capability – “patterns of
expertise” -- that enables operational know-how and knowledge to be built
directly into the systems.  This first-of-a-kind approach converts
technology expertise into reusable, downloadable packages. Patterns are
available in three categories:
· IBM Patterns: Built-in at the factory and created based on knowledge
     gleaned from IBM’s smartest IT managers, engineers and technology
     experts, these sets of patterns are designed to automate
     time-consuming tasks such as configuring, deploying and upgrading
     applications -- applications that used to take days to deploy can now
     be rolled out in hours, for example.
· ISV Patterns: IBM has teamed with more than 125 independent software
     vendors to offer applications that are certified “PureSystems Ready.”
     A new online catalogue of ISV Patterns, PureCentre, radically
     simplifies how applications are purchased, deployed and managed. For
     example, a customer relationship management program that used to take
     three days to deploy can now be deployed in under one hour. [See
     separate press release]
· Customer Patterns:  IT organizations can package the knowledge of
     their own handcrafted applications into a Pattern. As a result, a
     company that is interested in expanding into new markets can do so
     even when skills are not readily available in new regions or markets.
Cloud Ready Systems
With PureSystem, IBM is taking the unprecedented step to completely
integrate all of the technology components needed to stand up a private
cloud system in minutes. By combining the virtualized servers, storage and
networking found in PureSystems with cloud management software, IT
organizations have a ready-to-go “cloud system in a box”  -- giving them a
foundational private cloud environment that can be expanded. The
PureSystems cloud is delivered with built-in security, with no single 
point
of failure.
To significantly accelerate the use of the cloud, IBM has included a cloud
self-service and provisioning interface directly into PureSystems. An
application developer, for example, can use the self-service feature to
configure a cloud environment application without any help from the IT
department.  PureSystems will sense and respond to the needs of the 
running
applications and services and make decisions on how best to deploy IT
resources while ensuring maximum efficiency, performance, and control.
PureSystems integrates the same foundational technologies and software 
used
in IBM’s public SmartCloud Services offerings.  As a result, by sharing
common capabilities and interfaces, application developers can use IBM
SmartCloud Services to create and test new applications.
Pricing and Availability
The first two models of the PureSystems family – PureFlex System and
PureApplication System -- start shipping to customers this quarter.
PureSystems support POWER processors and Intel processors.
Credit-qualified clients that elect financing can see immediate benefits
with PureSystems while deferring their first payment for 90 days. 
Flexible
financing options provided by IBM Global Financing IBM Global Financing
offerings are provided through IBM Credit LLC in the United States and
other IBM subsidiaries and divisions worldwide to qualified commercial and
government clients.  Rates and availability are based on a client’s credit
rating, financing terms, offering type, equipment and product type and
options, and may vary by country. Non-hardware items must be one-time,
non-recurring charges and are financed by means of loans.  Other
restrictions may apply.  Rates and offerings are subject to change,
extension or withdrawal without notice and may not be available in all
countries. make it simple for clients to acquire PureSystems, while
enabling them to manage budgets more easily with predictable payments. IBM
Global Asset Recovery Services can buy back servers, including those made
by HP and Oracle, for clients migrating to IBM PureSystem.
For more information on IBM PureSystems: www.ibm.com/press/pure,
http://www.expertintegratedsystemsblog.com  and
http://www.youtube.com/user/expertintegratedsys.
Forever lurking :-),
Kui
Kind Regards,
Marie-Anne (Kui) Kinyanjui
External Relations Specialist, IBM Growth Markets Unit
Geographic Expansion/General Business
Phone: +254 20 2834315 | Phone: +254 721 676543
E-mail: MARIEKIN@ke.ibm.com
Nairobi
Kenya
From: "Gilda Odera" <godera@skyweb.co.ke>
To: Marie-Ann Kinyanjui/Kenya/IBM@IBMZA
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: 18/04/2012 01:58 PM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] IBM leads cloud innovation
Sent by: kictanet-bounces+mariekin=ke.ibm.com@lists.kictanet.or.ke
Paul,
Can you share the article with listers if you have it?
----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Kukubo
To: godera@skyweb.co.ke
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 1:23 PM
Subject: Re: [kictanet] IBM leads cloud innovation
Robert's headline contradicts the articles actual substance and may send
the wrong tone.
And if as some on this forum would suggest he did it to be sensational
then it is unfortunate that we must be negatively sensationalist or
dramatic for effect. Perhaps a factual sensationalistion would better
deserved.
What the article details is innovation that makes it possible for business
to deploy cloud better. IBM have been in cloud for a long time. Indeed our
government data centre is an IBM machine and the efforts are now about how
to make that a true cloud offering for government. (a discussion for
another day).
The facts as I read them in the article are that it will be easier to
provision cloud services via this model that IBM proposes.
Also one interesting fact that comes through is how IBM works with ISVs,
essentially channel partners with specialist expertise, as part of its
delivery of services. Something they and other multinationals are doing in
Kenya and one way for local companies to leverage international Global R&D
companies to create jobs and provide services.
I happen to know Rod Atkins quoted in the article from his visit to Kenya
last year and our subsequent visit to IBM. It is prudent to suggest that
we need to stand on the shoulders of these global companies for our local
firms to deepen skills and expertise and dominate Africa. There are many
emerging Kenyan firms that have skilled up to be channel partners for
global firms across various areas. Indeed many of our largest ICT firms
are large because of this reseller model.
ICT investors both local and international must get the right messages
about this market. And sentiment is part of messaging and is a very strong
driver of investment decision making especially in Africa.
For those who may not read the article (and I suspect some will not have),
it not as it is stated in Robert's headline, about the demise of the
company.
Paul Kukubo
CEO Kenya ICT Board
http://www.opengovpartnership.org/On Wednesday, April 18, 2012, Odhiambo
Washington wrote:
 Hi Robert
I personally believe in freedom of expression. This forum, IMHO, is open
 to all members to express their views/opinions by way of proposition,
 opposition and support of views expressed - but within the confines of
 this very platform/forum. Whoever called you is some coward who is afraid
 of expressing himself publicly.
Oh, just tell the person they are burrreeeeeeee kabisa! :-)
On Wed, Apr 18, 2012 at 08:49, robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk>
 wrote:
   Hi Listers,
I have just received a phone call from a very respected member of this
   community, who shall remain unnamed for purposes of his reputation as
   in this case he is acting as a gun for hire.
He indicated that the post below is negative and I need to have a more
   positive approach to my posts.
Mine is to present my case and accept judgement in the court of peer
   opinion, so I ask is this post negative?
In the conversation it was said that most list members avoid
   contributing for fear of being flamed mainly by me, to encourage all to
   participate I promise not to respond to any post that relates to this
   issue either now or in the future.
Moderator, in the event that the majority indicate my post of the
   successful launch of a cloud solution by IBM is negative please delete
   the post and suspend my posting privileges for 1 month or any other
   period deemed appropriate to the extent of cancelling my membership.
Regards
Robert Yawe
   KAY System Technologies Ltd
   Phoenix House, 6th Floor
   P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
   Kenya
Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
   From: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk>
   To: robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk
   Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke>
   Sent: Wednesday, 18 April 2012, 8:19
   Subject: [kictanet] IBM is dead!
Hi All,
I always said that my short lived mini computer skills will serve me
   again soon, the big boys are back in the game and at the front of the
   pack is old Blue.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/data_centers/232900099
Cloud is the death knell for the PC Servers and the rebirth of the
   mainframe team, it is good to be back home with total and absolute
   control.
Regards
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 Best regards,
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 Nairobi,KE
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
development.
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
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Unsubscribe or change your options at
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The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
development.
KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.