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
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
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
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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Hi Gilda, All I will say is that we all know Yawe, he speaks his mind and personally I like his diverse views. I think we all benefit from these discussions and hopefully all come out a little more educated - even the lurker constituency :-) Though I did feel the headline was a little dire, I'd like to believe that he wanted to prompt dialogue on this momentous announcement - which he has... so thanks Yawe! Back to lurking :-) 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 03:07 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] IBM leads cloud innovation 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 the the the platform
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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
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share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.