VMware Updates vCloud Suite While Cisco Eyes a Potential Rival
Virtualization software giant VMware, Inc. made news this week with an update to the company’s vCloud Suite 5.1 while two top executives at VMware and Cisco made public the companies’ tenuously friendly relationship in two separate interviews.
First, the product announcement: What makes this update stand out from the constant stream of product announcements we are so used to around these parts is what it reveals about VMware. Jon Brodkin at Ars Technica writes that with this new update, VMware is essentially saying “that it can't control every aspect of its customers' data centers.”
With this update comes the newly launched vCloud Automation Center, which basically allows third-party vendors to sync up and work better with VMware’s cloud system.
Kevin McLaughlin of CRN has more details on the announcement and writes, “Through integration of technology from VMware's acquisition of DynamicOps, VMware is now supporting competing vendors' hypervisors and infrastructure in addition to vSphere.”
Now on to the interviews. Businessweek reports that VMware’s July purchase of the software networking company Nicira (the deal was reportedly worth $1.26 billion) is creating some tension between VMware and Cisco.
From Businessweek:
Cisco, the largest maker of computer-networking gear, is poised to face further competition and profit margin pressure from technologies developed by Nicira, Arista Networks Inc., Big Switch Networks Inc., and Cyan Inc. By helping businesses run their networks more efficiently, such software reduces the need for the devices that make up most of Cisco’s revenue.
In regards to this shaky relationship, VMware chief executive officer Pat Gelsinger said, “Does it change our relationship with Cisco? Well, certainly, but we are reviewing this as a positive opportunity to create more partnerships with them.”
Over at CRN, Cisco’s CEO John Chambers bit back with some tougher words saying:
"Will EMC (VMware’s majority owner) be a good partnership for us, maybe our best? Yes. Will we compete against VMware as it relates to networking? Absolutely," Chambers told CRN. "And when we compete, we don't lose.”
