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Wednesday Jan 09, 2008

Removing Dependencies and Easing Deployment with Virtualization and Project Caroline

One of the challenges with virtualization today is implementing it in such a way that the needs of both the CIO and CTO are met. Oftentimes, this isn't the case. Joining Hal Stern, vice president of Global Systems Engineering, on this latest edition of Innovating@Sun, is Dr. Rick Zippel (photo), vice president of Advanced Technology in Sun Labs. Zippel and Stern discuss Project Caroline and why virtualization goes beyond hardware to become more of a systems play, thereby making rapid deployment a function of virtualization - rather than greater utilization or efficiencies. Highlights of the discussion include:

Why simply virtualizing processors doesn't simplify the management problems the CIO faces

Connecting compute, networking, and storage to get platform-level virtualization

The increasing need for flexibility

Creating a boundary that allows CTOs the ability to innovate rapidly while simultaneously allowing CIOs to manage the hardware, networks, and storage layout in a more controlled fashion

Scaling up quickly to meet demand

Language as the abstraction level

Performance vs. abstraction

How Project Caroline allows programmatic management of networks, load balancers, etc., thereby making it easier for developers to plan in advance for growth of the company

Making development and deployment the same thing

Check out the Innovating@Sun podcast for all the details and stay tuned for a public beta of Project Caroline in the spring timeframe.