ARN

Blade server vendors planning common format

Can a standardized blade platform eliminate vendor lock in?

Blade server vendors are discussing some form of common format, according to Fujitsu Siemens' European Marketing manager Bernhard Brandwitte. This is despite denials in the past year from several of the leading vendors that they were discussing, or would be likely to discuss any such thing.

Brandwitte said that he could "confirm that the main blade vendors are currently talking to each other about finding smart ways of standardization for the blade ecosystem". He said that they had been talking about it for between 12 and 18 months.

He was unable to say any more - such as to whom FSC, which is party to these talks, is speaking - but he did discuss the two main rivals for leadership of the blade server market: HP and IBM. Attempts to persuade either HP or IBM to make a statement came to naught.

A proprietary blade format is a key weapon in the vendor's armory. Currently, they sell the chassis at a relatively low price, confident that the profit can be clawed back on the servers and other items that enterprises need to buy to slot into the box. It's a business model akin to that deployed by printer manufacturers.

But, as market leaders, IBM and HP would presumably be reluctant to do any such thing for fear of losing their top dog status. And HP argued when asked a few weeks back that it would cause confusion and finger-pointing if different makers' blades could be mixed and matched in a common chassis.

On the other hand, Sun and Dell, both of which are looking to make deeper inroads into this lucrative, fast-growing market, as is FSC, would presumably be more amenable to such a move. They have less to lose, and it gives them a differentiator. Sun in particular already cooperates with FSC on a technical level, so it would seem to be the most likely candidate for such an agreement.

Nominations for the 2012 ARN IT Industry Awards open on Tuesday, June 12.

More about: Dell, Fujitsu, Fujitsu Siemens, Hewlett-Packard, HP, IBM, Siemens

Comments

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Users posting comments agree to the ARN comments policy.
Login or register to link comments to your user profile, or you may also post a comment without being logged in.
Related Whitepapers
Latest Stories
Community Comments
ARN Directory | Distributors relevant to this article
ACA Pacific , Alloys , ASI Solutions , Australasian PC Distributors (APCD) , Australian IT Spares , Avnet Technology Solutions , Banksia Software , Bluechip Infotech , Dicker Data , Express Online , ICT Distribution , Impact Systems Technology , Leader Computers , Lynx Technologies , Multimedia Technology , POS POS , Synnex Australia , T Data , The IPL Group , Topstar Computer International , XiT Distribution , Xpress I.T. , Dynamic Supplies , Fusion Power Systems , Proscan Australia , Sektor
ARN Directory | Vendors relevant to this article
HP
rhs_login_lockGet exclusive access to ARN's news, research and invitation only events.
ARN Distributor Directory
Find distributors by name | vendor | location
Channel Deals
/deals/transition-systems-australia/2011-06-20_391_wireless-vc-mobility
Transition Systems Australia

Wireless VC mobility

More details »
ARN Vendor Directory
Find vendors by name | category

iAsset is a channel management ecosystem that automates all major aspects of the entire sales,marketing and service process, including data tracking, integrated learning, knowledge management and product lifecycle management.