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Guest post by Victor F. Dermott, Cloud Computing Solutions Architect

One significant value proposition for cloud computing is “to realize cost savings by acquiring capacity and service on a granular, incremental basis.  Capacity and service that are delivered when you need it, where you need and configured as you need it.”

Some say the IBM Power Systems’ ancestors’ pioneered virtualization technologies, and allowed clients to optimize the powerful processors that drive the architecture while delivering capacity on a more granular basis, when and where needed.  As a result, the IBM Power Systems environment is particularly well suited for cloud computing environments.  The same design and delivery philosophies can be applied to the IBM Power Systems cloud computing environment as for an x86 cloud computing environment. Plus, it provides an environment that is elastic and scalable.  This allows organizations to acquire capacity for testing, for release upgrades, and for peak workload periods, without making capital decisions.  CIOs and CFOs now have a new option when they plan for the growth of their AIX, or System i applications.

IBM Power Systems processors have grown significantly with the introduction of the Power 7 architecture.  The large processor size allows clients to exploit virtualization, and optimize their software licenses.  However, as processors increase in size, they also represent a greater increase in capital investment.  Frequently, adding a little more capacity requires a new, large investment, including software licenses, maintenance, and possibly room expansion.

A cloud environment based on IBM Power Systems increases the value and function of cloud environments.  It gives AIX and System i users new choices when they plan their budgets, or when unexpected capacity requirements arise well in advance of the budget cycle.

Do you agree a cloud environment based on IBM Power Systems is an idea that the time is Ripe for, or is this Hype?

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