One of last week's hot topics in the data center business was Microsoft's announcement of its Windows Azure platform appliance, along with partnerships with HP, Dell and Fujitsu and a deployment at eBay. Here's a review of some of the analysis and commentary:
- Azure cloud computing appliance appeals to VARs- Microsoft will not make its new Windows Azure cloud computing appliance available to the general public anytime soon, but many VARs are intrigued by the concept of using the appliance to run Azure cloud computing services in-house. From SearchSystemsChannel.
- Microsoft punches Cisco, VMware in the eye with Windows Azure Appliance- Microsoft is insisting that the partners selling the Windows Azure appliance use it in their own data centers. HP's enterprise services group will be running the Windows Azure appliance internally. From NetworkWorld.
- Microsoft unveils Azure-in-a-box- Microsoft said it is targeting IT organizations that buy hundreds or thousands of servers at a time, like governments, service providers and very large enterprises. From SearchCloudComputing.
- How the Microsoft Azure appliance changes the cloud computing skyscape- Microsoft exec Bob Muglia said the appliance is a "key piece of strategy" spurred by customer feedback. "People wanted what we were doing with Azure and to allow them to run it in partners' databases and client databases." From the Seattle Times.
