My 2 cents@paulq

A provocative look at the Proprietary vs Open source debate

in cloud computing

Setting the scene

There is considerable discussion within cloud circles about Opensource

..some (including me) predicting that proprietary software is in big trouble

… OSS pundits are building platforms and attempting to build standards

…and some downright vilification of some vendors

Cloud ‘Developers’ are making choices based on their world view

…seeing some of their partners start to go direct…

Obviously, AT&T, Peer1, and Hosted Solutions weren't overjoyed about competing with their storage vendor, which is undoubtedly a major reason why EMC shut down Atmos Online.

…hearing some of their peers being caught out by company

failures or acquisitions

While being bombarded with FUD…

..or bringing their own ‘religious’ beliefs

Which are all valid concerns, but they tend to ignore customers and what they want

..customers have long since abandoned even the pretence of caring about the definitions….

Proprietary vs Open source

…instead they are making decisions using the same trusted criteria they always have

…Technology they know and trust

…are trained in (and have built their careers around)

…have already business cased (and put their heads on the block)

…or taking the least risk approach…

“In the enterprise, Private cloud will Mature First, and it will be built on the technology already in the data centre”

Why is there such a big divide?

Proprietary Open Source

You got open source on my proprietary

cloud

You got proprietary on my open source

cloud

Well… lets view this from an client adoption of innovation Point Of

View

Cloud computing is still early in the product lifecycle

Which means there is lots to DO to get the majority clients over the line

Source : http://pharmtech.findpharma.com/pharmtech/Manufacturing/Nanotechnology-the-next-silver-bullet/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/605695

16%34%34%13.5%2.5%

90%

And the key things to ‘DO’ from a client POV are mainly about service reliability

“Availability and performance were tied at #2 last year, and are there again this year.

So… how do you build in performance, availability and dependability into your product?

….you build your products using proprietary, interdependent architectures

• This approach gives you control of the entire system…

• And this control improves the reliability

• Source: Http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest9801-134609-christensen-education-ppt-powerpoint/

Good enough line

And you keep at it until you get past the good enough line….

• Source: Http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest9801-134609-christensen-education-ppt-powerpoint/

Good enough line

…and competition changes, in order to differentiate you need to provide more choice, customisation and speed.

Good enough line

And to deliver these you need modular, open architectures….or OSS

Where are we seeing this?

Strong growth of Opensource in commodity areas and ….

…Funnily enough proprietary PaaS…which appears to deliver the speed, choice and customisation

Conclusions…

• In general, all big debates that the clouderati are having don’t mean much to clients– Cloud might be a new, but all the old rules apply (innovation

adoption, profit, channel dynamics, human dimension, who wins and who looses)

• The whole debate of proprietary and OS is just a question of timing… and customers dictate that not us.– Watch for when the ‘good enough’ line is crossed…

• The customer outcome that PaaS & open source architectures provides are pretty much the same…– Flexibility, agility, customisation

• If you are a developer you are going to have to place your bets, but pick a big player…– And expect to eventually compete with them at the high end