Software-Defined Compute
AN IDC CONTINUOUS INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
What began as virtualization of servers has expanded into a far more wide-reaching approach to software-defined
control over server hardware resources. Virtualization has transitioned into a mainstream technology in today's
datacenters and is widely used to increase hardware utilization as well as lower server operational costs in the
datacenter. Virtualized infrastructures are proving to be an on-ramp and foundation for cloud computing, whether
public or private. In addition, containers have emerged, reinvented by Docker, as a disruptive technology that often
works in conjunction with VMs and cloud system software. Containers are also the technological glue that connects
developers and infrastructure admins who are pursuing DevOps methodologies. Software-Defined Compute is about
not only the virtualization of the underlying server and OS resources but also API enabling the entire infrastructure
into a malleable and programmable instrument needed for tomorrow's agile cloud. Software-Defined Compute
explores the individual technologies as well as the intersections and synergies between virtualization, containers, and
cloud system software.
Markets and Subjects Analyzed
 Server virtualization
 Multihypervisor deployments
 Cloud system software (private/public cloud–enabling software)
 Container-based virtualization such as Docker, LXD, LXC, rkt,
Virtuozzo/OpenVZ, and Solaris Zones
 OpenStack, CloudStack, Microsoft Azure Stack, VMware vCloud,
Eucalyptus
 The synergies, integration, and overlap between server virtualization,
containers, and cloud system software
 IaaS private clouds
 Connecting on-premises virtualized, containerized, or cloud
infrastructure to public clouds (hybrid cloud)
Core Research
 Worldwide Software-Defined Compute Market Shares and Forecast
 Worldwide Virtual Machine Software Market Shares and Forecast
 Worldwide Cloud System Software Market Shares and Forecast
 Cloud System Software Technology and Usage
 Software Containers Technology and Usage
 Virtual Machine Software Technology and Usage
In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct research on specific topics or emerging market segments via research offerings
that require additional IDC funding and client investment. To learn more about the analysts and published research, please visit: Software-Defined
Compute.
Key Questions Answered
1.
2.
3.
4.
How is OpenStack evolving, and what impact will it have on
VMware and Microsoft?
How is KVM evolving, and is it capturing more market share? What
is the future for Xen?
Is Hyper-V gaining traction, and is Microsoft competing effectively
with VMware?
What virtualization and software-defined solutions are moving into
the firmware, hardware, software, and management layers, and
what impact will those changes have on virtualization and cloud
infrastructure?
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Will containers replace or supplement VMs?
How do containers integrate with hypervisors and cloud system
software?
How are enterprises adopting containers, and how do containers
impact enterprise infrastructure?
What is the market size and five-year forecast for virtualization,
containers, and cloud system software?
How do next-generation, cloud native applications drive
infrastructure software choices?
Companies Analyzed
IDC's Software-Defined Compute analyzes the strategies, market positions, and future directions of major vendors in the cloud, container, and
virtualization software market, including:
Amazon, AMD, Canonical, Cisco, Citrix, CoreOS, Dell, Docker, EMC,
Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei, IBM, Intel, Microsoft,
Mirantis, Oracle, Rackspace, Red Hat, SUSE, Virtuozzo, and VMware.
In addition, it looks at open source technologies including CloudStack,
Docker, KVM, Linux, OpenStack, Xen and similar products.
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