How will multicore processing affect IT continuity? Although some industry specialists see multicore processing (the ability to place many general-purpose or specialised processors on a single silicon dye) as an innovation that threatens to disrupt the delicate IT ecosystem, IDC believes this technology may be one of the most significant industry developments of the past 40 years. The impact on the IT infrastructure will accelerate with each generation of multicore processing technology, causing a significant market shift in the 2009–2010 time frame. Established players in microprocessors, operating platforms, systems management, security, application development tools, network management, and services delivery must accept, if not embrace, this market shift to meet the challenges presented by emerging competitors, and to address the increasing needs of customers who continually demand more from their IT environments. "Multicore processing will provide the flexibility, agility, and efficiency of future dynamic IT environments," says Matt Eastwood, vice president of IDC's Server research. "Users expect significant price/performance improvements from these systems and anticipate that multicore will further accelerate the adoption of server virtualisation technologies. Technology suppliers that prepare for this transition appropriately will be rewarded with increased revenue opportunities over the next few years." Key findings from this report include: * Although IBM, HP, and Sun have been shipping dual-core RISC processors for some time, AMD, Azul Systems, and Intel are also laying important groundwork for the rest of the industry * The blades market will serve as a launching pad for multicore processing * Software licensing will not be an issue for the early adopters because the software vendors have largely confirmed ongoing licensing policies * Multicore processing will have a significant impact on IT infrastructures in its third generation, 2009-2010 Any change in the way that IT infrastructure is commonly established will inevitably have an impact on the way that business continuity managers plan to protect this infrastructure. It is therefore important that BCMs are aware of the potential impact and benefits that multicore processing can bring, and the way the technology could be used to enhance existing IT continuity arrangements. For more details on IDC’s study, ‘Multicore Processing Scenarios, 2005-2009: Disrupting the IT Market in Three Generations?’ (IDC #33789) call IDC Sales on 508-988-7988 or email sales@idc.com
•Date: 26th August 2005 • Region: US/World • Type:
Article •Topic: IT continuity |
