Microsoft and IBM snub new grid alliance
Microsoft and IBM snub new grid alliance
A new grid alliance was launched this week to accelerate grid computing in enterprises, allowing them to have more dynamic control over the computer systems as their business needs evolve, but IBM and Microsoft have not signed up to it.
The Enterprise Grid Alliance (EGA) is a consortium is an open, independent and vendor-neutral community which aims to address obstacles that organisations face with using enterprise grids, by looking at best practices and solutions that are interoperable.
Grid computing connects pools of computers, storage and networks, exploits rapid advances in technology and allows private and public organisations to adapt their information technology resources to meet specific projects.
The initial board of the EGA is made up of Fujitsu, Siemens Computers, HP, Intel, NEC, Network Appliance, Oracle and Sun Microsystems.
Donald Deutsch, president of the Enterprise Grid Alliance, and vice president of standards strategy and architecture, Oracle Corp. said. "Comprised of a remarkable group of technology companies, the EGA was formed to accelerate the adoption of grid computing in the enterprise. With our pragmatic approach focusing on the enterprise, EGA is uniquely positioned to deliver near time, tangible benefits."
Dan Kusnetzky, IDC's vice president of system software research added. "Grid computing, previously known largely as a powerful tool for the high performance computing community, is emerging as an important platform for critical business functions.
"The next critical step in the adoption of grid computing is the creation of standards and compliance testing for those standards. Standards bodies like the Enterprise Grid Alliance are critical to enterprise grid computing as it emerges over the next five years. Working in conjunction with other grid alliances, the EGA can place a stake in the ground to define the solutions and specification essential for organisation to adopt enterprise grid computing."
One of the main reasons why IBM and Microsoft are not getting involved with the forum is because they already sponsor the Global Grid Forum. This forum aims to address a comprehensive set of issues, including standards and lessons learned in deployment of grid computing.
The man differences between the two forums is that the Global Grid Forum is concerned with scientific computing and academic research, whilst the EGA will initially focus on applications, such as enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management programs.
However, some people believe the EGA will be purely a marketing organisation. Either way, both forums plan to work together to improve the integration of grid computing.
Related Article: