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Reminder: AI Infrastructure Field Day 4 (“AIIFD4”) is next week, Wed 1/28-Fri 1/30. I’ll be there! Presenting firms talking about AI infra include: Cisco Data Center, Cisco Enterprise Networking, Fabrix.AI, Futurum Research, Hammerspace, Xsight Labs, Forward Networks, Signal 65, and Solidigm.

Times and links to details: https://techfieldday.com/event/aiifd4/ #AIIFD4 #TechFieldDay #AIInfrastructure

My prior article about it: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/pjwelcher_peterwelcher-ccie1773-aiifd4-activity-7416509166799757313-ij7A

TechFieldDay post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tech-field-day_tech-field-day-activity-7420222066911612929-CzT8

Shiny new post: Looking Forward to AIIFD4 (AI Infrastructure Field Day 4). https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/looking-forward-aiifd4-peter-welcher-3ryve/. Tags: #PeterWelcher #CCIE1773 #AIIFD4 #TechFieldDay #Cisco #Fabrix.AI #XSightLabs #Hammerspace #ForwardNetworks

New blog posted: NFD39: Graphiant’s Excellent AI Support. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nfd39-graphiants-excellent-ai-support-peter-welcher-ychme/ Tags: #PeterWelcher #CCIE1773 #NFD39 #Graphiant #Futurum #TechFieldDay #NetworkFieldDay #DataSovereignty #Governance #Compliance #Security

Article just posted: Pete’s Take: NFD39: Cisco Handles AI Datacenter Flows. URL: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nfd39-cisco-handles-ai-datacenter-flows-peter-welcher-ixcye/ Tags: #PeterWelcher #CCIE1773 #NFD39 #Cisco #Graphiant #Nokia #Futurum #TechFieldDay #NetworkFieldDay #ECMP #DLB #Spectrum-X #WCMP

Just posted a blog: “NFD39 Was Great — An Overview”. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nfd39-great-overview-peter-welcher-lkste/
Tags: #PeterWelcher #CCIE1773 #NFD39 #Cisco #Graphiant #Nokia #Futurum #TechFieldDay #NetworkFieldDay

Was in @TechFieldDayPod with @DemitasseNZ talking news of the day. Yes, we talk tariffs. #podcast #techfieldday #news #enterpriseit #snark

https://youtu.be/950yf0EjLBw?si=37D99O5B9qH2qBrU

Revolutionizing Data Infrastructure for AI with WEKA

Storage software running on modern hardware can deliver incredible performance and capability to support AI applications. This episode of Utilizing Tech wraps up our season with a discussion of WEKA’s data platform for AI with Alan McSeveney, Scott Shadley of Solidigm, and host Stephen Foskett. Modern hardware is capable of incredible performance, but bottlenecks remain. The limiting factor for AI processors is memory capacity: GPUs are hungry for data and must be refreshed from storage quickly enough to keep them running at scale. Storage can also be used to share data between GPUs across the data center and to cache working data to accelerate calculation. The secret to scalability, from storage to applications to AI, is distribution and parallel processing. Modern software runs at incredible scale, and all elements of the stack must match. Technologies like Kubernetes allow applications to use huge clusters of workers all contributing to scale and performance. WEKA runs this way, matching the GPU clusters and web applications we rely on today.

https://youtu.be/Rr8TJeBgyGk

Apple Podcasts || Spotify || More Audio Links || YouTube Channel

Guest:

Alan McSeveney is the Field CTO of Media and Entertainment at WEKA. You can connect with Alan on LinkedIn and learn more about WEKA on their website.

Podcast Information

Stephen Foskett is the Organizer of the Tech Field Day Event Series and President of the Tech Field Day business unit, part of The Futurum Group. Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn and follow him on X/Twitter, on Mastodon, or on Bluesky. Learn more about Tech Field Day and information on upcoming events on their website.

Scott Shadley is the Leadership Narrative Director and Technology Evangelist at Solidigm and Director on the Board of Directors at SNIA. You can connect with Scott on LinkedIn and learn more about Solidigm and their AI efforts on their dedicated AI landing page or watch their Field Day presentations from their appearances at Tech Field Day.

Thank you for listening to Utilizing Tech Season 8: Utilizing AI at the Edge Presented by Solidigm. If you enjoyed this discussion, please subscribe in your favorite podcast application and consider leaving us a rating and a nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This podcast was brought to you by Solidigm and by Tech Field Day, part of The Futurum Group. For show notes and more episodes, head to our dedicated Utilizing Tech Website or find us on X/Twitter, on Bluesky, and Mastodon at Utilizing Tech.

#SFoskett #SMShadley #Solidigm #TechFieldDay #WekaIO #AI #AIDataInfrastructure #Edge #Sponsored

New post: Interesting links from the last month plus: Quick Takes, June 2025. URL: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/quick-takes-june-2025-peter-welcher-f8bfe/. Hashtags: #PeterWelcher #CCIE1773 #QuickTakes #QuickTakeJune2025 #AI #Automation #IOT #CVEDatabase #Cisco #Books #TechFieldDay

Cooling at the Edge with DUG

Modern AI servers generate a lot of heat, but the industry is ready with revolutionary technologies like immersion cooling. This episode of Utilizing Tech features Micah Jordan from DUG, discussing specialized server solutions with Jeniece Wnorowski of Solidigm and Stephen Foskett. Although it sounds exotic, companies like DUG have been using immersion cooling for decades. Once they proved the value of the technology in their own datacenter, DUG began delivering immersion cooled containers wherever they are needed, especially at the edge. This uniform and efficient cooling allows servers to work harder while also extending their lifespan and reducing the risk of component failure. DUG’s containerized AI racks are being deployed around the world closer to users, lowering the latency and enabling rapid response to demands. DUG is working with partners like Hypertec to build, certify, and support immersion cooling for end customers, achieving higher density and lower energy consumption.

https://youtu.be/5_M82uH4U9E?si=8PPe8QKVui3mNisQ

Apple Podcasts || Spotify || More Audio Links || YouTube Channel

Guest:

Micah Jordan is an Account Executive at DUG. You can connect with Micah on LinkedIn and learn more about DUG on their website.

Podcast Information

Jeniece Wnorowski is the Datacenter Product Marketing Manager and Head of Influencer Marketing at Solidigm. You can connect with Jeniece on LinkedIn and learn more about Solidigm and their AI efforts on their dedicated AI landing page or watch their Field Day presentations from their appearances at Tech Field Day.

#SFoskett #Solidigm #TeamDUG #TechFieldDay #TheFuturumGroup #UtilizingTech #AI #EdgeComputing #Sponsored #UT08x10

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-data-center-evolution-juniper-apstras-lifecycle-solution-poller-uckle

#ArtificialIntelligence #DataCenter #NetworkAutomation #IntentBasedNetworking #JuniperNetworks #AIIFD2 #TechFieldDay #NetworkArchitecture #ITInfrastructure #AIInfrastructure
6/6

Exploring the Next Generation of HPE ProLiant Servers with Tech Field Day

The HPE ProLiant server line has long been a cornerstone of enterprise IT, delivering reliable performance across data centers, cloud environments, and edge computing. HPE continues to innovate with the latest Gen12 servers, featuring advancements like liquid cooling and AI acceleration, alongside industry-leading security and management with iLO. On Tuesday, April 8, Tech Field Day heads to Houston, Texas for a deep dive into the next-generation HPE ProLiant portfolio at the HPE Customer Innovation Center. The event will be live-streamed on the Tech Field Day LinkedIn and Techstrong TV from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Central Time, with recorded sessions available on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/HbcNXdfxkMM?si=xxqol69pXmbNXbC2

Event Schedule

The event opens with an overview of the HPE ProLiant lineup, highlighting the power and manageability of Gen12 servers. Discussions will cover HPE’s approach to edge computing, focusing on security and lifecycle management, with a special look at the compact DL145 server. At 10:30 AM, the focus shifts to security with an in-depth look at iLO 7, followed by sessions on advanced server management, including OneView.

Later, attendees will explore HPE’s leadership in liquid cooling, with exclusive insights from HPE engineers. At 2:30 PM, the event turns to AI and computer vision, showcasing how the ProLiant portfolio supports GPU and AI accelerator technologies, from the efficient DL145 to the high-performance DL384. The day concludes with the popular Delegate Roundtable Discussion live.

Follow Along Live

The event will be streamed live on LinkedIn, TechStrong TV, and the Tech Field Day website, with recordings available on YouTube. Viewers can join the conversation on X/Twitter, BlueSky, and Mastodon using #HPEProLiant or connect on LinkedIn.

For more details and a list of panelists, visit the Tech Field Day website. Whether tuning in live or watching later, this event promises valuable insights into the future of HPE ProLiant servers. Subscribe to the Tech Field Day YouTube channel and follow on social media for updates.

#HPEProLiant #TFDx #HPE #SFoskett #TechFieldDay #HPEProLiant

https://wp.me/p4YpUP-n9u

Accelerating and Protecting Storage for AI with GRAID Technology

Modern AI servers are loaded with GPUs, but spend too much time waiting for data. This episode of Utilizing Tech, focused on AI at the Edge with ⁠Solidigm⁠, features ⁠Kelley Osburn⁠ of ⁠Graid Technology⁠ discussing the latest in data protection and acceleration with ⁠⁠⁠Scott Shadley⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Stephen Foskett⁠. As more businesses invest in GPUs to train and deploy AI models, they are discovering how difficult it is to keep these expensive compute clusters fed. GPUs are idled when data retrieval is too slow, and failures or errors could prove catastrophic. ⁠Graid⁠ not only protects data but also accelerates access, allowing users to achieve the full potential of their AI server investment.

https://youtu.be/dOut8v9nYBw

Apple Podcasts || Spotify || More Audio Links || YouTube Channel

Guest:

Kelley Osburn is the Senior Director of OEM and Channel Business Development at Graid Technology. You can connect with Kelley on LinkedIn and learn more about Graid Technology on their website.

Podcast Information

Thank You for Listening to Utilizing Tech

#GraidTechnology #SFoskett #SMShadley #Solidigm #TechFieldDay #UtilizingTech #Sponsored

NVIDIA Reveals Rubin AI and Blackwell Ultra || Tech Field Day News Rundown: March 19, 2025

NVIDIA unveiled new AI-focused chips at its GTC conference, including the Blackwell Ultra series launching this year and the next-gen Vera Rubin GPUs set for 2026. CEO Jensen Huang emphasized the company’s shift to an annual release cycle, a departure from its previous biennial schedule. This move reflects NVIDIA’s response to the growing AI market and increasing competition. This and more on the Rundown.

https://youtu.be/49b4_OrMpvI

2:29 – Taara Spun Out from Google’s Parent Company Alphabet

Alphabet has spun off Taara, its laser-based internet backbone provider, into an independent company focused on delivering high-speed connectivity to underserved regions. The newly formed company will continue developing its wireless optical communication technology, which aims to provide reliable internet without the need for traditional fiber infrastructure.

6:41 – Intel Names Lip-Bu Tan as New CEO

Intel has appointed Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO, succeeding Pat Gelsinger who stepped down in December 2024. Tan, formerly CEO of Cadence Design Systems and an Intel board member, aims to revitalize the company by streamlining operations and focusing on advanced chip manufacturing, including AI server chips, to better compete with industry leaders like TSMC. Following the announcement, Intel’s stock surged nearly 8%, reflecting investor optimism about Tan’s strategic vision.

12:38 – DevOps Gets Empowered by Semaphore Going Open Source

Semaphore has open-sourced its core CI/CD platform under the Apache 2.0 license, aiming to provide developers with greater flexibility and transparency. This move addresses the limitations of existing CI/CD solutions by combining enterprise-grade reliability with the customizability of open-source software. By making its codebase publicly accessible, Semaphore empowers developers to explore, modify, and enhance the platform to suit their unique requirements, fostering a community-driven approach to innovation.

16:38 – Microsoft’s New Quantum Chip Greeted with Major Skepticism

Microsoft’s recent announcement of its Majorana 1 quantum chip, claimed to be a significant advancement in quantum computing, has been met with skepticism from the scientific community. Experts question the validity of Microsoft’s findings, citing a lack of peer-reviewed evidence and unproven underlying physics, leading to concerns about the legitimacy of the breakthrough.

22:04 – Solo.io Launches Kagent for Agentic AI-Driven Cloud Ops

Solo.io has launched Kagent, an open-source agentic AI framework designed to automate cloud-native operations within Kubernetes environments. Built on Microsoft’s AutoGen, Kagent integrates with existing tools to streamline tasks like configuration, troubleshooting, and network security, enabling DevOps teams to leverage AI-driven automation.

25:37 – Amazon, Google, and Meta Nuclear Datacenters by 2050

Amazon, Google, and Meta are investing heavily in nuclear energy as part of their strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. These tech giants plan to power their operations with 100% renewable energy, with nuclear energy playing a key role in meeting their ambitious sustainability goals. Alongside nuclear, they are exploring advanced technologies like carbon capture to reduce their environmental impact and address the urgency of climate change.

29:38 – NVIDIA Reveals Rubin AI and Blackwell Ultra

Nvidia unveiled new AI-focused chips at its GTC conference, including the Blackwell Ultra series launching this year and the next-gen Vera Rubin GPUs set for 2026. CEO Jensen Huang emphasized the company’s shift to an annual release cycle, a departure from its previous biennial schedule. This move reflects Nvidia’s response to the growing AI market and increasing competition.

40:58 – The Weeks Ahead

Upcoming Tech Field Day Events

Networking Field Day 37 – March 19 – 20

Tech Field Day Extra with HPE – April 8

AI Infrastructure Field Day 2 – April 23 – 24

Mobility Field Day 13 – May 7 – 8

Security Field Day 13 – May 29 – 30

Host Information

Stephen Foskett is the President of the Tech Field Day Business Unit and Organizer of the Tech Field Day Event Series, now part of The Futurum Group. Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn or on X/Twitter.

Alastair Cooke is a Tech Field Day Event Lead, now part of The Futurum Group. You can connect with Alastair on LinkedIn or on X/Twitter and you can read more of his research notes and insights on The Futurum Group’s website.

Gestalt IT and Tech Field Day are now part of The Futurum Group.

The Gestalt IT Rundown is your look at the IT news of the week. Be sure to subscribe to Gestalt IT on YouTube for even more weekly video content.

#AI #NVIDIAGTC #Rundown #AWSCloud #DemitasseNZ #GestaltIT #Google #GoogleCloud #Intel #IntelBusiness #Meta #Microsoft #Nvidia #SFoskett #TechFieldDay #TechstrongTV #TheFuturumGroup

https://wp.me/p4YpUP-n5B

OpenAI Not For Sale as They Prepare Proprietary Chip | The Gestalt IT Rundown: February 12, 2025

A group of investors, led by Elon Musk’s startup xAI and other backers, has made a $97.4 billion bid to take control of OpenAI, aiming to refocus the organization on open-source AI and safety amid rising tensions between Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over its shift to a for-profit model. Meanwhile, OpenAI is advancing its AI hardware strategy with plans to launch a custom-designed AI chip in 2024, fabricated by TSMC using 3-nanometer technology to reduce reliance on Nvidia. Initially deployed on a limited scale, the chip is designed to optimize AI model performance, with OpenAI’s expanding chip team already working on future iterations with enhanced capabilities. This and more on The Rundown.

https://youtu.be/Ng59i8nmVI4

2:44 – Turn/River Capital Acquires SolarWinds

With its $4.4 billion acquisition of SolarWinds, Turn/River Capital seeks to take the IT management software firm private, allowing it to focus on long-term growth without the pressure of quarterly earnings. This deal aligns with a broader surge in private-equity buyouts in the software sector, driven by declining borrowing costs, and comes after SolarWinds’ turbulent past, including a major 2020 cyberattack that compromised government and corporate clients.

5:21 – WEKA Restructure to Focus on AI

WEKA is restructuring its go-to-market functions to align with the rapid growth of generative AI, following a strong 2024 in which it raised $140 million in funding and surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue. CEO Liran Zvibel emphasizes that this strategic shift will position the company for long-term success, with plans to expand headcount by approximately 120 employees to support large-scale enterprise AI and GPU acceleration deployments.

9:23 – Cisco One Silicon Shows Big at Cisco Live EMEA

Cisco Live EMEA is happening this week and Cisco has had some big announcements. The biggest news comes with investments in new service provider hardware and data center infrastructure as well. The moves appear to be positioned to help Cisco customers take advantage of AI while also offering a custom advantage. The newest platforms are all powered by Cisco’s Silicon One chips. The newest A-series and K-series CPUs help offload processing to the edge and give Cisco an opportunity to challenge merchant silicon vendors in the space. For more on this we’re going on site to Tom Hollingsworth in Amsterdam at Cisco Live for more.

12:50 – Hammerspace is Changing the AI Training Game

Hammerspace is challenging conventional reliance on object storage for AI workloads by advocating for universal, protocol-agnostic data access instead. The company has emphasized the importance of intelligent data orchestration across various storage types, ensuring seamless access to relevant datasets without disruptive migrations. As AI adoption continues to grow, Hammerspace highlights the need for metadata-driven automation and hybrid access models to optimize performance and scalability in enterprise environments.

17:31 – French President to Invest $112B in AI

French President Emmanuel Macron announced $112 billion in private investments for the AI ecosystem, with funds expected to be deployed in the coming years, coinciding with Paris hosting the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit. This investment will primarily focus on AI data centers, with the country positioning itself as an ideal location for AI infrastructure due to its low-carbon electricity and stable grid, which Macron emphasized as a competitive advantage for attracting global investments.

22:36 – Huawei Shows Revenue Growth Despite Ban

Huawei expects to meet its 2024 revenue target of ¥860 billion ($118.25 billion), marking 22% growth compared to 2023. Despite sanctions, its ICT business remains strong, its consumer sector is growing, and its smart car solutions are expanding quickly. This success is notable considering Huawei’s challenges, including the sale of its Honor brand and the difficult economic environment in China.

26:49 – Sam Altman Says OpenAI is Not for Sale

A group of investors has made a $97.4 billion offer to take control of OpenAI, aiming to restore the organization’s focus on open-source AI and safety. The investors are led by Elon Musk’s startup xAI and several other backers. Tensions between Musk and OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman have escalated as Musk challenges OpenAI’s shift to a for-profit model and its current management.

33:06 – OpenAI to Take On NVIDIA with Proprietary Chip

OpenAI is preparing to launch its own AI chip in 2024, aiming to reduce its reliance on Nvidia. The custom-designed chip, to be fabricated by TSMC using 3-nanometer technology, will focus on running AI models and will initially be deployed on a limited scale. OpenAI’s chip team, which has recently doubled in size, is also working on future versions with enhanced capabilities.

38:13 – The Weeks Ahead

Cloud Field Day 22 – February 19 – 20

Networking Field Day 37 – March 19 – 20

Gestalt IT and Tech Field Day are now part of The Futurum Group.

The Gestalt IT Rundown is your look at the IT news of the week. Be sure to subscribe to Gestalt IT on YouTube for even more weekly video content.

#AI #ITNews #Rundown #Cisco #CiscoNetworking #DemitasseNZ #GestaltIT #HammerspaceInc #Huawei #OpenAI #SFoskett #SolarWinds #TechFieldDay #TechstrongTV #TheFuturumGroup #WekaIO

https://wp.me/p4YpUP-mUe

Company Acquisitions are a Necessary Evil in Enterprise Tech

The IT industry’s reliance on acquisitions is a necessary driver of innovation, though they often seem to get in the way of competition and progress. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, recorded during Cloud Field Day 21, features Ray Lucchesi, Jon Hildebrand, Ken Nalbone, and Stephen Foskett considering whether acquisitions in the IT industry are a necessary evil or a detriment to innovation. Acquisitions are often seen as a double-edged sword, with both positive and negative implications. On one hand, acquisitions can fuel innovation by providing smaller companies with the resources and market access they need to scale their ideas. On the other hand, they can stifle competition, lead to cultural clashes, and sometimes result in the disappearance of promising technologies or products.

https://youtu.be/Iy5z_Xbaib0

See more from Cloud Field Day 21 on the Tech Field Day website or YouTube channel.

We May Not Like Acquisitions in Tech But We Need them!

The IT industry has long been shaped by the cycle of acquisitions, with large companies absorbing smaller, innovative startups to bolster their portfolios. This practice is often seen as a double-edged sword. On one hand, acquisitions can inject fresh ideas and technologies into established organizations, enabling them to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market. On the other hand, the process can stifle innovation, as smaller companies with promising technologies are often absorbed and their products either languish or are subsumed into larger, less agile corporate structures. The debate over whether acquisitions are a necessary evil or simply detrimental to the industry remains a contentious topic.

One of the key arguments in favor of acquisitions is their role in fostering innovation. Startups often emerge with groundbreaking ideas but lack the resources or market reach to scale effectively. Being acquired by a larger company can provide the necessary capital, infrastructure, and customer base to bring these innovations to a broader audience. However, this process is not without its pitfalls. Many acquisitions result in a clash of corporate cultures, leading to inefficiencies and, in some cases, the eventual dissolution of the acquired entity’s unique value proposition. This raises questions about whether the industry might benefit more from encouraging organic growth rather than relying on acquisitions as a growth strategy.

Critics argue that acquisitions often prioritize short-term financial gains over long-term innovation. Large corporations may acquire smaller companies not to integrate their technologies but to eliminate potential competition. This practice can lead to market consolidation, reducing diversity and stifling the competitive landscape. Furthermore, the focus on financial returns, driven by venture capital and private equity investments, often pressures startups to position themselves as acquisition targets rather than sustainable, standalone businesses. This dynamic can skew the priorities of emerging companies, emphasizing exit strategies over product development and customer satisfaction.

The role of private equity in driving acquisitions adds another layer of complexity. Private equity firms often seek to maximize returns by cutting costs and streamlining operations, which can lead to a loss of innovation and employee morale within the acquired company. While some private equity firms take a more hands-on approach to foster growth and innovation, others focus solely on financial metrics, potentially undermining the long-term viability of the companies they acquire. This dichotomy highlights the need for a more balanced approach to investment, one that prioritizes sustainable growth and innovation over short-term financial gains.

In an ideal world, the IT industry would thrive on organic growth, with companies building sustainable business models and scaling through customer acquisition and market expansion. However, the reality is that acquisitions are deeply ingrained in the industry’s fabric, driven by the need for rapid growth and the financial incentives of venture capital and private equity. While acquisitions may be a necessary evil in the current landscape, the industry must strive to ensure that they are conducted in a way that fosters innovation, benefits customers, and supports the long-term health of the market. The challenge lies in finding a balance that allows both startups and established companies to thrive without compromising the industry’s overall dynamism.

Podcast Information:

Stephen Foskett is the President of the Tech Field Day Business Unit and Organizer of the Tech Field Day Event Series, now part of The Futurum Group. Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn or on X/Twitter.

Ray Lucchesi is the president of Silverton Consulting and the host of Greybeards on Storage Podcast. You can connect with Ray on X/Twitter or on LinkedIn. Learn more about Ray on his website and listen to his podcast.

Jon Hildebrand is an automation and observability expert. You can connect with Jon on LinkedIn or on X/Twitter. Learn more about Jon by reading his personal blog.

Ken Nalbone is a Senior Solutions Architect at AHEAD. You can connect with Ken on X/Twitter, Bluesky, and on LinkedIn. Learn more about Ken on his personal website.

Thank you for listening to this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast. If you enjoyed the discussion, please remember to subscribe on YouTube or your favorite podcast application so you don’t miss an episode and do give us a rating and a review. This podcast was brought to you by Tech Field Day, home of IT experts from across the enterprise, now part of The Futurum Group.

#CFD21 #TFDPodcast #GestaltIT #KenNalbone #RayLucchesi #SFoskett #SnoopJ123 #TechFieldDay #TechFieldDayPod

https://wp.me/p4YpUP-mQu

There’s a Gulf Between Storage and AI

There is a significant gap between storage companies and their ability to effectively support AI infrastructure. In this episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, recorded during the AI Data Infrastructure Field Day 1 in Santa Clara, host Stephen Foskett and guests Kurtis Kemple, Brian Booden, and Rohan Puri explore the evolving relationship between storage and AI. The discussion highlights a significant gap between storage companies’ current capabilities and the demands of AI applications. While storage vendors are pivoting to support AI, many lack deep AI expertise, often focusing on cost and efficiency rather than offering integrated, AI-specific solutions. The panel emphasizes the need for storage companies to move beyond being mere data repositories and instead develop end-to-end solutions that address AI workflows, data preparation, and metadata management. They also stress the importance of education, partnerships, and hiring AI specialists to bridge the knowledge gap and drive innovation. The conversation underscores the early stage of this convergence, with a call for clearer strategies, open standards, and more cohesive integration between storage and AI to meet the growing demands of data-driven applications.

https://youtu.be/3sZoByYja8A

Learn more about AI Data Infrastructure Field Day 1 and watch videos from these presentations on the Tech Field Day website.

How Can Storage Support AI?

The intersection of storage and AI infrastructure presents a complex and evolving challenge. While storage companies are increasingly pivoting toward AI solutions, there remains a significant gap in understanding and integration. Storage has traditionally been viewed as a low-level, technical domain focused on hardware like disks and file systems. On the other hand, AI, particularly in the context of large language models (LLMs) and data analytics, operates at a higher level, requiring nuanced data management and application-specific insights. This disconnect highlights the need for storage companies to move beyond simply offering cost-effective and high-performance infrastructure. Instead, they must develop a deeper understanding of AI workflows and provide solutions that address the specific needs of AI applications, such as data preparation, metadata management, and seamless integration with AI training pipelines.

One of the key challenges is the lack of “solutioning” in the storage industry. Many storage vendors focus on infrastructure performance and efficiency but fail to address how their products fit into the broader AI ecosystem. For instance, while some companies are integrating with GPU technologies to support AI workloads, this approach often stops at the infrastructure level. True integration requires a more comprehensive understanding of AI applications, extending beyond hardware to include data management, insights, and application-level affordances. Without this, storage solutions risk being perceived as generic and interchangeable, reducing their value proposition in the AI space.

Another critical issue is the fragmentation of data sources and the absence of standardized frameworks for integration. Data in AI workflows often comes from diverse sources, including databases, data warehouses, file systems, and cloud storage. These sources are frequently siloed, making it challenging to consolidate and analyze data effectively. While some progress has been made in the database world with open formats and decoupled layers, similar advancements are lacking in the storage domain. The industry needs open standards and protocols that enable seamless data integration across vendors and platforms, facilitating the development of unified AI solutions.

The role of storage companies in AI could evolve in two distinct directions: becoming specialized storage solutions for AI or serving as connectors that enable AI applications to access existing data seamlessly. Both approaches have merit, but they require a clear strategy and a deep understanding of AI workflows. Companies that choose to specialize in AI storage must offer features like automated data preparation, efficient data movement, and real-time insights. Conversely, those opting to act as connectors must focus on breaking down data silos and providing tools that simplify data access and integration for AI applications.

Education and leadership are crucial for bridging the gap between storage and AI. Storage companies need to hire AI specialists and empower them to influence product development and strategy. This requires a top-down approach, with leadership roles dedicated to understanding and addressing the unique challenges of AI. Without this internal expertise, companies risk creating a disconnect between their AI-focused messaging and the actual capabilities of their products. Moreover, fostering collaboration between storage and AI teams within organizations can lead to more innovative and effective solutions.

Finally, the industry is still in the early stages of addressing the intersection of storage and AI. While the rapid growth of data and the increasing complexity of AI workloads present significant challenges, they also offer opportunities for innovation. Storage companies that can adapt to these demands by developing specialized products, embracing open standards, and fostering cross-disciplinary expertise will be better positioned to succeed. As the market matures, we can expect to see a blending of technologies and a shift toward more integrated and user-friendly solutions that cater to the unique needs of AI applications.

Podcast Information:

Stephen Foskett is the President of the Tech Field Day Business Unit and Organizer of the Tech Field Day Event Series, now part of The Futurum Group. Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn or on X/Twitter.

Brian Booden is the Managing Director at DataGlow IT. You can connect with Brian on X/Twitter and on LinkedIn. Learn more about DataGlow IT on their website.

Rohan Puri is an Storage Infrastructure Engineer. You can connect with Rohan on LinkedIn or on X/Twitter. Learn more about him on his personal website.

Kurtis Kemple is the Director of Developer Relations as Slack. You can connect with Kurtis on LinkedIn or on X/Twitter. Learn more about Kurtis on his website.

#AIDIFD1 #TFDPodcast #BrianBooden #GestaltIT #RohanPuri #SFoskett #TechFieldDay #TechFieldDayPod #_DigitalVandal

https://wp.me/p4YpUP-mNU

US Antitrust Actions Challenge Tech Deals | The Gestalt IT Rundown: November 20, 2024

The US Department of Justice is looking at two big IT companies, potentially making waves in the enterprise IT space. They are asking a federal judge to force Google to sell or spin off its Chrome browser, arguing that integration with Google’s other products, particularly Android, Search, and the Play store, is anti-competitive. At the same time, the DOJ is also looking at the proposed acquisition of Juniper Networks by Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

https://youtu.be/-X7dbN26PSA

2:09 – NIST Can Hear When Your Battery is Going to Catch Fire

Researchers at NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, have trained an AI to detect the sound of a Lithium battery that is about to catch fire. The characteristic sound of the safety valve releasing excess gas pressure is a precursor to an unstoppable fire erupting.

4:48 – StarTree Cloud Powers Real-Time Data

StarTree Cloud, built on Apache Pinot, now includes more real-time data warehouse features including pauseless ingestion, ML-driven query optimization, schema evolution for dynamic data, and role-based access control. StarTree’s massive-scale real-time data warehouse is finding big corporate customers, and these new features ought to attract even more.

9:44 – Itential Debuts Automation Service at Networking Field Day

Itential has launched its Automation Service to streamline and standardize network automation, allowing NetDevOps teams to securely create, share, and execute automations at scale. The service features a dynamic Automation Gateway that integrates tools like Python, Ansible, and OpenTofu, enabling developers to build automations while empowering teams to use them without coding expertise. With capabilities like role-based access control, Git synchronization, and reusable service frameworks, Itential aims to simplify automation management, reduce script proliferation, and foster agility across hybrid cloud infrastructures. Let’s kick it over to The Futurum Group’s Ron Westfall for more.

17:11 – SentinelOne reports on The State of Cloud Ransomware in 2024

SentinelOne has reported that cloud services are not immune to ransomware and are specifically targeted by ransomware groups. Poorly secured cloud accounts can allow attackers to use cloud-native encryption services to encrypt cloud data. Alternatively, cloud storage can be the destination for data exfiltration, copying stolen data from the victim network.

21:38 – Cyber Defense Agencies reveal Most Exploited Vulnerabilities in 2023

Cybersecurity agencies from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand jointly released an advisory highlighting the most exploited vulnerabilities of 2023, emphasizing a rise in zero-day attacks targeting high-priority systems. The report incluudes recommendations for dealing with this new world, but it’s very hard to prepare for zero-day exploits.

Read More: 2023 Top Routinely Exploited VulnerabilitiesThe State of Cloud Ransomware in 2024

25:34 – Lightbend Launches Akka 3

Lightbend has rebranded as Akka with the launch of Akka 3, a platform for building elastic, agile, and resilient apps with a simple SDK and support for Serverless and Bring-Your-Own-Cloud environments. Akka introduces industry-firsts like cross-cloud app migration, multi-master replication for failover-free operations, and guarantees against app reliability issues. Already powering major enterprises, Akka 3 redefines app development by focusing on responsiveness and SLAs, independent of infrastructure.

29:40 – US Antitrust Actions Challenge Tech Deals

DOJ will attempt to Break Up Google

The Department of Justice plans to ask a federal judge to require Google to sell its Chrome browser, arguing that its integration with Google’s other products sustains an illegal search monopoly and limits competition. Additional proposals include separating Android from Search and Google Play, enhancing advertiser control, limiting AI content use, and banning exclusive contracts central to the antitrust case.

Juniper Networks Sees Drops as DOJ Reviews HPE Deal

Juniper Networks shares fell 5% amid reports that the DOJ may soon decide whether to approve or block its $14 billion acquisition by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). While HPE expects the deal to close by early 2025, recent DOJ scrutiny and trader speculation have raised concerns about potential regulatory hurdles.

38:44 – The Weeks Ahead

Mobility Field Day 12 – November 20 – 21

AI Field Day 6 – January 29 – 30

Gestalt IT and Tech Field Day are now part of The Futurum Group.

The Gestalt IT Rundown is your look at the IT news of the week. Be sure to subscribe to Gestalt IT on YouTube for even more weekly video content.

#CyberSecurity #Ransomware #Rundown #Security #DemitasseNZ #GestaltIT #Google #HPE #JuniperNetworks #LightbendNIST #SFoskett #StartreeDataRonWestfallDX #TechFieldDay #TheFuturumGroup

https://wp.me/p4YpUP-mNI

Exploring the Future of App Development at AppDev Field Day from KubeCon and CloudNativeCon

From IT operations, platform engineering, and DevOps to application development, we’re considering the complete software lifecycle. That’s the focus at the next Tech Field Day event, AppDev Field Day, which we’re co-locating with the incredible KubeCon + CloudNativeCon, thanks to our partners at the Cloud Native Computing Foundation and TechStrong TV. We’ll be coming to you live and direct from Salt Lake City on November 12th and 13th. Tune in live on LinkedIn, DevOps.com, Techstrong TV, and check out the Tech Field Day website for the complete schedule.

https://youtu.be/ITbBsESAJIo

Tech Field Day has partnered with Mitch Ashley of the Futurum Group to organize the AppDev Field Day event. We’re kicking off our next event in this series next week, broadcasting live from Salt Lake City on Techstrong TV.

Event Schedule

We’ll kick things off at AppDev Field Day on Tuesday at 1:00 MT, 12:00 PT with SOUTHWORKS. They’ll explore the future of cloud migration and multi-cloud strategies, demonstrating how SOUTHWORKS leverages CNCF technologies to help customers realize the potential of multi-cloud.

At 2:30 MT, we’re welcoming Heroku, a Salesforce company, to AppDev Field Day. Heroku will showcase its evolving platform capabilities, including new developments in Cloud Native Buildpacks and OpenTelemetry, while reflecting on a decade of container-driven transformation in application development.

On Wednesday at 12:00 MT, 11:00 PT, we’ll be introduced to Codiac, a new company that simplifies container and cluster management, allowing organizations to focus on software development and applications.

Watch AppDev Field Day Live

All of our sessions are broadcast live on LinkedIn and Techstrong TV, as well as the Tech Field Day website and partner sites including DevOps.com. The presentations are recorded and shared on the Tech Field Day YouTube channel as well as on TechStrong TV. We welcome participation on X/Twitter or Mastodon using #ADFD2, as well as on LinkedIn.

You can learn more about the event and our panel of independent technical influencers on the Tech field Day website as well. Each of our delegates has their own blog, podcast, or social media platform where they share their thoughts on enterprise technology.

Thank you for joining AppDev Field Day live on November 12th and 13th on our social media channels. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on X/Twitter, Mastodon, or LinkedIn for more Field Day updates.

#ADFD2 #CloudNativeCon #KubeCon #CodiacIO #GestaltIT #Heroku #MitchellAshley #SFoskett #SOUTHWORKS #TechFieldDay #TheFuturumGroup #ADFD2

https://wp.me/p4YpUP-mLZ

What Another Trump Presidency Means for Enterprise Tech | The Gestalt IT Rundown: November 6, 2024

Another Trump presidency could bring significant implications for enterprise tech, particularly through a focus on deregulation, increased M&A, and expanded Big Tech investments. this also extends to advancements in military technology, Israel’s influence on cybersecurity, the impact of initiatives like StarLink and rural broadband on connectivity, nuclear energy, AI, the CHIPS Act, and the expanding space industry. Altogether, these insights suggest that a pro-deregulation agenda, aiming to remove ten regulations for each new one introduced, could profoundly shape the future of enterprise technology. This and more on the Gestalt IT Rundown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tjv_5INq3k&list=PL4esUX7mpOVbSGJ3IbnfaAfgdV-9CqgXQ&index=1

1:54 – Log-in Bug Infects Okta

Okta recently disclosed a security vulnerability that allowed users to log in without a correct password under specific conditions, such as usernames over 52 characters, the presence of a stored cache key, no two-factor authentication, and Okta’s authentication agent being down or overloaded. Okta has since fixed the issue by updating its cryptographic algorithm and advises affected customers to review access logs from the past three months.

4:14 – Nuclear Amazon Datacenters Denied over Safety Concerns

Back on Oct 2, Tom and I talked about nuclear power for AI datacenters. Amazon’s plans to power new U.S. datacenters with nuclear energy faced a setback after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rejected an agreement allowing it to draw additional power from the Susquehanna nuclear plant, citing potential impacts on grid reliability and consumer costs. Despite FERC Chairman Willie L. Phillips advocating for approval, FERC ruled that the proposal lacked sufficient support, raising concerns over preferential treatment and the potential effects of similar arrangements on the grid in future cases.

7:56 – Microsoft Recalls Recall. Again.

Microsoft has once again delayed the release of its new AI Recall feature for Copilot Plus PCs, pushing the preview for Windows Insiders to December. Recall, which was originally slated for an October release, has been plagued by concerns about its security and privacy implications. The delays stem from Microsoft’s efforts to address these concerns by making Recall an opt-in feature that can be fully uninstalled. Microsoft has been working to fix bugs in how the feature appears and is controlled in Windows 11. The company remains committed to delivering a secure and trusted experience with Recall.

10:58 – Cloudera Launches Private Link

Cloudera recently launched the Cloudera Private Link Network, a service designed to provide secure, internet-free connectivity across multi-cloud environments. This network allows data to travel securely between customer workloads and Cloudera’s Control Plane without traversing the public internet, addressing privacy and regulatory concerns for industries like finance, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. By using services like AWS PrivateLink and Azure Private Link, the Private Link Network enables consistent security across cloud providers, reducing the complexities of cross-cloud setups and lowering total costs by simplifying network management. This development marks Cloudera’s effort to support enterprises with strict data protection needs in leveraging multi-cloud environments efficiently. For more on this, let’s turn to our colleague Mitch Ashley.

14:50 – Google Cloud gets Multi-Factor Authentication

In response to rising cyber threats and high-profile data breaches, Google has announced that it will require all Google Cloud users to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) by 2025. Starting this month, users will receive reminders to implement MFA, with mandatory enforcement beginning in the new year. This policy shift, aimed at protecting against unauthorized access through stolen credentials, aligns Google with other cloud giants like AWS and Microsoft, which have also moved to enforce MFA. Google says this requirement addresses the heightened security risks in enterprise cloud environments, where sensitive data remains a prime target for cyberattacks.

17:33 – Supermicro Faces Financial Woes as NVIDIA Seeks New Suppliers

Needham suspended its buy rating for Super Micro Computer (SMCI) after Ernst & Young resigned as auditor, citing governance issues and concerns about financial transparency amid an ongoing DOJ investigation and Hindenburg Research’s allegations of accounting manipulation. In response, NVIDIA is redirecting AI server orders to other suppliers to maintain supply chain stability, as Supermicro’s stock faces volatility and potential delisting risk.

22:07 – What Another Trump Presidency Means for Enterprise Tech

The Weeks Ahead

Networking Field Day 36 – November 6 – 7

AppDev Field Day 2 – November 12 – 13

Mobility Field Day 12 – November 20 – 21

Gestalt IT and Tech Field Day are now part of The Futurum Group.

The Gestalt IT Rundown is your look at the IT news of the week. Be sure to subscribe to Gestalt IT on YouTube for even more weekly video content.

#AI #CHIPSAct #CyberSecurity #PrivateCloud #Rundown #AWSCloud #Cloudera #GestaltIT #Google #GoogleCloud #Microsoft #MitchellAshley #Nvidia #OktaDev #Poller #SFoskett #SupermicroSMCI #TechFieldDay #TheFuturumGroup

https://wp.me/p4YpUP-mLJ

Just posted an article about the upcoming Network Field Day 36, which I'll be a delegate at. Summary info plus lots of links to prior TFD/NFD presentations by the vendors. Looking forward to being there in 3 weeks!
#PeterWelcher #CCIE1773 #TechFieldDay #NetworkFieldDay #NFD36 #pathsolutions #aviz #meter #elisity #arista #itential https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/looking-forward-nfd36-peter-welcher-qtobe/

#techfieldday

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