Well well, what is going on in the virtualization landscape. I guess more compute virtualization challenges are solved, so it is up to the next challange, network virtualization. Today IP addresses really pose a big problem in creating an agile environment, as it represents both identity and location.

To help start solving some of these network challenges, VMware and Oracle both announced big acquisitions in the networking space.

VMware will acquire Nicira, who is specialized in software-defined networking. Oracle will acquire Xsigo, who as well is specialized in software-defined networking :-)

More about both deals:
VMware press release
Oracle press release

Is it a coincidence that both virtualization players are getting into software defined networking? Of course not, as I said, most problems around compute virtualization are solved today, while networking is still very much old-school. If we want environments where virtual machines can move from on-premise to off-premise, from one datacenter to another, if we do not want a 1000 cables sticking out of our highly consolidated servers, we need to get the networking on the virtualization bandwagon :-)

When both companies will integrate these solutions into their stack it will truely be a win for all their customers, who will gain a lot of networking flexibility because of it.