There is all kinds of news on IBM selling its x86 Server business to Lenovo.
Lenovo to Buy IBM Low-End Server Business for $2.3 Billion
Chinese Computer Maker Aims to Expand Corporate-Client Business Beyond Office PCs
Updated Jan. 23, 2014 8:13 a.m. ET
The press release is here. And there is not a single mention of Softlayer who in theory would be using IBM x86 Servers.
On Jan 17, 2014 IBM announced it would spend $1.2 bil to double its Softlayer Cloud capacity and word server does not show up.
IBM Commits $1.2 Billion to Expand Global Cloud Footprint
Builds a Massive Network of Local Cloud Hubs for Businesses Worldwide with 40 Data Centers Across Five Continents
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ARMONK, N.Y. - 17 Jan 2014: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced plans to commit over $1.2 billion to significantly expand its global cloud footprint. This investment includes a network of cloud centers designed to bring clients greater flexibility, transparency and control over how they manage their data, run their business and deploy their IT operations locally in the cloud.
I once asked a Softlayer person if they have started running IBM servers in their Cloud environment. His answer surprised me. No. We can’t run the IBM Servers. We have fine tuned our automation to work with a particular BIOS we control and make sure is on all servers.
Check the this picture of IBM Softlayer CEO Lance Crosby. Notice how he is back of the server rack and not in front of the servers. I know the server vendor, but it is not appropriate to share and who knows if they have changed since I talked to the Softlayer person last summer.
Wonder if the IBM folks got a wake-up call when they realized they couldn’t use their own servers in their cloud environment without making a lot of changes to accommodate the Softlayer BIOS and probably break a huge amount of other management tools.