What does this really mean?

Well, SDx Central defines Software-Defined Everything as any physical item or function that can be performed or automated by software. Software allows us to optimize resources, and there is a clear shift towards using technology to automate tasks which holds implications far beyond the technology industry. Even physical items and functions from our day-to-day lives are becoming software-defined. In real world terms, this includes apps like Uber, AirBnb and IoT devices such as Nest, Amazon Echo, GoPro, FitBit, the list goes on...

The world is moving towards Software-Defined Everything. Why?

The Sense in Software

In the Data Center

From the perspective of infrastructure and operations, the movement towards software-defined everything is about decoupling the bare metal from the software layer. The intention is that by separating the network control plane (the brains) from the forwarding plane (the brawn), the underlying hardware becomes less expensive and interchangeable, avoiding vendor lock-in, while the operating system becomes more efficient and advanced.

The entire operating environment can be virtualized and automated - server, storage, network, and security layers. Software-defined networking (SDN), also known as Open Networking, is one of the most important building blocks of software-defined everything.

"The data center of the future represents the potential for not only significant cost-savings on CAPEX and OPEX, but also dramatically improving productivity and speed while removing the complexity of provisioning, deploying, and maintaining technology on the network. Open networking can optimize infrastructure investments, and can form the basis for building agility into the way companies deliver IT services."

Read our eBook: Open Networking Demystified, and get answers to questions like 'Why Choose Open Networking?'; 'How has this market evolved?' along with convincing facts and figures on cost savings; how OCP deployments are happening now, and at scale with insights into the London Internet Exchange and JP Morgan Chase use cases. Finally, a useful glossary of terms to make sure you're covered on all things SDx.