Hard drives are still relevant, SSDs are fast but expensive. Server design trends include smaller, cheaper cores like ARM replacing traditional servers. System on chips will integrate more components using Moore's law. Cloud servers are optimized differently than enterprise servers, with workload-specific designs competing with general purpose servers. Data centers and cloud infrastructure must be designed holistically for reliability and maintenance.

1. Future of Cloud Server Design

2. Top 10 Somewhat Random Observations
1. Hard Drives are not dead!
2. SSDs are fast but not cheap and endurance can be an issue
3. Mainframes -> Minicomputers -> Desktop PCs -> Laptops -> Cell
Phones (Disruptive Innovation always happens from below!)
4. “Wimpy” cores will prevail (Atom? Bobcat? ARM?)
5. ARM SOCs will succeed in servers (can ARM have a LEG up on the
competition ?)
6. SOCs will happen! Use Moore’s Law for system integration.
7. Cloud Servers are different from Enterprise Servers!
8. Dilemma: workload optimized servers vs “one size for all”
9. Servers, Networks, & Data Centers will fail. MTTR matters!
10. The Data Center is the Cloud Server! Optimize Holistically!
“Don’t be encumbered by past history, go off and do something wonderful.”