Real Time View – Nonstop Story Telling

Real Time View
Nonstop Story Telling

This issue of NonStop Insider is a celebration. It is the first issue of the tenth year of this publication. A lot of work goes into the creation of each issue and as we enter our tenth year, it is worth noting that the support of this digital publication has come from a wide variety of supporters, including Nonstop vendors, consultants, educators, HPE technologists and, on occasion, customers. It is this mix of observations, opinions and detailed technical insights that have helped make this publication as well-read as it is.

Celebrating the start of the end of a decade that represents a milestone, when this publication began such a milestone seemed such a distant goal. But here we are, working on this first issue and in so doing, looking at how so much has changed for NonStop – or, should we more correctly call it today, Nonstop Compute – we really want to thank everyone in the Nonstop community for all the support. Nonstop has moved past celebrating its 40^th birthday and indeed, its 50^th birthday and the horizon seem to keep extending further into the future. Here’s to us, as a community, being around to celebrate the 60^th birthday of Nonstop, seemingly way out there in the distance.

We are coming off the success of the annual Connect organized HPE Nonstop Technical and Business Conference 2025 (Nonstop TBC 2025). Houston, Texas certainly helped spice up the occasion. From western themes, bull-riding opportunities, a fun Margaritaville-style beer bust, it was a showcase of all that we have come to see as being much bigger in Texas. The venue created quite a different look-and-feel for 2025, with the main auditorium laid out with Nonstop vendors set up around the perimeter, tables and seating extending all the way to the central stage The general session and keynote presentations were given from that stage. All in, it made for an intimate occasion with every opportunity to mingle with the members of the Nonstop community.

The highlight of the sessions came early Tuesday morning. The stage was set for Casey Taylor, HPE VP & GM HPE NonStop Compute, and Neil Davis, HPE Global Sales Director, HPE NonStop Compute, to bring us highlights of 2025. The theme of Casey’s update was strong continuation – emphasis on the big HPE themes of The Cloud that Comes to You along with GreenLake for your on-prem cloud experience. Clearly, the addition of Juniper Networks wasn’t ignored as the acquisition successfully happened only a short time ago. Reference was made to a cultural change as HPE, a commoditized hardware vendor, welcomed a different take on what a major IT vendor should look like in 2025. However, it was the reference in passing, again, against the background of cloud, of how there was work being done to support Nonstop in public clouds, globally, virtualized and present; essentially everything we know about Nonstop becoming available everywhere.

There was a startling acknowledgement that there might be plans afoot to broaden the appeal and the access to Nonstop cloud-centered, and globally accessible. Its importance didn’t escape me even as I looked back through the numerous notes I made during the event. Of course, this took me to a quote from the movie Everything Everywhere All At Once, “When I choose to see the good side of things, I’m not being naive. It is strategic and necessary. It’s how I learned to survive through everything.” Couldn’t have said it any better myself. Strategic, necessary, and most important of all the good side of things for Nonstop Compute.

Having Nonstop pursue a plan to be everywhere is also a recognition that when it comes to AI, as Casey made it very clear; AI will be an adjacent technology. Off-platform and available to Nonstop solutions adjacent AI is no longer a topic for discussion as it might relate to running on Nonstop. The requirements of AI are at odds with what it takes to process and switch messages – at the heart of modern Nonstop transaction processing – so it’s better to leave to something else and yes, there are many options available today. Forget about the possibility of an onboard GPU – not going to happen. So, in this regard, it makes sense to hold to a strategy that sees Nonstop everywhere via a cloud with global reach just as it is a necessary outcome of the design center of Nonstop being one focused on transaction processing – short message in, short response returned. However, what it does mean is that data will be passing between adjacent participants – transaction and analytics / AI – and this renews emphasis on those Nonstop vendors focused on moving data.

Nonstop Compute cannot afford to stand still. Nor can the Nonstop community become yet another technology association. A club for those who keep the secrets of Nonstop. All too quickly, cliques can form and that is of little value to the Nonstop community looking to attract new Nonstop customers. Likewise, the gulf between Nonstop partners as in being on the Nonstop price book, looking out, and separate from the Nonstop vendors looking in, needs to be addressed. I can honestly say that this has gotten the attention of senior Nonstop management but something material has to appear soon or we will loose participating Nonstop vendors and, with or without clubs, this isn’t what the Nonstop community wants to see take place.

There was much that was positive about this year’s event. A good turn out by the Nonstop community, the presence of a Customer Council well chaired by Justin Simonds in his role as moderator, excellent networking engagements and more. To say it was a banner year for the Nonstop community is an understatement as there were more banners flying this year than I can recall ever having witnessed in prior years. And perhaps it is time to let our true colors fly? Perhaps it is a time to celebrate the continued presence of a strong Nonstop community. In the few exchanges I have had with Casey over the years, there is a sense of urgency in all that she addresses and perhaps this is the biggest news of all. Nonstop is not standing still. Nonstop is necessary for enterprises requiring permanent availability. And yes, Nonstop is going to shine, everywhere!