Microsoft launches Azure cloud in a box | ZDNet

tbd if Amazon or Google will offer a similar on-prem/private cloud option; HP is already partially there for hybrid AWS scenarios, with its Eucalyptus acquisition. For more details, see Unveiling The Microsoft Cloud Platform System, powered by Dell (Windows Server Blog). In other Azure news, see Cloudera Selects Microsoft Azure as a Preferred Cloud Platform (Cloudera blog).

"With Dell as its hardware partner, Microsoft will offer customers pre-assembled racks of servers running Windows Server 2012 R2, System Center 2012 R2 and Windows Azure Pack. Azure Pack, originally known as "Windows Azure Services for Windows Server," provides users with the on-premises equivalents of a number of Azure technologies, including a self-service portal for managing services like Web sites, virtual machines and Service Bus; a portal for administrators to manage "resource clouds"; scalable Web hosting and more.

The Microsoft Cloud Platform System will be available starting next month, said Microsoft executives."

Microsoft launches Azure cloud in a box | ZDNet