IDC's Worldwide Computing Platforms Taxonomy, 2022
This IDC study provides an overview of computing platforms market. It is mostly unchanged from the 2021 version, which saw a significant overhaul to include non-rack and custom rack form factors (including accommodations for systems deployed in supercomputing). It was updated to better align the form factor and deployment segmentation. Finally, newer approaches such as function acceleration and disaggregated infrastructure were moved to the Additional Computing Platforms Attributes section."Computing platforms are foundational for the future digital infrastructure. Computing platforms are transcending from classical to a quantum paradigm, and there is much to be disrupted as companies transition between the two," says Ashish Nadkarni, group VP, Infrastructure Systems, Platforms, and Technologies.
Please Note: Extended description available upon request.
- IDC's Worldwide Computing Platforms Taxonomy
- Computing Platforms Taxonomy Changes for 2022
- Research Additions
- Research Move/Reclassification
- Taxonomy Overview
- Definitions
- Computing Platforms
- Top-Level Classification: Classical Versus Nonclassical Computing
- Classical Computing
- User-Centric Computing
- Network-Centric Computing
- Neuromorphic Computing
- Quantum Computing
- Segmenting Classical Computing Platforms: Workflow
- Primary Access
- User-Centric Computing Platforms
- Network-Centric Computing Platforms
- Form Factors
- Small Form Factors (Non-Rack Form Factors)
- Medium-Sized Form Factors (Rack Form Factors)
- Large Form Factors (Standalone Rack)
- Functionality
- Fixed Function (Single Workload)
- Variable Function (Multi-Workload)
- Packaging Flexibility
- General-Purpose Platforms
- Purpose-Built Platforms
- Appliances
- Note on Operating System Environments
- Computing Platforms and Systems Primary Segments: Form Factors
- Small Platforms (Non-Rack Form Factors)
- Pods
- Microservers
- Tower Servers
- Workstations
- Personal Workstations
- Datacenter Workstations
- Medium-Sized Platforms (Rack Form Factors)
- Rack Optimized
- Modular Servers
- Modular — Blade Servers
- Modular — Multinode Servers
- Custom Rack Servers
- Expansion Units
- Compute Expansion Units
- Storage Expansion Units
- Large Platforms (Standalone Rack)
- Large Systems
- Custom Systems
- Mapping Form Factor to Enterprise Infrastructure and Server Trackers
- Computing Platforms and Systems Primary Segments: Deployment
- Endpoint Computing Platforms (Endpoints)
- Core Computing Platforms (Servers)
- Edge Computing Platforms (Edge Platforms)
- Heavy Edge Platforms
- Light Edge Platforms
- Packaged/Intelligent Systems
- Differentiating Between Core, Edge, and Endpoints
- Additional Computing Platforms Attributes
- Computing Complication
- Standalone (Discrete)
- Integrated (System on a Chip)
- Accelerated (Offload)
- Workload or Function (Offload) Accelerators
- Disaggregated/Distributed
- Primary Processor Architecture
- x86/x64
- ARM 32/64
- Complex Instruction Set Computer
- Reduced Instruction Set Computer
- Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing
- Other
- RISC-V
- European Processor Initiative
- Primary Processor Attributes
- Socket Capability
- Processor Count
- Core Count
- Processor Capability
- Platform Class and Price Bands
- Availability
- AL1 (No Special Provisions)
- AL2 (Workload-Balancing Servers)
- AL3 (Clustered Servers)
- AL4 (Fault-Tolerant Servers)
- Media and Memory
- Memory
- Persistent Memory
- Storage-Class Memory
- NAND Flash
- Rotational/Magnetic Media (Hard Disk Drives)
- Convergence and Scaling
- Standalone Platforms
- Integrated Infrastructure Systems and Platforms
- Hyperconverged Systems
- Composable/Disaggregated Systems
- Parallelized Systems (Clusters)
- Interfaces (Adapters), Interconnects, and Fabrics
- Storage and Networking Systems as Variants of Computing Platforms
- Cooling Options for Computing Platforms
- Related Markets
- Learn More
- Related Research
- Methodology
- Market Measurements
- Shipments
- Vendor Revenue and Value
- Average System Price
- Installed Base
- Server Retirement Rate
- Synopsis
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