One of the topics that we frequently wrote about in 2010 was how the adoption of virtualization and cloud computing was one of the primary factors driving the acquisition strategy of many vendors.

Being that we’re at the start of a new year and all, I thought I’d launch the 2011 newsletter by sharing predictions from a variety of network and systems management vendor executives.

As virtualization and the movement of virtual machines around the infrastructure accelerates, so too must your network.

Infonetics research says cloud computing will fuel large gains in the 10G Ethernet and storage markets through 2014.

Juniper's strategic initiatives in 2011 and beyond are cloud computing and the mobile Internet.

Brocade's installed base of Fibre Channel SANs is both an asset and an albatross.

The networking behemoth intends to automate cloud deployment, as spotlighted via its just-announced partnership with BMC. We chat with Lew Tucker, Cisco's chief technology officer of cloud computing, who talks about cloud-o-nomics, interoperability standards and how Cisco aims to be the go-to supplier of equipment to cloud providers.

The industry reached a "virtual" tipping point in 2009 when, according to IDC, the number of newly installed virtual machines surpassed the number of newly installed physical servers. This inflection point is having a profound impact on how we manage, secure and provision IT resources. No doubt the network will look completely different in just a few years too, but here are five predictions for how virtualization will change networking in 2011.

Deal will boost Cisco's business in building and deploying secure cloud computing infrastructures.

We've been staring a simple truth in the face for a few years but generally trying to ignore it because the implications are big.  That truth: If we are to get the most out of highly virtualized, cloud-ready environments we are probably going to have to rethink the way parts of IT are organized.