The SQL Database Consolidation Appliance

At PASS the SQL Server team annouced the first Database Consolidation & Private Cloud Appliance (https://blogs.technet.com/b/dataplatforminsider/archive/2011/10/13/announcing-the-first-database-consolidation-amp-private-cloud-appliance.aspx )

The appliance is used to consolidate databases running servers or racks, into a single, highly tuned integrated solution, with rapid deployment and simplified management from OS to Database

How is this appliance an industry first?
No other solution in the market today offers all of these capabilities:

- Consolidate thousands of databases with no application or database changes
- Manage the entire stack, from OS to Database, from single, integrated tools
- Runs on hardware designed for very high IOPs, a requirement for running thousands of databases
- Consolidation via virtualization, offering highly elastic and agile responsiveness
- Includes tools to consolidate databases, migrate databases, and manage databases, out of the box