Today is IT Professionals Day (or IT Pro Day). As you may already know, it was started in 2015 by the tech company SolarWinds to recognize and show appreciation for the often-unsung heroes — all the IT Professionals across the many disciplines — who keep our systems protected, secure, and running smoothly.
Here’s a few fun IT Facts:
- The first actual case of bug being found – was a real bug (a moth). (https://www.computerhistory.org/tdih/september/9/)
- The first computer password was invented in 1961. (https://cybernews.com/security/first-computer-password/)
- The first email was just “QWERTYUIOP.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYn9l1IXTU4)
I also have some commentary from a pair of executives from Leaseweb:
Richard Copeland, CEO, Leaseweb USA – IT Professionals Day Commentary:
“The best IT people I’ve worked with aren’t just here to fix things — they’re here to make the business stronger. They’re connecting dots the rest of us don’t even see, figuring out how technology can give us an edge. Here’s the thing — if they’re buried in tickets and day-to-day maintenance, they can’t provide their full potential. My job as a leader is to get the noise out of their way so they can focus on the big stuff that actually moves the business forward.
IT Professionals Day is a reminder to give these folks the room to be strategic. They’re not just support — they’re problem solvers, innovators, and a huge part of how we grow. The more we clear the small stuff off their plates, the more they can deliver the kind of results that change the trajectory of a company.”
Roger Brulotte, CEO, Leaseweb Canada – IT Professionals Day Commentary:
“Our IT pros are the people who quietly keep this whole thing running — and when you give them the chance, they can take it to the next level. They’re securing our data, keeping us online, and at the same time, finding ways to make tech work harder for the business. But if all they do is put out fires, we’re wasting their talent. I want them spending their time building what’s next, not just fixing what’s broken.”
“That’s why, especially on IT Professionals Day, I think about how to protect their time. When we take low-value work off their hands, they get to lean into the high-impact, forward-looking projects. And that’s when the magic happens — not just for IT, but for the whole company.”
UPDATE: Bruce Kornfeld, Chief Product Officer at StorMagic adds this:
“IT professionals are the steady hands keeping systems online when hardware fails, when cloud services slow down or when costs suddenly rise due to shifting trade policies. They help ensure resilient infrastructure and find ways to deliver more with less, even as new demands like AI, virtualization changes and real-time data processing at the edge emerge.
The reality is that IT teams are often asked to stretch budgets, rethink infrastructure strategies and deliver efficiency without compromising reliability. Whether it’s reducing server sprawl, exploring alternatives to costly software or simplifying management at remote sites, IT professionals are solving problems that most of us never see.
That dedication can even come at a personal cost—systems don’t always operate 24/7 or as smoothly as we’d hope, and it’s not unusual for IT professionals to miss family dinners, weekends or holidays to keep everything running.
Their work is not only technical, it’s strategic. By keeping applications running smoothly, they give businesses the flexibility to innovate and the confidence to face whatever comes next. On National IT Professionals Day, we should take time to recognize the people who keep our digital world moving forward. Today we thank them for their dedication, their creativity and their commitment to keeping organizations running smoothly in an unpredictable world.”
VDURA and AMD Launch Scalable Reference Architecture for AI and HPC
Posted in Commentary with tags VDURA on September 16, 2025 by itnerdVDURA has announced the launch of its first scalable AMD Instinct™ GPU reference architecture in collaboration with AMD. The new validated blueprint defines how compute, storage and networking should be configured for efficient, repeatable large-scale GPU implementations. The design combines the VDURA V5000 storage platform with AMD Instinct™ MI300 Series Accelerators to eliminate performance bottlenecks and simplify deployment for the most demanding AI and high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
AI and HPC pipelines are increasingly limited by storage that cannot keep pace with growing data volumes. This slows GPU utilization, increases energy costs and reduces overall efficiency. The new reference architecture is engineered to keep AMD Instinct™ GPUs fully utilized, delivering sustained performance with a design that is efficient, expandable and simple to operate.
Following a technical evaluation, AMD selected VDURA for its AMD Instinct™ GPU-optimized performance, low client overhead and proven ability to scale. The solution has already been chosen for a U.S. federal systems integrator AI supercluster, demonstrating its readiness for mission-critical workloads.
The reference architecture provides compute, storage and networking at scale. It supports 256 AMD Instinct™ GPUs per scalable unit, achieves throughput of up to 1.4 TB/s and 45 million IOPS in an all-flash layout, and delivers around 5 PB of usable capacity in a 3 Director and 6 V5000 node configuration. Data durability is assured through multi-level erasure coding, while networking options include dual-plane 400 GbE and optional NDR/NDR200 InfiniBand.
Built to grow with demand, the modular design allows organizations to add Director Nodes for extra performance, expand with all-flash storage for more bandwidth, or combine flash and HDD capacity for cost-effective growth, all within a single namespace.
For further information, the full 20-page architecture reference guide is available for download at: https://www.vdura.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VDURA_AMD_AI_Reference-Architecture-2.pdf
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