15: Optimizing AI Workloads: Balancing Cost, Performance, and Scalability with Bijit Ghosh
Kubex Talks
In this episode, Andrew Hillier and Bijit Ghosh discuss the evolving landscape of AI, discussing the growing prominence of inference over training, hybrid cloud strategies, balancing cost with performance, and the orchestration of complex hardware environments. The conversation also touches on emerging concepts like AI factories, the challenges of sovereign cloud, and how enterprises are navigating data gravity and regulatory constraints. It’s a deep dive into optimizing AI infrastructure, managing costs, and the disruptive changes that are transforming both technology and business outcomes....
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14: CNCF, OpenAPI, and Kubernetes with Dan Ciruli from Nutanix
Kubex Talks
Andrew Hillier sits down with Dan Ciruli, who leads the cloud native product management team at Nutanix. Dan’s got some great stories from his days at Google—back when cloud native and Kubernetes were just getting started, in addition to the knowledge and wisdom he picked up along the way. Andrew and Dan talk about founding a CNCF project, and what it entailed, as well as Kubernetes in the early days and its cloud-centric evolution. Dan dives into founding the OpenAPI initiative and how it all went down. Of course, a common question is what product managers do in open source? Well, Dan and...
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13: Effective Resource Optimization and Kubernetes Insights with Daniele Polencic
Kubex Talks
Kubernetes, container resources, request and limits, sizing, the impact of getting things wrong, CPU limits, JVMs, HPA and VPA, does Karpenter fix the request and limit problem? We’ve got a great episode for you today! Thanks for joining us on Densify Talks! We welcome Daniele Polencic, one of the lead instructors at LearnK8s, which specializes in containers and Kubernetes technologies. Andrew Hillier and Daniele Polencic discuss the complexities and difficulties of resource management in today’s episode. Daniele shares about the LearnK8s Instance Calculator to help avoid pitfalls. They...
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12: Kubernetes Maturity, Cost Optimization, Automation & AI with Viktor Farcic
Kubex Talks
Welcome to another episode of Densify Talks! Andrew Hillier has a fun and informative conversation with Viktor Farcic. Viktor considers himself a technology critic (think of the old muppet critics on the balcony) and rapscallion. We think he’s also quite the thought leader and author, with some very bold insights on technology that are worth hearing! See Viktor’s biography below for more information about him. Andrew and Viktor dive into the maturing landscape of Kubernetes, asking the question “is Kubernetes now “boring”?” It’s a good question and Viktor and Andrew have great...
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11: Exploring FinOps Strategies, AI, and Resource Optimization with Brent Eubanks of Wayfair
Kubex Talks
Welcome to another episode of Densify Talks! We’re excited and honored to welcome Brent Eubanks, FinOps Architect at Wayfair. Brent brings a wealth of knowledge and years of experience in the FinOps realm from his time at Ticketmaster, Citi, Box, and now Wayfair. Our host Andrew Hillier, CTO and Co-Founder of Densify, sits down with Brent to discuss containers, FinOps, resource optimization, AI, and Kubernetes to name a few topics. Brent shares his insights on resource waste, and highlights his strategic approach with seven tactics to optimization. Andrew and Brent discuss the...
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10: Container Strategies and Cloud Migration with Vladimir Remenar of Raiffeisen Bank
Kubex Talks
On this episode of Densify Talks, we welcome Vladimir Remenar, Director of IT Operations at Raiffeisen Bank in Croatia. Andrew Hillier and Vladimir Remenar dive into container optimization strategies and cloud migration, discussing Raiffeisen’s processes and innovative practices. Raiffeisen Bank was early in the automation of optimization. Vladimir shares why that was the case and what that meant for Raiffeisen. He also discusses Raiffeisen’s migration to cloud journey and shares challenges, benefits, and lessons learned along the way. Andrew and Vladimir talk about Openshift license costs...
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9: Optimizing Cloud and Container Efficiency with Intel® Cloud Optimizer by Densify
Kubex Talks
Andrew Hillier and Ashley Rodrigue from Intel Corporation have a wealth of fantastic information for you on this episode of Densify Talks! They start off by sharing the benefits of the connection and partnership between Intel and Densify, highlighting how it benefits not only the two companies but also their customers. Ashley discusses how Intel® Cloud Optimizer is revolutionizing cloud efficiency and tackling container-related inefficiencies. She also provides a closer look at Intel's cutting-edge 5th Gen Intel Xeon Processors and their performance improvements. Andrew and Ashley talk...
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8: Avoiding Sticker Shock with Gokul Naidu of SAP’s SuccessFactors
Kubex Talks
On this episode of Densify Talks, we welcome Gokul Naidu, Senior Manager, Cloud Operations for SAP’s SuccessFactors Product Suite. Andrew and Gokul discuss an array of topics in the episode. The general theme of the discussion focuses on cost management and the importance of being prepared, aware, and executing the right planning in order to avoid sticker shock. Gokul shares about SAP’s massive cloud transformation and the incredible results from that success. Andrew and Gokul also discuss RI’s, FinOps, optimization thoughts and tips, new apps from SAP and the impact on Architecture...
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7: How Verisk Uses Data to Drive Optimization in the Cloud
Kubex Talks
On this episode of Densify Talks, we welcome Lori Galella, Director of Cloud Cost Optimization and IT Finance at Verisk, and also Vinnie DeAngelis, Senior Director at Verisk. We dive into the importance of transparency, trust, automation, and optimization. Lori and Vinnie share their unique career paths and discuss the intersection of finance and technology, emphasizing the growing importance of optimization and transparency through FinOps. They also cover the impact of cloud migration, capacity management, and successful cost optimization strategies. Data and analytics are essential, and...
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6: Cloud Complexity: Understanding the Costs and Benefits of Cloud Computing with Mark Watson from ComplyAdvantage
Kubex Talks
On this episode of Densify Talks, we welcome Mark Watson, CTO at ComplyAdvantage. Andrew and Mark get into a variety of topics, including cloud costs and optimization strategies. Mark shares his insights and experiences with cloud vendors, discussing the challenges of analyzing and predicting cloud growth and the importance of flexibility when choosing providers. Andrew and Mark discuss pricing in the cloud industry, shedding light on the sometimes overlooked nature of hardware and software costs. They also delve into the world of optimization, test environments, and resource allocation,...
info_outlineAndrew Hillier sits down with Dan Ciruli, who leads the cloud native product management team at Nutanix. Dan’s got some great stories from his days at Google—back when cloud native and Kubernetes were just getting started, in addition to the knowledge and wisdom he picked up along the way.
Andrew and Dan talk about founding a CNCF project, and what it entailed, as well as Kubernetes in the early days and its cloud-centric evolution. Dan dives into founding the OpenAPI initiative and how it all went down. Of course, a common question is what product managers do in open source? Well, Dan and Andrew discuss it and share some good insights.
Dan discusses the Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP), resource optimization on NKP, and how to give consistent view across cloud and on-prem. Dan and Andrew dive a little into the current impact of AI (although, more discussion will likely come in the future on this topic).
And just when you think it’s all code and cloud, Dan drops the story of how he spent a year as tour manager for the rock band Chevelle (yep, that Chevelle)! Turns out, wrangling open source projects and rock bands aren’t as different as you’d think!
Densify is certified for the Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP) to provide automated resource optimization for containerized environments—bringing AI-driven insights and precision scaling to NKP users for improved performance and cost efficiency.
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Dan Ciruli
Dan Ciruli is the Vice President and General Manager of Cloud Native at Nutanix. His (very long) career in product management includes stints at Google, Zuora and EMC, and in open source he was a founding member of the OpenAPI Initiative and sat on the Istio Steering Committee. In his spare time he’s active in acting and musical theatre. Give him half a chance and he’ll try to speak Spanish to you!
ABOUT DENSIFY TALKS
Densify Talks is a podcast hosted by Andrew Hillier, Co-Founder and CTO of Densify, a cloud optimization software company. The podcast focuses on interviews with IT and technical leaders and innovators who have experience in delivering cloud and Kubernetes-based infrastructure within large enterprises.
LINKS
- Dan in The Red video for Chevelle @1:20 and @1:40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trinU3VD1Zo&list=RDtrinU3VD1Zo&t=80s