Next-generation hardware such as (1) dense, cheap non-volatile memory; (2) high-speed low-latency networks; and (3) parallel processing accelerators are leading many to propose disaggregated 'rack-scale' computers. In this talk I will cover some of the software challenges emerging from these architectures, both in terms of how to manage them and in terms of how to program them.

Steve Hand works in the Technical Infrastructure organization at Google in Mountain View, CA where his particular interests are in using next-generation hardware platforms for large-scale distributed computing. Before joining Google earlier this year, he was a Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research Silicon Valley working on distributed run-time systems; prior to that he spent 15 years on the faculty at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory. His research interests include operating systems, networking, distributed systems and programming frameworks.