It’s been almost a year since Cisco confirmed rumors about its server ambitions by unveiling its Unified Computing System. Cisco’s market presence has evolved a good deal since then — thanks mainly to its alliance with EMC and VMware — but one thing that has not changed is the animosity between Cisco and its former partners. This week, partnerships with HP and Dell soured even further, helping to ensure that Cisco networking gear will not find a home in new HP- or Dell-powered data centers. I think it bears asking once more whether tight vertical integration is the be-all, end-all of systems, or if customers crave a more open approach.