News Analysis: Oracle and Cisco Systems are working on entirely separate, but similar tracks in long-term efforts to become full-service systems providers on par with IBM and Hewlett-Packard. Oracle, a 32-year-old vendor of database and enterprise application software, will get a lot closer to that goal if it gets final regulatory clearance to close its $7.4 billion acquisition of server and storage manufacturer Sun Microsystems. Meanwhile, networking equipment vendor Cisco Systems, at 25, is focusing on its Unified Computing System initiative to expand its presence and influence in corporate data centers.
– Oracle and Cisco Systems are rolling hard and fast on separate but parallel tracks to become full-service systems providers that want to enjoy the international business reputations and prestige of IBM and Hewlett-Packard.

As quot;full-service system providers, quot; Oracle and Cisco would have …