Q-Layer’s software automates the management of computing clouds, which allow users to store information and applications in remote datacentres.

Financial terms for the acquisition were not disclosed, but Sun, which reported sales of $13.9 billion (£9.2 billion) last year, describes the amount concerned as ‘not material’. The acquired company will become part of Sun’s cloud computing business unit.

The transaction provides an exit for Q-Layer’s investors, which include European venture capitalist Wellington Partners, San-Francisco-based firm Partech International and early-stage technology investor Big Bang Ventures. The company, which was founded in 2005, had received more than €8 million (£7 million) of venture money.

David Douglas, senior vice president of cloud computing at Sun, says the deal will enhance Sun’s offerings by simplifying cloud management and speeding up application deployment.

Research from our sister publication Information Age reveals that the appetite of the world’s largest IT companies for new acquisitions remains undiminished.