4. The Channel Bets Big On Next-Generation Data Center Architecture

Broadline distributors and solution providers made aggressive moves in 2016 to expand their footprint around converged and hyper-converged infrastructure.

Tech Data in September announced plans to purchase Avnet's Technology Solutions business for $2.6 billion. The deal, expected to close in the first half of 2017, will increase the share of Tech Data's overall revenue coming from the data center from just 29 percent to 45 percent, and will give the Clearwater, Fla.-based distributor more capabilities around security, analytics and the cloud.

And one of the channel's largest pure-play data center solution providers, Datalink, announced in November that it would be sold to Insight Enterprises, No. 15 on the CRN SP 500, for $258 million.  Buying Datalink, No. 45 on the CRN SP 500, will boost Insight's services revenue by more than 50 percent and establish ties with next-generation vendors Pure Storage, Nimble Storage and Nutanix.