NetApp and Cisco: Enhanced Collaboration, New FlexPod Configurations

Continuing the article What is FlexPod? . In short, FlexPod is a set of configurations of server and network equipment and software for data centers offered by Cisco and NetApp, formed on the basis of Cisco UCS servers, Cisco Nexus switches, and NetApp FAS storage systems.

On January 24, 2013, NetApp and Cisco announced increased collaboration.

Thus implementing a deeper integration of the products of both companies and new configurations of the FlexPod solution using some new developments of both companies.

• Faster integration of the FlexPod architecture: Cisco and NetApp continue to integrate their Cisco UCS and NetApp FAS products and the open ecosystem management FlexPod.
  The FlexPod solution will provide the ability to manage up to 10,000 servers allowing organizations to combine multiple FlexPod racks and use Multihop FCoE . These solutions are designed specifically for Service Providers and affiliates, providing the ability to scale infrastructure with predictable performance and tech support.
  FlexPod continues to lead in integration with infrastructure management utilities and will support Cisco UCS Manager 2.1. Cisco recently swallowed up Cloupia by consistently continuing and developing a unified converged infrastructure strategy. In addition, Cisco Intelligent Automation for Cloud (Cisco IAC) is supported, allowing you to manage your cloud solutions for FlexPod customers. Deeper integration across the entire FlexPod at the platform level, in contrast to the component level, allowing you to easily orchestrate FlexPod with partner solutions, including the Microsoft System Center and the Citrix CloudPlatform powered by Apache CloudStack .
• Cisco and NetApp also integrate Flash at the host and storage levels to increase performance across the entire converged architecture. This will use NetApp FlashAccel host-side acceleration technology and NetApp FlashCache / FlashPool on the storage controller side.

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• FlexPod for Cloud Service Providers .Cisco and NetApp have developed a flexible architecture, with the possibility of large-scale expansion of the FlexPod solution capable of working with a service provider multi- datacenter architecture. This set of solutions includes NetApp Clustered ONTAP cluster operating systems and NetApp FAS storage with Cisco UCS servers and Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switches, creating dynamic server pools, storage and network resources that can be expanded upwards and downsized based on the needs of the customer and their applications. This solution will use the Cisco VMDC architecture, include management and orchestration from Cisco and partner ecosystems such as BMC Software and in the future from open source providers.
  

• Branch office solutions: Cisco and NetApp are developing a partnership to extend the capabilities of the ExpressPod architecture to meet computing, storage, and network resources needs of branch offices. ExpressPod uses a similar converged architecture with FlexPod as the branch grows. This easy-to-install architecture offers a higher level of compatibility with the organization's data center core, giving affiliates the opportunity to take advantage of all the most effective trends in the IT industry, such as virtualization and cloud computing. ExpressPod includes support for VMware vSphere and will soon include support for Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V.
  

• FlexPod Application Validation: Cisco and NetApp expanding the reach of mission-critical applications and providing cloud solutions for data centers . Mission critical solutions include: Oracle databases and applications, SAP BusinessObjects business intelligence and the SAP HANA platform, as well as cloud solutions including Microsoft Private Cloud and Citrix CloudPlatform.
  

Quotes:

Padmasree Warrior, Chief Technology and Strategy Director, Cisco

“The last 10 years of partnership with NetApp have confirmed the successful validation by Cisco of the FlexPod architecture for our customers. Continuing development on the basis of this success, we are now expanding our partnership with NetApp, providing a broader deep integration and a wide range of developed solutions for unified data centers for open, scalable, multi-cloud infrastructures. Together, we will help our customers use the funds already invested in the data center to overcome the transition to the mobile cloud era. ”

Manish Goel, Executive Vice President, Product Operations NetApp

“NetApp and Cisco share the vision of the future of the data center and will continue to collaborate on innovations that will integrate organizations into a complete cloud architecture. Our development, sales, and channel team will work even more closely to provide new opportunities that will expand the market opportunities for both companies and our partners, and help our customers gain a competitive advantage from their flexible and efficient data center infrastructure. ”

Simon Aspinall, Chief Market Officer, Virtustream

“With the FlexPod solution from Cisco and NetApp, we can deploy private and public cloud solutions tailored to the individual requirements of our corporate clients for mission-critical applications. FlexPod's ability to dynamically integrate with its network and data storage servers is unique in the market, giving our cloud and IaaS solutions a distinct advantage. ”

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