FlexPod has evolved from a platform for cost cutting, to the Cutting-edge. This Innovation announcement includes industry-first validated designs for Cisco ACI, NetApp FAS8000 unified scale-out storage, and Cisco Secure Enclaves. Also covered are new program enhancements.
FlexPod is Winning through Innovation with new FlexPod validated designs and program enhancements.This presentation’stheme calls out how FlexPod has evolved from a platform that cuts cost, to one that enables the cutting-edge. We are featuring industry-first validated designs for Cisco Nexus 9000 ACI-enabled switches, FAS8000 unified scale-out storage, as well as immediate support for the new FAS2500 series.
Examples Industry momentum.Depending on the analyst, anywhere from a third to two-thirds of IT will be shifting to Converged Infrastructure (CI).Customers and Resellers are using CI to reduce Deployment time, reduce cost and reduce IT project risk.
And within this hot market, FlexPod itself is seeing strong momentum:Shared Cisco and NetApp results consistently in industry top tier.4,000 customers growing almost 100% annually 1,000 resellers globally, 100 Premium partners.70 published validationsAnd from a recentIDC IT user-survey, “FlexPod and FlexPod Express clearly ranked first in a field of 17 suppliers.” Details in next slide.Other key proof points:37% lower TCO vs. VSPEX (Edison Group)120% ROI and 9 month payback (Forrester)“Ideal platform forprivate cloud” (ESG)Award winning designs - Microsoft best of TechEd, Windows IT Pro50% guaranteed storage savings (NetApp)
FlexPod’s success in the market is not just a reflection of one quarter’s sales. FlexPod was ranked the #1 product in a set of 17 choices, by over 300 IT managers and Execs.FlexPod leads in terms of buyer interest, with almost 45% of companies in this IDC survey evaluating, testing or feeling they already Own a FlexPod.Note that 22% or over 1 in 5 of companies looking at Converged Infrastructure have already chosen FlexPod!
With this latest announcement, the FlexPod value proposition has evolved from just being a better alternative to DIY IT, to the leader in integrated infrastructure per IDC and other analysts, to now being a platform for innovative new IT capabilities. From Cost Savings to Converged to Cutting Edge.40% of respondents in aForrester study on CI said IT workers were able to shift their focus from maintenance to new initiatives once a CI solution was implemented. In addition, 73% of respondents reported that implementation of CI resulted in improved IT responsiveness to new business requirements. FlexPod is enabling innovation through new validated designs…Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure, along with all Software-Defined Data center innovations, enabling full virtualization, automation, and where hardware state is maintained by intelligent software systems.Designs with the NetApp FAS8000 bring the unique benefits of Unified Scale-out storage. The new FAS8000 is flash accelerated and cluster enabled for new levels of performance and scale, in a single storage system.FlexPod as a platform for Cisco Secure Enclaves enables Security innovations vital in an era of cyberfraud and terrorism. We support the state-of-the-art in data partitioning, logical VM isolation, along with network monitoring and Adaptive Security applications.VDI leader Citrix XenDesktop securely delivers any type of virtual desktop, Windows, web, or software as a service app to all the latest PCs, Mac computers, tablets, smartphones, laptops, and thin clients making possible unprecedented mobility for the workforce. Tech partner NVIDEA enablesvisually rich, interactive applications through the industry's first hardware virtual GraphicsProcessing Unit – enabling for the first time CAD/CAM type processor-intensive app to be used by globally distributed design teams.Companies have virtualized but may still lack the agility to run their datacenters. Microsoft private cloud dramatically changes the way IT delivers, and users and consume IT services. An automated layer of abstraction over pooled resources delivers agility, economics, and becomes a platform for transformative IT projects.
Let’s look at the Technical and Program payload for this period, spanning the Spring and early Summer…
6 New validated designsCisco Nexus 9000 and Application Centric Infrastructure fabric – Can now enable software defined management of resources by intelligent applicationsFAS 8000 Unified Scale-out storage – Flash-accelerated, cluster-enabled for new levels of performance, scales up to 60PBsCisco Secure Enclaves – End-to-End, Data-to-Application security for multi-tenant environmentsProgram newsNew version of Config Advisor coming this summer, and a new IMT filter capability.FlexPod Powered – periodically highlighting Technology partners building solutions around FlexPod.Recently updated Blogs, Web site updates, new Collateral, Sales Tools, Social media to reflect these new FlexPod capabilities.
Here is our payload at a glance. More detail is in the slides that follow:FlexPod Datacenter with Citrix XenDesktop 7.1 and VMware vSphere 5.1U1 and FlexPod Datacenter with Citrix XenDesktop 7.1 and Citrix XenServer 6.2. They were publicly announced some time ago but are just now getting published.FlexPod Datacenter with Microsoft Private Cloud FastTrack v4 published in time to be promoted at Microsoft TechEd.FlexPod Datacenter with Cisco Secure Enclaves – Coming in May.FlexPod Datacenter with VMware vSphere 5.5 and NetApp FAS8000 Series storage – planned for June publication.FlexPod Datacenter with VMware vSphere 5.1U1 and Cisco Nexus 9000 Series Switches – planned to publish by the end of July.For programs, we have new and enhanced FlexPod tools out between now and August, including and update toConfig Advisor, version 4.0. Also a new IMT Filter available today.FlexPod Powered technology partner solution showcasing already underway.
Key FlexPod platform InnovationsFlexPod Datacenterwith Cisco Secure Enclaves- Security for Business Critical FlexPod environments;Successor to our past Secure Multi-Tenancy validated designs.Way beyond VPNs and VLANS - State of the art integrated data protection architecture from the storage up through the network and server tiers.Data security key concern given recent hacks and cyber threats. Heavily leverages Cisco security technology, and creates a flexible, functional, and secure application environment.Supports SOX Sect 404, HIPAA, PCI DSS reqs; Leverages clustered Data ONTAP Storage VMs and QoS capabilities.FlexPod with FAS8000 - Industry-first Converged Infrastructure solution with the FAS8000 Unified Scale-out storage systemFAS8000 = Flash-accelerated, cluster-enabled for new levels of performance and scaleKey component updates: Clustered Data ONTAP 8.2.1, VMware vSphere 5.5, Cisco UCS Manager 2.2.1 (El Capitan), Cisco UCS Director 4.2The new FAS8000 series is the first FAS platform designed specifically for scale-out using clustered Data ONTAP. It leverages a new hardware architecture, updated network connectivity options and improved flash support to deliver superior performance and value to our customers. With the FAS8000 customers will be able to accelerate and consolidate more of their business operations on to a single, highly responsive IT infrastructure that scales seamlessly over time. FlexPod with Cisco Nexus 9000 - Application Centric Infrastructure – enables Software defined management of data center hardware resources by intelligent software systems. Full virtualization, automation, and where hardware state is maintained by software.Cisco Nexus 9000 Series SwitchesHigh scalability and performance, and exceptional energy efficiency in compact form factor, now ACI enabledKey ComponentsCisco Nexus 9300 (9396, 9508), Cisco APIC, Data ONTAP 8.2.1, VMware vSphere 5.1U1, Cisco UCS Manager 2.2.1 (El Capitan), VSC 4.2.1, VMware vSphere 5.1U1
This is an update to theFlexPod with Microsoft Private Cloud validated design that was awarded Best of TechEd 2013 in the Systems Management Category. It features Windows Server 2012 R2.It is also certified for Fast Track 4.0. Microsoft Private Cloud Fast Track is a joint effort between Microsoft and its hardware partners to deliver validated, preconfigured solutions that reduce the complexity and risk of implementing a private cloud.This design also picks up support for Cisco UCS M3 servers with the Intel “Ivy Bridge” Xeon Processor. It greatly increases the compute capabilities througha 22 nanometer process that supports as many as 12 cores per processor.The initial design document isa NetApp Validated Architecture (NVA), with a CVD planned in Phase 2, date TBD.
We have 2 designs for Citrix in the period:FlexPod Datacenter with Citrix XenDesktop 7.1 on VMware vSphere 5.1. FlexPodDatacenter with Citrix XenDesktop 7.1 on XenServer 6.2. Both we pre-announced at the last Citrix Synergy show, in case they sound familiar.Where these designs deliver innovation is through supporting Mobility, or improved access to applications for a progressive distributed workforce. VDI leader Citrix XenDesktop securely delivers any type of virtual desktop, Windows, web, or software as a service app to all the latest PCs, Macs, tablets, smartphones, laptops, and thin clients making possible unprecedented mobility for the workforce.Recent/ongoing VDI related plays: $35 desktop w/Atlantis on FAS2200. Also Citrix XD on all-Flash 8000.
Config Advisor is the tool that automatically ensures deployment quality with checks of the entire solution stack.A new version, 4.0, coming in August, expands these checks to over 100.It’s available through it’s own NetApp Field Portal landing page.FlexPod IMT Filter is an addition to the NetApp Interoperability Matrix Tool page.The goal is to make IMT queries faster & easier.Look for these new links at the bottom of the NetApp IMT page.
FlexPod Powered Partner Solutions is a Showcase for Complementary Technology Partner Offerings. (Not intended for Reseller offerings – there is already a Solution Connection site for this.)The historicProblem was – we had No value prop for tech partners who aren’t ‘validated’ but who are co-promoting FlexPod solutions.The Solution was to Launch a moreformalized FlexPod partner marketing program to Highlight complementary tech and reseller partners, and Provide additional promotional opportunities.The list above include inaugural tech solutions. These will also be featured on the updated FlexPod web page as well as communications.The list is expected to rotate on a roughly quarterly basis throughout the remainder of the year.
Here is Proof that FlexPod is the most efficient ConvergedInfrastructure solution. Recent analyst reports on FlexPod, all available on the web:Forrester – Based on analyst interviews of customers. VDI and Microsoft® business app workloads.Key findings: 120% risk-adjusted ROI, Payback within 9 months, Benefits and savings of $858k over 3 years from: Automated provisioning and management, Hardware consolidation, Data storage efficiency, Reduced power and cooling.http://www.netapp.com/us/media/rp-flexpod-economic-impact.pdf?nocache The Edison Group – Total Cost analysis proving FlexPod has 26% lower TCO than Vblock, 37% lower than VSPEX: http://www.theedison.com/pdf/samples_NetApp_FlexPod_TCO_WP.pdf IDC – Reprint of IT end-user study ranking FlexPod #1 out of 17 vendors: https://fieldportal.netapp.com/?oparams=209699 On the web (requires email): http://get.netapp.com/converged-storage/ESG – FlexPod is an ideal platform to transform your data center into a highly dynamic private cloud… FlexPod shifts the economics and operational efficiency of the IT organization: http://www.netapp.com/us/media/wp-flexPod-the-gateway-to-your-private-cloud.pdf
In summary - FlexPod not only saves IT money, but is also a platform for Innovation.New this seasonSix new FlexPod validated designsEnhanced FlexPod toolsFlexPod Powered Partner Solution ShowcaseLook for an updated to the FlexPod webpages at NetApp.com/FlexPod.We’ll have new designs listed there and on the Cisco DesignZone for FlexPod.Updated Collateral and Sales tools are on the Field Portal at FlexPodPartners.comShare your thoughts and questions about FlexPod and Converged Infrastructure on the recently re-launched Community page: ConvergedCommunity.com