NetApp, Cisco Update FlexPod UCS Systems for SMBs

Cisco Systems and one of its key storage partners, NetApp, said April 11 they are upgrading the FlexPod data center system–a partnership project of the two neighboring companies based on Cisco’s Unified Computing System–to work more efficiently inside smaller data centers.

FlexPod, which uses NetApp storage arrays to go with Cisco servers and networking, is designed for heavy-duty cloud computing workloads involving hundreds of servers. It is basically to a head-on competitor to EMC’s Vblock unified server-storage-networking system, which also uses Cisco servers and networking.

All FlexPod storage arrays are NAND flash and HHD hybrid machines built and maintained by NetApp.

New Configurations for Smaller Workloads

The upgrade consists of a series of new prevalidated design architectures priced and sized for smaller workloads. San Jose, Calif.-based Cisco and NetApp have also completed validation of several new data management solutions from leading software management vendors that fit directly into FlexPod design architectures.

FlexPod packages now available include products from CA Technologies, Cloupia and Gale Technologies.

The entry-level FlexPod now combines NetApp’s entry-level FAS2240 and the Cisco UCS C-Series Cisco Nexus 5000 Switches, Cisco Nexus 2232 Fabric Extender and Cisco UCS 6200 Series Fabric Interconnects. None of these were used in the original 2010 FlexPod implementation.

FlexPod is made available worldwide through about 500 NetApp FlexPod channel integrators and value-added resellers.

Currently, about 850 enterprises use FlexPod for their data center infrastructure, which amounts to about 400 percent growth in customer adoption in a bit more than a year, Sunnyvale, Calif.-based NetApp said.