FlexPod is a converged infrastructure option developed by NetApp and Cisco. FlexPod is available in streamlined and simplified Express version, and the FlexPod Datacenter edition for enterprise private clouds, VDI, scale-out infrastructure, or software defined data centers.
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VersaStack
Score 8.2 out of 10
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VersaStack(TM) Converged Infrastructure solution, jointly developed by
IBM and Cisco, aims to deliver efficiency, performance and
economics. It combines a comprehensive set of converged infrastructure
and software-defined technologies from IBM and Cisco. Using VersaStack,
organizations can modernize their datacenter, deliver versatile
environments, as well as enable public, private, or hybrid, multi-cloud
environments.
Being able to move a physical server config to another physical server within the FlexPod is a god send.
Hardware fails, we all know that.
It happens, by being able to move a profile from one blade to another, it allows you to quickly and easily restore service while waiting for hardware to arrive onsite to repair/replace the failed component.
Versastack dashboard configuration is quick through the technical assistant and the ability to handle multiple projects data from one point is profitable. The Versastack also simplifies the multi cloud environment management and to connect with the third part solutions is simple. Versatile environment deliverance is another best thing on Versastack and data security is good.
KVM control of the blades still requires Java. Avocent is using HTML5 now, and it would be nice if the KVM console for these UCS blades could too.
Price - Like any Cisco product, there are cheaper options. They aren't nearly as fully featured, but at times, it would be nice if UCS could be a bit cheaper.
I have made use of Smartstack, vBlock and Flashstack, as well as other mixes of storage and virtualization hosts, and FlexPod is probably still my favorite. While something like a Nimble Smartstack or Pure Flashstack is easier to maintain, I love the in depth information and control that a SAN such as Netapp offers us. There is more knowledge and skill required to manage it, but the maturity of the product helps make up for that.
Through the use of Versastack tools is an easy process on different project resources management, protecting multiple dataflow across various environment is also incredible and reliable datacenter modernization solution. The reports produced by the Versastack tools are accurate and easy to transform and the pulling of different data from other data sources is cost effective and secure.
FlexPod has allowed our team to be extremely quick to resopnd to new VM build requests. The amount of RAM, CPU and backplane offered by B series blades allows us to go with very high VM density. The quick deployment of service profile templates also means that when we have to add new hosts, it is done quicker.
FlexPod and the service profile portability (along with VMware) has allowed for full upgrades and migrations from M1/M2 series hardware to M4 hardware without any downtime or outages to the clients. Blades can be moved into new chassis, or service profiles moved to new generation blades, with no impact to the customers' ability to work.
