Cisco and NetApp expand the FlexPod portfolio

Cisco and NetApp today expanded the FlexPod portfolio with new validated designs across the entire portfolio, by the introduction of FlexPod Select for dedicated data-intensive workloads. The FlexPod portfolio now includes FlexPod Datacenter (formerly FlexPod) for core enterprise data centers and service providers, FlexPod Express (formerly ExpressPod) for medium – sized businesses and branch offices and FlexPod Select for data intensive workloads.

FlexPod supports the growing need to tie storage, networks, applications and analytics (such as big data) into a more automated, responsive system that increases efficiency and lowers operational expense. The new offerings build on the joint vision and strategy of Cisco and NetApp to unify branch offices, core data centers, service providers and dedicated application infrastructures.

Introduction of FlexPod Select

FlexPod Select is the first family in the FlexPod portfolio to address targeted workloads such as high-performance applications. Initially, the new category will target data-intensive requirements of Hadoop based big data applications in financial services, government, retail manufacturing and other markets. Organizations will be able to deploy FlexPod Select easily and to scale seamlessly as application requirements grow.

Solution Highlights 

• The FlexPod Select family combines high-performance NetApp E-Series and FAS storage systems, Cisco UCS C-Series servers, Cisco Nexus switches, and Cisco management software into an architecture that shortens time to insight and accelerates time to value. FlexPod Select is the first solution in the FlexPod portfolio to feature patented NetApp E-Series platform as an option, delivering performance, density and modular flexibility for a wide range of data-intensive workloads.
• FlexPod Select with Hadoop, the first solution in the family, helps minimize the risk in deploying Hadoop by validating the open source analytics platform for storage, compute, connectivity and management.

 Hadoop Integration

• FlexPod Select with Hadoop includes two validated configurations: FlexPod Select with Cloudera’s Distribution including Apache Hadoop (CDH) and FlexPod Select with Hortonworks Data Platform (HDP). Both configurations enable the accelerated deployment of a highly available, enterprise-class Hadoop environment on the FlexPod Select architecture.

Updates to the FlexPod Portfolio

Cisco and NetApp continue to enhance the FlexPod portfolio with new solutions that integrate best-in-class technologies from both companies. The FlexPod Datacenter solutions now feature the Cisco Nexus 7000 Series Switch. The Cisco Nexus 7000 Series provides the highest levels of network availability with nonstop operations. It also provides industry-leading scale to the FlexPod platform with the highest density 10 Gigabit Ethernet system in the industry, supporting up to 768 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports. The Cisco Nexus 7000 FlexPod configuration enables end-to-end Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), delivering a unified Ethernet fabric, and provides DCI capabilities for multi–data center deployments.

Additionally, the companies are introducing FlexPod Datacenter with SnapProtect to provide comprehensive disk-to-disk-to-tape (D2D2T) backup and recovery solution, with specific implementation guidance for popular uses such as with VMware, NAS shares and Microsoft Exchange.

New Options for Partners to Meet Customer Requirements and Drive Long-Term Sales

• Cisco and NetApp channel partners will be able to offer new unified FlexPod financing, which unites NetApp Capital Solutions and Cisco Capital into a single expanded financing solution to simplify the process, reduce rates, and improve deal velocity.

 Market Momentum

• Through a shared vision of a unified data center, NetApp and Cisco have rapidly grown FlexPod. Since its launch in 2010, FlexPod has grown to more than 2,400 customers and 900 channel partners across more than 35 countries.