Cisco's New HyperFlex Systems Take Aim at Hyperconvergence

Cisco is renewing its focus on hyperconverged infrastructure with the introduction of new HyperFlex Systems built on its UCS compute platform.

Compared with existing hyperconverged platforms, the new Cisco HyperFlex Systems aim to simplify policy-based automation across network, compute and storage for a wide set of enterprise applications. The systems promise plug-n-play setup within minutes, not days, with flexible, adaptive and independent scaling of compute, network as well as storage capacity. Cisco is offering data management capabilities, such as rapid clones and non-intrusive snapshots with always-on inline deduplication and inline compression, yielding up to 80% reduction in the data footprint.  The rollout includes:

• Cisco HyperFlex HX220c M4 Node, 1 rack unit, up to 7 TB of storage, up to 2 processors per node
• Cisco HyperFlex HX240c M4 Node, 2 rack units, up to 29 TB of storage, up to 2 processors per node
• Cisco HyperFlex HX240c M4 Node with Cisco UCS B200 M4 Blade-Series Servers, max capacity and up to twice the compute, 2 rack units + 6 rack units, up to 29 TB of storage, and up to 4 processors per node

http://www.cisco.com

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Cisco Supplies Virtualized Packet Core for Mobile Virtual Network Enabler

Cisco will supply its virtualized Packet Core solution to a Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) that aims to deliver network functionality to mobile network operators and mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) using a virtualized platform.

ASPIDER, which is based in the Netherlands, uses an application service provider model to provide MNOs and MVNOs with OPEX-based, revenue-generating services with better control costs and margin than infrastructure deployed on their own. The company currently offers a "configure on-demand" IaaS platform and will now be moving to a virtualized packet core.

Specifically, ASPIDER has selected Cisco UCS C (rackmount) servers as compute platform for deployment of Cisco's virtualized Packet Core and Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). This enables ASPIDER to enhance its Access Point Name (APN) gateway functions and policy integration to provide customers with more configuration flexibility to support Quality of Service management. Telindus serves as systems integrator.

"The Cisco virtualized Packet Core solution gives ASPIDER the flexibility they need to deliver the same scalability, flexibility, and integrated network policy control as their Cisco GGSN platform. Cisco virtualized Packet Core supplies ASPIDER with a faster time to market, at lower cost of entry, while providing the same Cisco StarOS software assets necessary to offer their hosted mobile Internet services. We are thrilled about ASPIDER's continued confidence in us and we look forward to further working together to deliver industry-leading services," stated Mike Iandolo, vice president and general manager, Mobile Internet Technology Group, Cisco.

http://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?type=webcontent&articleId=1562524

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Cisco Scales its UCS Strategy for the Cloud and IoT

Cisco announced a number of additions and enhancements to its Unified Computing System (UCS) portfolio including new modular solutions for the largest cloud-scale applications, as well as a mini server aimed branch offices.

Under the banner "Powering Applications at Every Scale", Cisco said the mission of its fourth generation Unified Computing System is to deliver Fast IT that helps customers power applications of all sizes and add intelligence at the edge, at the core, and at the scale of cloud.

New Cisco UCS M-Series Modular Servers leverage Cisco System Link Technology for a disaggregated server architecture suited for cloud-scale deployments, where one application runs across multiple servers. Cisco said its optimized approach can eliminate up to 95% of the system components duplicated in a traditional server design, which combined with the simplicity of UCS Management, can deliver up to 36% combined TCO savings. The design features shared power and cooling at the chassis level, shared network I/O, shared storage, stateless management, and no duplication of subsystems at server level.

In addition, the new Cisco UCS C3160 Rack Server, featuring high-capacity local disk storage, is designed for distributed data analytics and object stores, unstructured data repositories, and media streaming and transcoding.

The new Cisco UCS Mini is an all-in-one solution that delivers servers, storage and networking in a compact form factor.  Cisco is aiming for a new segment of customers operating large numbers of remote sites or branch offices.

In a launch event in New York City, Cisco CTO Padmasree Warrior described the new UCS platform as the industry's most efficient design for integrated compute/storage/networking at cloud scale.

http://newsroom.cisco.com/press-release-content?type=webcontent&articleId=1484318

• Cisco first introduced its UCS line in 2009.
• As of the end of FY14, Cisco UCS hadover 36,500 customers, and was on a 30% year-over-year growth path.

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