VCE vBlock

vBlock1 is a complex product from Cisco Systems, EMC and VMware, it is created by these vendors within alliance Virtual Computing Environment (VCE).

VCE vBlock1 is vBlock product of the line with the settlement power sufficient for creation to 3000 virtual machines as a part of a powerful data processing center. The complex nature of the product vBlock is emphasized with the counted combination of parameters of network equipment, storage systems and software of creation of the virtualized server environment. All vBlock components are balanced according to specifications of alliance VCE on energy consumption and cooling on each rack and to calculations of number of virtual machines for the set configuration of physical servers.

Infrastructure packets of Vblock

On November 3, 2010 the Virtual Computing Environment coalition announced the infrastructure packets of Vblock intended for the accelerated virtualization of IT infrastructures at simultaneous risk minimization and complexity and the fastest payback.

Infrastructure packets of Vblock represent the checked platforms for the integrated IT infrastructure developed by engineers of Cisco, EMC and VMware. They significantly reduce total cost of ownership (TSO) and allow to carry out virtualization in the scales answering to requests of the most exacting customers. After purchase of infrastructure packets of their Vblock it is possible to scale easily due to adding of new computing resources and storage systems that profitable distinguishes Vblock from the monolithic IT systems which are available in the market. Besides, infrastructure packets of Vblock can be expanded using the solutions developed by external integrators, operators, trading partners and independent software developers. During the first tests at customers infrastructure packets of Vblock reduced the cost of operation and infrastructure management of the virtualized data processing centers by 40 percent. The Virtual Computing Environment coalition offers customers the following infrastructure packets of Vblock:

• The configuration of the senior Vblock 2 level supporting from 3 to 6 thousand virtual machines. It is perfectly scaled and conforms to the most tough information production requirements of large enterprises and operators. It is intended for large-scale virtualization and virtualization from scratch. Vblock 2 uses advantages of Cisco UCS technology (Unified Computing System is the unified environment of calculations), the Nexus 1000v and MDS switches (Multilayer Directional Switches), storage systems of EMC Symmetrix V-Max (with a security system of RSA) and the VMware vSphere platform.

• Configuration of the average level of Vblock 1. Supports from 800 to 3.000 virtual machines, providing a broad spectrum of IT functions to the organizations of any size. It is intended for consolidation and optimization of IT infrastructures. Vblock 1 is the replicated structure which part the solutions Cisco UCS, Nexus 1000v and MDS, EMC CLARiiON (with a security system of RSA) and the VMware vSphere platform are.

• Configuration of the initial Vblock 0 level. It will be brought to the market in 2010 for support from 300 to 800 virtual machines. Will for the first time give opportunities of private cloud computing to mid-size enterprises, small data processing centers and the organizations and also (for testing and developments) to trading partners, system integrators, telecom operators, independent software developers and customers. Vblock 0 is also founded on the replicated model consisting of the solutions Cisco UCS and Nexus 1000v, EMC Unified Storage (with a security system of RSA) and the VMware vSphere platforms.
• On November 3 the EMC company announced the Ionix Unified Infrastructure Manager system for the integrated unified management of infrastructure packets of Vblock. The unified management - the major factor allowing customers to cut down current expenses. The Ionix Unified Infrastructure Manager system intended for management of the Vblock elements is compatible to the wide range of the corporate management consoles. For protection of infrastructure packets of Vblock the checked full-scale security system based on the products EMC RSA including RSA enVision will be used. Vblock of the solution of security of RSA which are built in architecture support management of security policies and protection at three levels: identification, information and infrastructure. Vblock extends the existing safety features to virtual infrastructure, without requiring replacement of the programs of security installed at the customer.

Future infrastructure packets of Vblock will be developed for satisfaction of business needs for three areas. These are shared services (shared services), applications and solutions for the vertical industries. For example, virtual desktop infrastructure for solutions of Vblock will increase controllability of selection of resources, scaling and internal transactions (back-end) for corporate applications and users. For further reduction of risk and increasing the level of security of the solution Vblock will support requirements of ISO 27001.

Complex opportunities of Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) for Vblock

The alliance VCE announced in November, 2010 availability to solutions of Vblock of complex opportunities Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE). The Vblock platform represents already integrated and tested solution integrating industry-leading technologies of virtualization, servers, storage systems, networks and management of infrastructures. Vblock is delivered to customers in a type, completely collected, tested and ready to deployment, that much more accelerates start in operation of new applications.

The convergent FCoE technology integrates Fiber Channel and Ethernet, offers the simplified architecture for delivery of traffic of data networks and networks of storage.

Besides, Vblock maintains the following new functionality now:

• the automated multilevel data storage (storage tiering), including EMC FAST, FAST Cache and FAST VP that simplifies creation and application the politician of storage at the different levels for transparent control, placement and data movement in storage system according to requirements of business;
• EMC PowerPath V/E for intellectual routing of ways and balancing of loading in all configurations of the Vblock platform, automation and optimization of servers and storage systems in dynamic virtual environment that provides the predictable and approved access for users to information;
• new blade modules of B250/B440 and B230 UCS. Innovations of the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) platform in combination with Intel Xeon processors 5600 Series allow to receive high rates of performance in key standard industry tests.

The integrated pre-sale support, professional services and maintenance

Having decided to unify work with customers, the Virtual Computing Environment coalition made investments in creation of a single system of pre-sale support, professional services and maintenance. As a result customers and partners will receive an end-to-end end-to-end system of support from the uniform supplier.

Within the Virtual Computing Environment coalition the support group of solutions (Solution Support Team) which is responsible for pre-sale preparation is created. Her specialists were trained on all elements of architecture Vblock and methods of entry into the market. Working with customers and partners, the group will accelerate business development of the coalition.

The Virtual Computing Environment coalition will develop and provide jointly professional services which will help customers to increase as much as possible the value of proposed solutions and to accelerate their implementation. Professional services are among: consultations on the business connected in cloud computing (Cloud-based Business Advisory Service), consultations on strategic influence of private network clouds (Private Cloud Strategic Impact Advisory Service), consultations on strategic influence of architecture of private clouds (Private Cloud Architecture Impact Advisory Service), consultations on the virtual desktop systems (Virtual Desktop Advisory Service), strategic services in cloud computing (Cloud Computing Strategy Service) and services of design and implementation of packets Vblock (Vblock Design and Implementation Service). The single system of support of Virtual Computing Environment offers customers rather high level of technical support and fast problem solving in the field of virtualization and cloud computing. The coalition will provide careful training of specialists of the customer in products of the member companies in joint laboratories where possible problems will be modelled. Besides, the coalition will provide to customers the integrated processes, the best practices and a uniform contact point and responsibility.

Ecosystem of partners of Vblock

The Virtual Computing Environment coalition created network of partners. It represents this ecosystem which includes system integrators, trading partners (VAR), telecom operators and independent software developers. At the initial stage six system integrators joined an ecosystem: Accenture, Capgemini, CSC, Lockheed Martin, Tata Consulting Services and Wipro. All members of this community will upgrade, sell and deliver the solutions Vblock, accelerating process of universal distribution of virtualization and private cloud computing at the enterprises of any size.

Infrastructure packets of Vblock are compatible to a set of operating systems and applications that allows partners and customers to transfer quickly to Vblock infrastructure existing applications, to accelerate processes of large-scale virtualization and to achieve fast results.

2013: The volume of annual orders for the solution VCE Vblock exceeded 1 billion dollars

The companies Cisco also EMC announced at the beginning of 2013 that the annual product demand and services of VCE joint venture exceeded a mark of 1 billion dollars. Thus, VCE became one of the most dynamically developing companies for all history of the IT industry. For three with small years since foundation of this joint venture and in only two years from the moment of a release of convergent infrastructure solutions of Vblock to the market VCE supplied to customers over one thousand such solutions. As a result the share of VCE in this market reached 57.4 percent in this connection the Gartner analytical company called VCE the leader in the field of solutions for the integrated infrastructure.

The VCE company (Virtual Computing Environment is virtual computing environment) is the joint venture created in 2009 by Cisco and EMC companies with financial participation of VMware and Intel companies for the purpose of the accelerated distribution of convergent infrastructure and methods of use of cloud computing. The enterprise opened a new segment of IT market, having proposed the integrated innovative solution of VCE Vblock for convergent infrastructure. It became the industry-first completely integrated IT offer, all responsibility for which is undertaken by one vendor.

The VCE company itself develops, makes, delivers and completely supports the solution for convergent infrastructure, offering complete transparency of the multivendor systems, the terms of entry into the market and one, best in the industry, of the lowest TSO levels in the industry (total cost of ownership) for convergent cloud infrastructures. VCE considerably expands possibilities of the customer on the accelerated transition to cloud computing. Convergent infrastructure of Vblock is intended for standardization of process management and product lifecycle. It sharply increases availability of applications and simplifies technical support.