New FlexPod CVD Released – Microsoft SharePoint 2010

One of the key goals of the FlexPod architecture is accelerating the adoption of tier 1 applications. In delivering this goal Cisco & NetApp work with our infrastructure partners to producing and validating best in class architecture design guides that ensure solution design, supportability, availability and scalability. The use of these Cisco Validated Designs result in a reduction of resources required bringing a solution online.

We’ve released increase the FlexPod CVD library with the release of our SharePoint 2010 enterprise deployment design guide. This CDV details how to deploy Microsoft SharePoint 2010 for a real-world workload of 50,000 users. The design validation was completed using Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate workloads and Visual Studio Load Test agents.

 

Like all of our FlexPod CVDs, the design addresses the configuration and interdependency within each component of the FlexPod from VMware vSphere, Cisco Unified Computing Systems (UCS) andNexus switches, to the NetApp FAS array (or 3rd party arrays virtualized with vSeries). The design includes virtual user connections from branch offices, remote offices, and mobile users were optimized using Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS). We also implemented Cisco Application Control Engine (ACE) for Web and application server load balancing within the SharePoint 2010 architecture.

We plan to advance the capabilities of our SharePoint solution. Work has already begun on version 2 of the CVD, which is targeted for publication in August 2011. The next version will provide additional capabilities such as the inclusion of NetApp integrated data protection products and an architectural update which provides greater solution scaling by adding support for SharePoint’s Remote BLOB Storage Provider (RBS).

We literally have massive amounts of FlexPod efforts underway with a number of these scheduled to be released soon! So watch for the announcements.

Suffice to say the adoption of FlexPod architectures has been tremendous. For that I’d like to thank this success to our world-class partners who intimately understand the goals of our customers and make FlexPod a reality in their data centers. In addition I’d thank the architects and engineers who produce our solution CVDs. Together these efforts deliver our shared vision of a virtual datacenter powered by Cisco, NetApp, and VMware.

There’s more information available to Cisco and NetApp employees, and our FlexPod partners at www.flexpodsales.com.

Comments

[Robb]

"Suffice to say the adoption of FlexPod architectures has been tremendous."

Okay, then tell us please exactly how many FlexPods have been sold in the last 6 months up to today May 16th 2011?

My other confusion is that NetApp (FlexPod) and EMC (VBlock) appear to be moving 'against' the market flow. From the Cloud Computing hype, I thought we were moving away from enterprise/SME data centres and into the Cloud?

[Vaughn Stewart]

@Robb - thanks for sharing your thoughts.

FlexPod adoption, in terms of sales and conversion of existing components into a FlexPod configuration has been tremendous. I'm not at liberty to share the sales figures publicly, I am confident that they will be shares with the public at some point in time.

In terms of FlexPod, Vblock, and other private cloud stack architectures... Customers have stated that they desire a mix of on premise and off premise services. What this mix will be is yet to unfold; however, the embalmment of a automated, dense, and high performing shared infrastructure is key to both customers and service providers and offerings such as FlexPod are an ideal means to meet these goals.

[Robb]

My pleasure.

I look forward to seeing how things are going with FlexPod. I have specified and used NetApp in many of my designs over the last five years and have many friends at NetApp (UK). It is my default choice of storage system.

Personally, and not on behalf of my company Fujitsu, I like the idea of an 'appliance' from security and management perspectives. Although I don't actually have much to do with SMEs. Generally I only work on very large enterprise or government projects.

I accept your view that SMEs will still need local resources, for many reasons. My own view is that 'Cloud' is not, and will not be, for everyone.

I'll check in now and again to see what else you have to say.

[Vaughn Stewart]

@Robb - Did you see the news? Cisco & NetApp announced over 150 FlexPod customers in the first 6 months of release!

http://yhoo.it/kyrtQQ

As for appliances, have you seen or VSA, Ontap-v, which is sold via OEM by Fujitsu? I wrote about it in an earlier post. Check it out!

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.