Dell EMC Doubles Down on VxBlock at Cisco Live: Introducing NVMe Innovations, VxBlock Central 2.0

Earlier this Spring, Dell EMC reaffirmed its decade-long commitment to converged infrastructure (CI) through the multi-year extension of its longstanding systems integrator agreement with Cisco.

At the heart of our CI strategy is the VxBlock 1000, a system that delivers a true mission critical-foundation for the hybrid cloud and helps customers achieve greater simplicity and efficiency.

This year at Cisco Live, Dell EMC is excited to make several announcements that deepen VxBlock 1000 integration across servers, networking, storage and data protection. Together, these announcements represent the next key milestone in our commitment to CI innovation and our customers —backed by our strong relationship with Cisco.

Here’s a look at what we’re announcing today:

Realizing the Power and Performance of NVMe Over Fabrics

NVMe is key to unlocking the next level of cloud operations on CI, but the full business benefit of NVMe can only be realized with an end-to-end infrastructure enabled by NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF).

To help customers realize the full power of NVMe-oF, Dell EMC is announcing new integrated Cisco compute (UCS) and storage (MDS) 32G options, extending PowerMax capabilities to deliver game-changing NVMe performance across the VxBlock stack. This further enhances the powerful architecture, consistent high performance, availability and scalability that’s become synonymous with the VxBlock, helping you to meet the most demanding requirements of high-value, mission-critical workloads.

Now, customers can benefit from extreme end-to-end system performance with one system that can evolve from today’s millisecond to tomorrow’s microsecond latency.

These new compute and storage options will be available to order later this month.

Extending Integrated Data Protection to the Cloud

Dell EMC developed the concept of integrated data protection to help customers protect different tiers of applications and data efficiently and cost effectively — and with precisely the right level of protection for each business need.

While legacy data protection “bolted-on” to a new converged system might work, it may not provide the right level of protection for each service-level need. That’s why Dell EMC offers a flexible family of options for streamlined backup and recovery, data replication, business continuity, and workload mobility to deliver reliable, predictable, and cost-effective availability for Dell EMC converged infrastructure.

As of today, we’re extending our trusted, factory-integrated on-premise integrated protection solutions for VxBlock to hybrid and multi-cloud environments, including AWS. This release, which will be available to order in July, features options to help protect VMware workloads and data using new cost-effective Data Domain Virtual Edition and Cloud Disaster Recovery software options.

Simplifying Cloud Operations with VxBlock Central 2.0

Since its introduction in November 2018, Dell EMC VxBlock Central software has helped customers simplify CI administration through converged awareness, automation and analytics.

Today, we’re proud to announce VxBlock Central 2.0. Available this July, VxBlock Central 2.0. features new modular licensing that matches workflow automation, advanced analytics and life-cycle management/upgrade options to your needs.

VxBlock Central 2.0. licensing options include:

  • Base – Free with purchase of a VxBlock, the base license allows you to manage your system and improve compliance with inventory reporting and alerting.
  • Workflow Automation – Provision infrastructure on-demand using engineered workflows through vRealize Orchestrator. New workflows available with this package include Cisco UCS server expansion with Unity and XtremIO storage arrays.
  • Advanced Analytics – View capacity and KPIs to discover deeper actionable insights through vRealize Operations.
  • Lifecycle Management (new, available later in 2019) – Apply “guided path” software upgrades to optimize system performance.
    • Lifecycle Management includes a new multi-tenant, cloud-based database based on Cloud IQ that will collect and store the CI component inventory structured by the customer, extending the value and ease of use of the cloud-based analytics monitoring.
    • This feature extends the value and ease of use of the cloud-based analytics monitoring Cloud IQ already provides for individual Dell EMC storage arrays.

A Decade of Innovation Continues

Dell Technologies is #1 in IDC’s Certified Reference Systems & Integrated Infrastructure Tracker with a 47.8% share —1.5X that of the next vendor.* If you’re attending Cisco Live US in San Diego, June 9-13, stop by to talk with Dell EMC to see that innovation first-hand. You can also learn more about VxBlock 1000 here.

[1] IDC Quarterly Converged Systems Tracker, 2018 Q4, Vendor Revenue

Pete Manca

About the Author: Pete Manca

Pete Manca is an accomplished senior executive with a history of creating, marketing, and selling high quality solutions to mission-critical enterprise customers. In his current role as Senior Vice President and General Manager of APEX, Pete is developing solutions to enable Dell Technologies’ portfolio to be sold as-a-Service. Prior roles within Dell included GM of the Converged and Hyper-Converged business unit, OEM Solutions, Tech Alliances and Integrated Solutions. Prior to Dell, Pete was CEO of Egenera, a Converged Infrastructure and Cloud Computing technology company in the Boston area.