Category: Datacentre

Hyperconvergence
18
Nov2017

Why Hyperconvergence is the Hot Cake for IT Infrastructure?

HyperConvergence (Hyper-converged infrastructure), as the name suggests, is a combination of key IT services including Networking, Storage, Virtualization, and of course Computing. Traditionally, one needed at least four separate units and then a platform to ensure these four work in tandem. What if you are told all the four can be combined into one and you need no expert to manage all that. Sounds amazing! And it really is. Hyperconvergence certainly is the future where more efficiency is produced out of small and compact devices. It is available right now with trustworthy brands like Cisco in the form of Cisco Hyperflex.

Benefits of Hyperconvergence

Easy to set up

Since the technology of Hyperconvergence unifies multiple components, it has all those components packaged in a single Infrastructure, which can be managed by a single window. Now, it is evident that you just need a few things to plug in or set up instead of doing it all four to five times. The new generation Hyperconvergence solution from Cisco, the Hyperflex also includes networking automation besides computing and storage automation. Within minutes, you can set up and get started.

Easy administration

Managing multiple machines not only need multiple installation phases but ownership also remains with multiple hands, which can have its own challenges. This also gets all the processes like troubleshooting, upgrading, or sanitizing multiplied by the number of devices. Imagine a small fault of broken cable could put the entire system down. Not anymore. The Hyperconvergence technology, since is a single infrastructure, needs little attentional and virtually no administration. Cisco Hyperflex, for example, is best known for its features like traffic segmentation, QoS (Quality of Service) and multicast policies, smart automation, and auto-configuration to IPV4 and IPV 6 leave you with free hands.

Optimal Performance

Built on top of the single platform, the technology ensures optimum use of unique file structure to optimize the performance. Traditionally, one needed to monitor all the levels of devices and make changes accordingly for optimum output. Cisco, for example, uses generation 5 Cisco HyperFlex HX Data Platform which strips and distributes the data across the cluster, making all resource work to yield optimal I/O performance.

Reduced TCO

When all the operations are being performed in an efficient and machine handled way, they are supposed to provide the best possible output. With that, of course, the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) comes down dramatically while you achieve better flexibility and more control over the system.

No experts required

Experts are needed to manage setup which is complex and throws lot many unknown issues. When you switch to Hyperconvergence, you get a simple interface. A few clicks and you are all set to sail. Now when everything is that simple, would you need an expert for round the clock administration? Not at all. You just need to get it set up once from a certified vendor like Proactive and then you can manage it all easily. You do not need experts, even generalists can do it all for you.

The reason, why you are recommended to get it set up by a certified vendor, is that you can always consult the vendor over the phone and can get any issue resolved.

Scalable and adaptable

Generally the SMBs fear that any technology upgrade will require a lot of investment both in terms of infrastructure and finances. But the Hyperconvergence is a true exception. It saves space as five devices get replaced by one. And of course, the money you need to maintain five versus one is much less from start to maintenance stage. It basically uses the technology that allows granular scalability which makes it even sweeter.

Scalability of HCI (Hyper-Converged Infrastructure) was one of the reasons why some people called it a failed system. But, in a recent study, Gartner has cleared the air on the scalability of Hyperconvergence along with several other myths. Hyperflex of Cisco provides independent scaling with the help of a variety of Cisco UCS servers as computing-only nodes to achieve the right balance of processing power and storage capacity for your workloads.

Cisco Hyperflex also comes with inbuilt native replication. It allows you to replicate your virtual machines to local or remote sites for backup or disaster recovery.

Integrated third-party storage

The Hyperconvergence technology allows you to connect the third-party enterprise storage directly to your cluster through Fibre Channel and IP network. No additional peripherals and you achieve better flexibility.

Lower maintenance

Systems generally start troubling after they have been set up. Maintenance is a key factor in any system and that is where the vendors look to make money. This pain point can be well rectified with the Hyperconvergence technology. Besides all the aforementioned benefits, the system needs little maintenance and has self-help programs. And if you have got it set up a system like Cisco hyperflex from Proactive, life becomes easier. Quick set up follows with a detailed instructional training to the team that will be operating it. Proactive also ensures that the services are regular and updates and communicated to the customer in a prioritized manner.

Why Proactive

Proactive is a proven industry leader when it comes to cloud computing. Being a service company, we begin by requirement analysis, move on with agile methodologies for design, development, and implementation, and then provide appropriate support to the customers. We are a Cisco Gold tier partner with ISO certification. Currently, we are catering to more than 253 prominent customers and many deals are lined up. Our round the clock support for customers is one of the USPs that set us apart from the competition.

Software Defined Network Helps Secure Network Virtualization
08
Aug2017

Secure Network Virtualization and Reduce Operational Costs with Software Defined Network (SDN)

Modern day enterprise networks have consequently transformed the way we live, work and play and this change seems to be unrelenting. An estimated 8.4 billion linked devices will be connected in 2017 according to Gartner. It is a rise of 31 percent from 2016. Analyzing the current trends, it will touch 20.4 billion by 2020. Also, a lot has been said about the rapid shift to Cloud computing and network virtualization spurring the growing demand for mobility and social collaboration.

So let us dwell on why it’s important to ensure security and support of your network that connects various devices and keeps information and communications flowing.

For decades, organizations have depended on the core network to connect systems and facilitate the flow of information. In this perspective, imagine the challenges with an old and rigid network architecture. It would not only be difficult to scale but will be out of sync with contemporary Software Defined Network (SDN) and software defined data center.

Software Defined Network – Scalable, Adaptable, Predictable, Manageable

SDN symbolizes the next generation of network automation and agility. IDC predicts that the worldwide network revenue is expected to grow 3.5% to touch USD 43 billion in 2017. Clearly, this growth will be fuelled by software defined networking that is not only seen as an agent for business innovation and agility; but it has evolved as a driver for exploring new opportunities for growth and innovation.

The Indian market is opening up to SDNs. Gartner has reported IT Infrastructure spend in India is expected to reach USD 2.2 billion in 2017; a 1.5 percent rise from 2016. In fact, enterprise networking is the largest segment poised for growth. Due to this trend, the revenue is expected to peak at USD 1.1 billion in 2017.

The dilemma is that most company networks simply weren’t planned for this new business atmosphere. Most networks lack efficiency, are poorly utilized and require a great deal of manual handling that slows new development.

Having a network that is secure, integrated and agile to quickly adjust to rapidly evolving workload demands, flexibly and dynamically is an imperative requirement. And that’s what Proactive’s Software Defined Networking Solutions are all about.

Monitoring Customer Experience and Business Performance

While security is crucial to prevent cyber-attacks, protection is also an overriding factor for organizations. The challenge is to automate their networks without compromising customer experience and business performance.

This is where Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (API) distinguishes itself for a rather integrated approach to leveraging all of the data that flows through the network for gaining visibility that only the network can offer. The Cisco solution will help you

  • Automate IT workflows
  • Develop programmable SDN framework
  • Enforce the policy
  • Deploy, scale, and move applications flawlessly across multiple hybrid data centers.

As digital services increasingly push business processes, Cloud technology is shaping to be a fundamental factor. To address this, Cisco CloudCenter (formerly CliQr) helps you to more safely deploy and manage applications in data center, private Cloud, and public cloud environments.

Building, Deploying and Scaling

When it comes to planning, building, deploying and scaling, Proactive is uniquely poised with our Network Virtualization and Automation solutions. We help you to change through innovation.

As a Cisco Gold Certified Partner, we work with you to know your business objectives. Then we put together a roadmap with a detailed plan to get you there.

Our team of Cisco specialists help you to confidently plan, deploy, and scale your new, protected and automated network. Leverage the expertise of a Proactive Software Defined Networking expert who recognizes and understands the complexities of your multi-vendor network.

Recognized as Tier 1 Associate for Cisco SDN technology, we’re with you at every step of your software defined network. From preparedness assessment and designs to automation tools; our solution includes Cisco Nexus switch, data center switches and application on routers to digitize your services delivery and support multi-vendor products.

Having executed some of the most complex projects, it is a matter of great pride that Proactive has been awarded Customer Satisfaction honour from Cisco year on year resulting in the bulk of our business coming from repeat contracts.

If you or your organization is looking for expert advice on getting started with Software Defined Network, get in touch, we’d be eager to help.

hyperconverged systems and data center management
08
Aug2017

Hyperconverged Systems: The Way Forward for Data Center Management

The US government has shaved $3.6 billion dollars of its annual IT budget by focusing on cloud computing, implementing unconventional data center design (converged solutions) and other technological changes. Over half of the savings have been possible due to data center convergence alone.

Like the US government, corporate IT departments are quickly cottoning on to the many benefits of a converged data center design. Companies that have already started on this journey report the following benefits:

  • Reduced Costs: A consolidated data center requires less hardware, draws less power and also saves on IT personnel costs.
  • Increased Control: The consolidated data center architecture is more straightforward and easier to control. Traffic patterns and volumes are more visible and clearly defined.
  • Easier to Secure: With fewer sites to manage, security is easier and costs less. It also reduces the need to communicate between facilities, thereby increasing the effectiveness of information security.
  • Disaster Recovery: With all the vital components in a single physical location it becomes easier to plan and implement a disaster recovery solution.

Hyperconvergence: Simplifying Operations, Saving Cost

As companies look to consolidate their data center operations, Hyperconverged networks have emerged as one of the fastest growing concepts for deploying IT in data centers. It is so hot that Gartner expects it to go from zero in 2012 to a $5 billion market by 2019. At its most basic a hyperconverged infrastructure involves a single solution offering compute, storage, networking and virtualization – all managed through automated software.

Hyperconvergence delivers simplification and savings by consolidating all required functionality into a single infrastructure stack running on an expandable pool of resources. Furthermore, an Hyper Converged Architecture goes far beyond servers and storage and includes:

  • Data protection (backup and replication)
  • Dedpulication
  • Wide-area network optimization
  • Solid-state drive arrays
  • SSD cache arrays
  • Public cloud gateways

A hyperconverged network has significant benefits that include:

  • Commodity Hardware: Commodity hardware equals lower cost. Businesses can replace/add hardware at a much lower cost than possible with legacy data center systems.
  • Centralized Management: All components — compute, storage, backup to disk, cloud gateway functionality etc — are combined in a single shared resource pool. Regardless of how widespread physical resources are, hyperconverged systems handle them as though they were all sitting next to one another. Resources spread across multiple physical data center systems are managed from a single, centralized interface.
  • Scalability: Hyperconverged Technology uses a scalable building-block approach that allows IT to expand by adding units. Granular scalability is one of the hallmarks of this infrastructure.
  • Lower cost: Hyperconverged integrated systems have a lower cost of entry compared to the legacy infrastructure.
  • Automation: With hyperconverged networks there is no need to create automated structures with hardware from different manufacturers or product lines. Everything is encapsulated in one environment. Resources are combined and centralized management tools are already in place.
  • Virtualization: Hyperconverged infrastructure uses virtual machines as the most basic construct of the environment.
  • Shared Resources: Hyperconverged technology allows companies to deploy different kinds of applications in a single shared resource pool.
  • Data Protection: In a hyperconverged environment backup, recovery and disaster recovery are built in. Hence, they are part of the infrastructure, not third-party products that need to be integrated.
  • Single Vendor: Customers get one point of contact for the life of the system. From initial inquiry to system stand-down. Because hyperconverged systems are tested, customers have less need for pilot projects.

Cisco: Single Vendor for Hyperconvergence

Cisco has taken an early lead providing robust hyperconverged systems with the Cisco HyperFlex Systems. It delivers flexible, scalable, enterprise-class hyperconverged solutions that smoothly integrate with an enterprises’ existing data center design. The Cisco solution includes an integrated network fabric and data optimization capabilities that consequently unlock the full potential of hyperconvergence for a wider range of workloads and use cases.

The Cisco HyperFlex Systems is the first hyperconverged platform that is designed as an end-to-end software-defined infrastructure. Cisco HyperFlex Systems support a broader range of applications and workloads in the data center, remote locations, and edge computing environments. This new generation extends the ease of hyperconverged system deployment, management and support beyond the central data center.

Proactive for Hyperconverged Systems

Proactive, with more than 21 years of IT implementation experience and a Cisco Tier 1 Recommended partner, is the right choice to help you implement the Cisco HyperFlex Systems at your data center.

Over the years we have achieved 100% on-time delivery of material at customer site. We have a network of service partners across the country to provide our customers 24*7 post-sales support from certified engineers. Also, we are ISO 9001:2008 and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified.

We have been providing Cisco products to our customers since 2000. Proactive attained the Cisco Gold certification in 2014. Our engineers have attained the highest level of certifications for each of the Cisco technologies. We follow PPDIOO project guidelines, which help us complete projects on schedule.

So if you are looking at data center consolidation, Proactive Data Systems can help you get there faster and more efficiently than any other vendor.