Cisco Cisco HyperFlex HX240c M4 Node Leaflet
Solution Overview
March 2016
© 2016 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public information.
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The Challenge: Limitations of First-Generation
Hyperconverged Systems
In IT organizations everywhere, applications dictate architecture—and evolving
requirements have been responsible for a continually changing relationship among
servers, storage, and network fabric. The lack of a simple and effective way to
deploy a virtualization cluster without the complexity of enterprise shared storage
systems propelled the creation of hyperconverged systems.
requirements have been responsible for a continually changing relationship among
servers, storage, and network fabric. The lack of a simple and effective way to
deploy a virtualization cluster without the complexity of enterprise shared storage
systems propelled the creation of hyperconverged systems.
The first generation of hyperconverged systems combined generic x86-architecture
servers with software-defined storage to create a simplified, distributed computing
platform. But to achieve simplicity and to get to market quickly, vendors made
design trade-offs and took many architectural shortcuts. As a result, these first
attempts at hyperconvergence fell short of full success:
servers with software-defined storage to create a simplified, distributed computing
platform. But to achieve simplicity and to get to market quickly, vendors made
design trade-offs and took many architectural shortcuts. As a result, these first
attempts at hyperconvergence fell short of full success:
•
Networking is manual, not automated. First-generation hyperconverged
systems treat networking as an afterthought. They do not include an integrated
network fabric with consistent, low latency and high bandwidth between
nodes, nor do they attempt to integrate microsegmentation through software-
defined networking. Network resources cannot be configured and provisioned
automatically using profiles and templates, limiting the simplicity of deployment
and system expansion.
systems treat networking as an afterthought. They do not include an integrated
network fabric with consistent, low latency and high bandwidth between
nodes, nor do they attempt to integrate microsegmentation through software-
defined networking. Network resources cannot be configured and provisioned
automatically using profiles and templates, limiting the simplicity of deployment
and system expansion.
•
Scaling is inflexible. Most hyperconverged products are based on rack server
appliances that scale both computing and storage in fixed ratios. These resource
ratios may or may not be appropriate for your applications and may cause you
to overprovision components you don’t need. In the real world, every set of
applications has a unique set of requirements, and first-generation products fail
to let you independently scale computing, storage, and network resources.
appliances that scale both computing and storage in fixed ratios. These resource
ratios may or may not be appropriate for your applications and may cause you
to overprovision components you don’t need. In the real world, every set of
applications has a unique set of requirements, and first-generation products fail
to let you independently scale computing, storage, and network resources.
•
Performance requires trade-offs. The data platforms are implemented using
off-the-shelf file systems that weren’t built specifically for hyperconvergence.
They lack some or all essential features, including integrated data services and
important data optimization functions, and their deduplication and compression
may require performance trade-offs.
off-the-shelf file systems that weren’t built specifically for hyperconvergence.
They lack some or all essential features, including integrated data services and
important data optimization functions, and their deduplication and compression
may require performance trade-offs.
Highlights
Complete End-to-End Solution
• Cisco HyperFlex™ Systems, powered
by Intel® Xeon® processors,
deliver a new generation of more
flexible, scalable, enterprise-class
hyperconverged solutions. They
combine software-defined networking
and software-defined computing from
Cisco UCS® with Cisco HyperFlex HX
Data Platform™ Software to provide
a single distributed, multitier, object-
based data store with enterprise
storage features.
Agile
• Our end-to-end solution helps you
move faster and achieve your digital
transformation.
Efficient
• The solution always keeps your data
optimized and your infrastructure
aligned with application requirements.
Adaptable
• We help you be ready for an
expanding range of applications and
operating models.