Cisco Cisco UCS Director 4.0 Information Guide
Entel looked for an application to manage FlexPod as a unified system. A major
requirement was to automate the provisioning process so that customers could start
using their virtual machines sooner. “Automation would also allow our IT staff to spend
their time on value-added activities instead of management tasks,” Lambert says.
requirement was to automate the provisioning process so that customers could start
using their virtual machines sooner. “Automation would also allow our IT staff to spend
their time on value-added activities instead of management tasks,” Lambert says.
Solution
After evaluating several management solutions for converged infrastructure like
FlexPod, Entel chose Cisco
FlexPod, Entel chose Cisco
®
UCS Director (formerly Cloupia). Cisco UCS Director
provides unified infrastructure management for computing, networking, virtualization,
and storage. It also includes a self-service portal that Entel’s customers can use to
provision and monitor their virtual machines.
and storage. It also includes a self-service portal that Entel’s customers can use to
provision and monitor their virtual machines.
“UCS Director stood apart because we’ll be able to use it with other cloud services we
add in the future,” says Lambert. “Also, the reports and provisioning portal are ready to
use with FlexPod. The other tools would have required a large integration effort.”
add in the future,” says Lambert. “Also, the reports and provisioning portal are ready to
use with FlexPod. The other tools would have required a large integration effort.”
FlexPod management is much more efficient since Entel began using Cisco UCS
Director. For example, Entel’s IT administrators configure each type of virtual
machine just once. After configuring a SAP for Mobility server or standard Linux
server, for example, they save the configuration in a catalog. The next time a
customer requests that type of server, UCS Director creates it automatically,
orchestrating resources from Cisco UCS servers, Cisco Nexus switches, NetApp
storage, and VMware.
Director. For example, Entel’s IT administrators configure each type of virtual
machine just once. After configuring a SAP for Mobility server or standard Linux
server, for example, they save the configuration in a catalog. The next time a
customer requests that type of server, UCS Director creates it automatically,
orchestrating resources from Cisco UCS servers, Cisco Nexus switches, NetApp
storage, and VMware.
Customers provision virtual machines themselves using a self-service portal.
When they sign in, for security they enter a one-time password supplied by
Symantec Validation and ID Protection (VIP) service, which is included with Cisco
UCS Director. Then they just follow the prompts to create a virtual machine. They
select the operating system, when they want to start using the server, and for how
many hours or days. They also choose the number of processors, memory, and
storage capacity. The virtual machine is ready for use in about 20 minutes, with no
involvement by Entel’s IT team.
When they sign in, for security they enter a one-time password supplied by
Symantec Validation and ID Protection (VIP) service, which is included with Cisco
UCS Director. Then they just follow the prompts to create a virtual machine. They
select the operating system, when they want to start using the server, and for how
many hours or days. They also choose the number of processors, memory, and
storage capacity. The virtual machine is ready for use in about 20 minutes, with no
involvement by Entel’s IT team.
After creating virtual machines, customers can sign in at any time to delete them,
monitor performance, and manage NetApp Snapshot backups. A customer might
want to select the Snapshot from last Friday, for example, and then click to restore
it. “Customers rarely have to call or send an email for help because they can do
everything from the portal,” Lambert says.
monitor performance, and manage NetApp Snapshot backups. A customer might
want to select the Snapshot from last Friday, for example, and then click to restore
it. “Customers rarely have to call or send an email for help because they can do
everything from the portal,” Lambert says.
Cisco Services has experience deploying Cisco UCS Director for service providers
throughout the world and helped Entel with the deployment.
throughout the world and helped Entel with the deployment.
Results
With FlexPod and Cisco UCS Director, Entel has built the foundation to keep
providing a great customer experience as its cloud business continues to grow.
providing a great customer experience as its cloud business continues to grow.
Improved Customer Experience
Entel’s customers like the convenience of self-service provisioning. “Provisioning a
virtual machine for SAP for Mobility used to take at least two weeks,” Lambert says.
“With Cisco UCS Director, customers can begin using their server in 20 minutes.”
Entel’s customers like the convenience of self-service provisioning. “Provisioning a
virtual machine for SAP for Mobility used to take at least two weeks,” Lambert says.
“With Cisco UCS Director, customers can begin using their server in 20 minutes.”
© 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.
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Customer Case Study
Pablo Lambert
Director of IT Innovation and Development
Entel
Director of IT Innovation and Development
Entel