NetApp Canada’s GM, Jeff Goldstein
The FlexPod architecture is not new to the Canadian channel, but the joint venture that leverages Cisco-UCS blades and networking, NetApp storage, and VMware’s virtualization platform is getting a much needed update. According to NetApp Canada’s GM, Jeff Goldstein, since the inception of FlexPod partners have been hard at work trying to find a way to price the solution for the mid-size enterprise. Today, Cisco and NetApp have unveiled a new entry-level FlexPod architecture aimed at capturing a segment of the market that understood the value behind FlexPod, but for whom the solution was too costly.
Brian Allison, director of go-to-market data center solutions at Cisco, highlighted strong customer adoption numbers for the FlexPod architecture with over 850 current customers and 500 partners worldwide.
Those same partners will be able to start selling and installing the new, small FlexPod configuration, since it is built using the same reference architecture as past solutions. The new version uses Cisco UCS C-series rack mounted servers, NetApp’s FAS2240 storage, and includes support for iSCSI boot, while retaining the fast time to deployment of the larger FlexPods. The new version uses Cisco UCS C-series rack mounted servers, NetApp’s FAS2240 storage, and includes support for iSCSI boot, while retaining the fast time to deployment of the larger FlexPods. 4he FlexPod architecture comes pre-certified, eliminating the need for partners and customers to go through lengthy test procedures to ensure verify the design works in their environment.
Since the FlexPod platform uses a consistent architecture across its configurations partners will be able to leverage their existing investments in training and enablement, but reaching a broader market segment in Canada.
