Pure Storage, the all-flash enterprise storage company, today unveiled FlashStack™ CI: a new line of heterogeneous converged infrastructure (CI) solutions comprised of comprehensive reference architectures, deployment and sizing guidelines and single-call support, delivered through FlashStack Authorized Support Partners within the Pure Storage Partner Program (P3). FlashStack CI solutions are fully tested, pre-validated and proven to streamline the implementation of modern infrastructure, delivering faster time to value for service providers and enterprise customers. The introductory configurations combine Pure Storage FlashArray 400 Series arrays with Cisco UCS Blade Servers, Cisco Nexus switches, VMware vSphere® 5 and VMware Horizon 6, to form turnkey, highly-performant and efficient flash-powered infrastructure stacks that optimize virtual server (VSI) and virtual desktop (VDI) deployments at scale.
The Flash Revolution Advances with Pure Storage FlashStack CI
IT departments are increasingly turning to converged infrastructure (CI) solutions to simplify the design and repeatability of their data center infrastructure investments. Until now, the vast majority of CI solutions have been saddled with the complexity, inefficiency and poor performance of mechanical disk. Pure Storage FlashStack CI solutions offer a holistic all-flash alternative to disk-based CI offerings, and simplify and streamline the selection, planning, design, implementation and support of complete data center infrastructure stacks powered by virtualization and flash. Fueled by FlashArray, FlashStack CI uniquely eliminates performance bottlenecks, increases infrastructure reliability and provides dramatic rack space, power and cooling savings.
Introducing FlashStack CI for Virtual Desktops
FlashStack CI for VMware Horizon includes a comprehensive reference architecture that combines Pure Storage 400 Series FlashArrays, Cisco UCS Blade Servers and Nexus switches, and VMware vSphere 5.5 with VMware Horizon 6 to enable rapid implementation and time to value of a high performance infrastructure that supports VDI deployments. It can easily scale from hundreds of desktops up to 3000 in one standard rack, with sub-millisecond response times for a “better than desktop” end user experience. FlashStack CI VDI solutions include 24/7/365 single-call support delivered through Pure Storage FlashStack Authorized Support Partners.
“VMware Horizon, the industry’s most comprehensive desktop solution, paired with Pure Storage FlashStack CI, will provide organizations with technology that is simple to deploy and can accelerate time-to-value,” said Sumit Dhawan, senior vice president and general manager, desktop products and end-user computing at VMware. “With Pure Storage FlashStack CI and VMware Horizon, customers can realize the benefits of a flexible and high performing virtual desktop infrastructure solution.”
Introducing FlashStack CI for Virtual Servers
FlashStack CI for VMware vSphere combines Pure Storage 400 Series FlashArrays, Cisco UCS Blade Servers and Nexus switches, and VMware vSphere 5.5, to enable faster implementation for virtual server deployments. Offering high performance infrastructure for business-critical applications, FlashStack CI for VSI lets users consolidate hundreds of enterprise-class VMs into a single stack and provision a 1000+ VMs in minutes, while sustaining sub-millisecond response times for mission-critical workloads. The solution also includes 24/7/365 single-call support delivered by Pure Storage FlashStack Authorized Support Partners.
FlashStack CI: Uniquely Backed By Channel-Led, Single-Call Support
FlashStack CI solutions are delivered and supported exclusively by FlashStack Authorized Support Partners (ASP). FlashStack ASPs are trained and fully certified to sell and support Cisco, VMware and Pure Storage technologies, ensuring they can offer unified Level 1 and Level 2 support, for a seamless and highly personalized customer experience. Customers benefit from customized turnkey solutions, services and support from their preferred providers.
Pure Storage FlashStack CI solutions with single-call support are available to purchase exclusively from FlashStack ASPs in select regions, including: Datalink in the United States, Proact in the United Kingdom, and Southern Cross in Australia. The company will continue expanding its FlashStack CI solutions and their global availability, with the addition of new reference architectures, technology configurations, and FlashStack ASPs in 2015. Through its channel-led go-to-market strategy for FlashStack CI, Pure Storage is reaffirming its commitment to being a channel-centric vendor.
“As all-flash storage matures, customers are asking Pure Storage to provide ‘full stack’ solutions to speed the adoption of next-generation infrastructure. Delivering absolute simplicity and the best possible storage experience is core to our vision, so developing converged infrastructure solutions that deliver on that promise is an important step forward for Pure,” said Matt Kixmoeller, vice president of products and marketing at Pure Storage. “Together with our trusted FlashStack Authorized Support Partners, we are eliminating the adoption barriers of all-flash VSI and VDI infrastructure for our mutual customers and accelerating ROI.”