Virtual Computing Environment: Difference between revisions

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'''VCE''' (abbreviation for "Virtual Computing Environment") was a division of [[EMC Corporation]] that manufactured [[converged infrastructure]] appliances for enterprise environments. Founded in 2009 under the name Acadia, it was originally a joint venture between EMC and [[Cisco Systems]], with additional investments by [[Intel]] and EMC subsidiary [[VMware]]. EMC acquired a 90% controlling stake in VCE from Cisco in October 2014, giving it majority ownership.<ref name=nworld-emcvce>{{cite news|title=Why EMC acquired VCE from Cisco|url=http://www.networkworld.com/article/2837176/cisco-subnet/why-emc-acquired-vce-from-cisco.html|access-date=12 October 2015|work=Networkworld}}</ref> VCE ended in 2016 after an internal division realignment<ref name="cpd"/> and subsequent sale of EMC to [[Dell]].<ref name="dellsale"/>

At the beginning of 2016, VCE was fully integrated into EMC and became the Converged Platform Division of EMC.

On September 7, 2016, EMC was acquired by Dell.<ref>{{Cite web|title=$67 billion Dell-EMC deal closes today|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2016/09/07/67-billion-dell-emc-deal-becomes-official-today/|access-date=2020-11-20|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US}}</ref> The Converged Platform Division of EMC is currently known as the Converged Platform and Solutions Division of Dell EMC.

The company initially manufactured converged [[datacenter]] units known as [[Vblock]], which incorporate Cisco [[server computer|servers]] and networking hardware, EMC storage systems, and VMware for [[virtualization]].<ref name="bets">{{Cite news |title= Converged Infrastructure Bets Are In: Where Are They Paying Off? |author= Joseph F. Kovar |date= May 27, 2013 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/data-center/240155540/converged-infrastructure-bets-are-in-where-are-they-paying-off.htm |access-date= August 9, 2013 }}</ref>

Later, VxBlock was added providing the ability for customers to run VMware NSX.

In 2015, VxRack and in 2016 VxRail were added as separate products.

==History==

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Through 2012, there was a mixture of some success (with speculation of layoffs), and continued confusion due to products from competing partners such as [[NetApp]] FlexPod and [[Xsigo Systems]].<ref>{{Cite news |title= The VCE Gamble: You Got To Know When To Hold 'Em, Know When To Fold 'Em |author= Chad Berndtson and Joseph F. Kovar |date= November 26, 2012 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/data-center/240008994/the-vce-gamble-you-got-to-know-when-to-hold-em-know-when-to-fold-em.htm?pgno=2 |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title= Cisco's 3-ring circus: Xsigo CEO on bait and switches |author= Chris Mellor |work= The Register |date= February 24, 2012 |url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/21/vce_acadia_ramp/ |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}</ref> Cisco had announced its own "framework" called CloudVerse in late 2011 that was not specific to VMware.<ref>{{Cite news |title= Cisco's Bigger Bundle of Networking |work= New York Times Bits |author= Quentin Hardy |date= December 6, 2011 |url= http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/ciscos-bigger-bundle-of-networking/ |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title= Cisco CloudVerse: Build One Private Cloud, Multiple Hypervisors |work= Information Week |author= Charles Babcock |date= December 8, 2011 |url= http://www.informationweek.com/cloud-computing/infrastructure/cisco-cloudverse-build-one-private-cloud/232300123/ |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}</ref> In August 2012, EMC announced a VSPEX reference architecture and partnership with [[Lenovo]] and other distributors that was seen as competing with a lower-cost option.<ref>{{Cite news |title= EMC Lenovo Deal Raises Questions For EMC-Cisco VCE Partnership |author= Joseph F. Kovar |date= August 2, 2012 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/storage/240004893/emc-lenovo-deal-raises-questions-for-emc-cisco-vce-partnership.htm |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title= EMC hands disties licence to assemble VSPEX: Tells resellers to build it themselves or get someone else to do it |author= Paul Kunert |work= The Channel |date= August 15, 2012 |url= http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2012/08/15/emc_vspex/ |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= EMC Intends VSPEX for Data Center Flexibility |work= Channelnomics |date= April 12, 2012 |author= Larry Walsh |url= http://channelnomics.com/2012/04/12/emc-intends-vspex-data-center-flexibility/ |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}</ref>

In a November 2012 report by [[Gartner]], VCE had a 57.4% share of integrated infrastructure systems in the second quarter of 2012 based on revenue.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Market Share Analysis: Data Center Hardware: Integrated Systems, 1Q11-2Q12 |publisher= Gartner |author= Adrian O'Connell |date= November 30, 2012 |url= http://www.vce.com/asset/documents/gartner-market-share-analysis-report.pdf |access-date= August 9, 2013 }}</ref> Gartner had previously tracked server, networking, and external controller-based storage as individual markets. VCE was named one of the “2013 Virtualization 50” by ''[[CRN Magazine]]''.<ref name="crn13">{{Cite news |title= 2013 Virtualization 50 |work= CRN |date= May 24, 2013 |url= http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/virtualization/240155351/2013-virtualization-50.htm?pgno=43 |access-date= August 9, 2013 }}</ref> In May 2013, VCE estimated a $1 billion annual sales rate with more than 1,000 Vblock Systems sold.<ref name="bets" /> However, in US [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] filings, EMC accounted for a cumulative loss of over $430 million by September 2012, and Cisco a loss of $457 million by early 2013, since revenues are recorded to the owning companies, not VCE itself.<ref>{{Cite news |title= Cisco, EMC tout VCE market share, but report losses |author= Larry Dignan |work= Between the Lines |publisher= ZDNet |date= February 21, 2013 |url= http://www.zdnet.com/cisco-emc-tout-vce-market-share-but-report-losses-7000011627/ |access-date= August 11, 2013 }}</ref> EMC reported an investment of $667.2 million in cash and $13.2 million in stock-based compensation to VCE, for a stake of about 58%.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Quarterly Report for period ended September 30, 2012 |date= November 2, 2012 |work= Form 10-Q |publisher= SEC |author= EMC Corporation |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/790070/000079007012000154/emc-2012930x10q.htm |access-date= August 11, 2013 }}</ref> Cisco reported a gross investment of $457 million, for a stake of about 35%.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Quarterly Report for Quarter ended January 26, 2013 |date= February 19, 2013 |work= Form 10-Q |publisher= SEC |author= Cisco Systems, Incorporated |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/858877/000085887713000013/csco-2013126x10qq2.htm |access-date= August 11, 2013 }}</ref>

By 2013, some of the same press writers that initially criticized VCE came to view the structure of VCE as being good business for investors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/03/06/emc_vce_losses/|title = EMC loses half a BEEELLION on VCE ... But it's NOT what it seems}}</ref> Other press highlighted VCE as a source of innovation and financial performance for investors.<ref>http://www.eweek.com/storage/why-vces-newest-vblock-systems-demonstrate-innovation.html</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.itbusinessedge.com/blogs/unfiltered-opinion/vce-stars-in-emc-financial-results.html|title = VCE Stars in EMC Financial Results|date = 13 February 2014}}</ref> Total VCE for 2013 has been reported at over $1B with over a 50% year-over-year growth rate.<ref>http://wikibon.org/wiki/v/VCE_Drives_Simplification_Past_$1B</ref>

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In October 2014, EMC announced that it had acquired majority control of the VCE venture, with Cisco maintaining a 10% stake.<ref name=nworld-emcvce/>

In January 2016, EMC announced that VCE had become the Converged Platform Division of EMC with Chad Sakac as President.<ref name="cpd">{{Cite web|url=https://www.emc.com/about/news/press/2016/20160106-01.htm|title=EMC Appoints Chad Sakac as President of VCE}}</ref>

On September 7, 2016, EMC was acquired by Dell.<ref name="dellsale">{{Cite web|title=$67 billion Dell-EMC deal closes today|url=https://social.techcrunch.com/2016/09/07/67-billion-dell-emc-deal-becomes-official-today/|access-date=2020-11-20|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US}}</ref> The Converged Platform Division of EMC is currently known as the Converged Platform and Solutions Division of Dell EMC.

==Products and services==

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Vblock Systems are marketed for large-scale [[datacenter]]s which run software applications such as [[Microsoft Exchange Server]], [[Microsoft SharePoint]] or [[SAP ERP]].

They are delivered in standard [[19-inch rack]] units to aid in planning for cooling and power requirements.<ref name="bets"/><ref name="hana">{{Cite news |title= VCE Intros Entry-level Vblocks, Unveils Pre-Configured SAP HANA Appliances |author= Joseph F. Kovar |date= February 21, 2013 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/storage/240148969/vce-intros-entry-level-vblocks-unveils-pre-configured-sap-hana-appliances.htm |access-date= August 9, 2013 }}</ref>

The company initially manufactured converged [[datacenter]] units known as [[Vblock]], which incorporate Cisco [[server computer|servers]] and networking hardware, EMC storage systems, and VMware for [[virtualization]].<ref name="bets">{{Cite news |title= Converged Infrastructure Bets Are In: Where Are They Paying Off? |author= Joseph F. Kovar |date= May 27, 2013 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/data-center/240155540/converged-infrastructure-bets-are-in-where-are-they-paying-off.htm |access-date= August 9, 2013 }}</ref>

Later, VxBlock was added providing the ability for customers to run VMware NSX.

In 2015, VxRack and in 2016 VxRail were added as separate products.

===Original systems===