VCE is an independent builder of integrated converged infrastructure. It is a joint venture between Cisco and the EMC Corporation with additional investments from VMware and Intel Corporation.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | High Tech |
| Founded | 2011 |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Frank Hauck (President) Praveen Akkiraju (CEO) |
| Products | Vblock Systems |
| Website | [1] |
VCE builds and assembles Vblock Systems using EMC storage, Cisco Unified Computing System servers and networking, and VMware virtualization technology. It bundles and tests these systems in its own facilities before shipping them to customers.[1]
Management
From 2011-2013, the chairman of VCE was Michael Capellas, who also serves as Board member for Cisco. In July 2012, Cisco executive Praveen Akkiraju was appointed CEO of VCE. [2]
History
Cisco, EMC and VMware unveiled a joint partnership in November 2009 with the intent to develop cloud computing platforms called Vblock Infrastructure Packages. The partnership was originally called the VMware-Cisco-EMC alliance, though the name was later shortened to VCE, an acronym for the “Virtual Computing Environment coalition”. Eventually, the company name would simply become VCE. [3]
At the same event, Cisco and EMC introduced a joint venture named Acadia (technical partnership). The goal of Acadia, originally set up as a separate legal entity, was to ensure that Vblock Infrastructure Packages were built in a standardized and repeatable fashion for customer data centers. Acadia was intended to deliver Vblock architecture through the cloud. [4]
VCE was created by combining Acadia (technical partnership) and the Virtual Computing Environment coalition into a single entity in January 2011. [5]
Current Status
As of May 2013, VCE was on a $1 billion annual sales run rate with more than 1,000 Vblock Systems sold. [6] In November 2012, VCE was named the market share leader for integrated infrastructure systems in an independent analysis by Gartner. The report was the first analysis of the integrated systems market conducted by the firm, which traditionally tracked the server, networking, and external controller-based storage areas as individual markets. The report claimed that VCE had a 57.4% share among a group of leading vendors of integrated infrastructure systems in the second quarter of 2012 based on revenue. VCE was also named one of the “2013 Virtualization 50” by CRN. [7]
Products and Services
VCE manufactures converged infrastructure called Vblock™ Systems that combine VMware vSphere running on Cisco Unified Computing System connected with Cisco Nexus switches, attached to EMC Corporation storage. Despite the name, the storage can be either Block or File based.
Vblock Systems
Vblock Systems support horizontal applications, vertical industry offerings, and application development environments, allowing customers to focus on business innovation instead of integrating, validating, and managing IT infrastructure. [8]Noted for providing high availability and lower total cost of ownership in the most demanding data centers, Vblock Systems have proved themselves reliable and stable, particularly for virtualized desktop and large-scale Microsoft Exchange environments.[9] SAP, as well as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft SharePoint, are said to be some of the biggest use cases for Vblock Systems.[10]
Enterprise-Level Systems
Vblock Systems have found traction in demanding datacenters such as financial services firms, hospitals, large enterprises and federal agencies.[11]
The Vblock System 700 was unveiled at EMC World 2012, and is the highest-level Vblock System, supporting applications running over thousands of virtual machines. Additionally, the Vblock System 700 introduced the inclusion of EMC data protection technologies to give Vblock Systems backup, recovery, replication, business continuity and data mobility for virtualized environments. Applications include EMC Avamar, EMC Data Domain, and EMC RecoverPoint. The Vblock System 700 also included EMC VPLEX workload mobility and business continuity software, as well as support for new features in EMC Unified Infrastructure Manager, improved VMware integration, and centralized monitoring of multiple Vblock Systems.[12]
In February 2013, VCE refreshed the Vblock 300 and Vblock 700 with increased performance and data throughput, thanks to upgrades to their Cisco server and EMC storage components.[13]
Services
VCE provides services globally through over 150 partners to plan, design, and deploy Vblock Systems. [14] [15]
References
- ^ http://www.crn.com/news/data-center/240155540/converged-infrastructure-bets-are-in-where-are-they-paying-off.htm?pgno=2
- ^ http://www.vce.com/media/news/2012/2012-07-19-praveen-akkiraju-vce-ceo.htm
- ^ http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/storage/240008782/a-most-interesting-it-experiment-the-history-so-far-of-vce.htm%3Fpgno=6
- ^ http://www.crn.com/news/storage/221600134/cisco-emc-vmware-channel-chiefs-talk-up-vblock-partner-play.htm
- ^ http://thevarguy.com/virtualization-applications-and-technologies/vce-coalition-combines-acadia-simplifies-name-vce
- ^ http://www.crn.com/news/data-center/240155540/converged-infrastructure-bets-are-in-where-are-they-paying-off.htm?pgno=10
- ^ http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/virtualization/240155351/2013-virtualization-50.htm?pgno=43
- ^ http://www.crunchbase.com/company/vce
- ^ http://www.crn.com/news/data-center/240155540/converged-infrastructure-bets-are-in-where-are-they-paying-off.htm?pgno=10
- ^ http://www.crn.com/news/storage/240148969/vce-intros-entry-level-vblocks-unveils-pre-configured-sap-hana-appliances.htm?pgno=2
- ^ http://www.crn.com/news/data-center/240155540/converged-infrastructure-bets-are-in-where-are-they-paying-off.htm?pgno=10
- ^ http://www.crn.com/news/storage/240000838/vce-intros-new-higher-end-vblock-integrates-emc-data-protection.htm
- ^ http://www.crn.com/news/storage/240148969/vce-intros-entry-level-vblocks-unveils-pre-configured-sap-hana-appliances.htm?pgno=2
- ^ http://www.crn.com/news/storage/229400695/partners-welcome-appointment-of-emc-veteran-as-vce-president.htm
- ^ http://www.crn.com/news/networking/232900221/exclusive-with-ciscos-lloyd-take-a-look-at-us-now.htm