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]
Midmarket/Entry Level Systems
VCE recently broadened its line of Vblock Systems to include entry-level models. [14] 2013 has seen the release of Vblock Systems product lines intended for the midrange and remote branch office market. These models include the Vblock System 100 and Vblock System 200.
The Vblock 100 is designed to host up to 200 virtual machines in a 24U or 42U rack mount space with up to eight Cisco C220 M3 blade servers, two Cisco Catalyst 3750-X switches and up to 8 TB of storage capacity on an EMC VNXe3150 or VNXe3300 array. The Vblock 200 comes configured with up to 12 Cisco servers, two Nexus 5548UP unified Ethernet and SAN switches, a Cisco Catalyst 3750 management switch, and up to 105 hard drives via the included VNX 5300 array. [15]
Specialized Systems
VCE introduced the Vblock Specialized System for SAP HANA® in February 2013. It is a fully configured solution that combines a Vblock System with SAP HANA in-memory computing and database application. [16]
Discontinued Systems
In 2009, the Virtual Computing Environment coalition announced three models of Vblock Infrastructure Packages.
Vblock 2, intended for high-end datacenters, was designed to support 3,000 to 6,000 virtual machines using Cisco UCS, Cisco Nexus 1000v and Multilayer directional switches (MDS), as well as EMC Symmetrix VMAX storage and the VMware vSphere platform.
Vblock 1, intended for the midmarket, was designed for 800 to 3,000 virtual machines and had had a similar configuration to the Vblock 2, but with EMC Clariion storage rather than EMC Symmetrix VMAX.
Vblock 0, the intended low-end configuration, was projected for release in 2010 and designed to support 300 to 800 virtual machines and use a similar configuration, but with EMC Unified Storage.[17]
VCE Vision Intelligent Operations Software
Launched in February 2013, VCE Vision Intelligent Operations Software is a management software application [18] aimed at providing rapid provisioning and management of cloud infrastructure with new APIs.[19]VCE Vision software provides a single management pane for the various components in the Vblock Systems it manages. [20]
Services
VCE provides services globally through over 150 partners to plan, design, and deploy Vblock Systems. [21] [22]
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/slide-shows/virtualization/240155351/2013-virtualization-50.htm?pgno=43
- ^ 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/240148969/vce-intros-entry-level-vblocks-unveils-pre-configured-sap-hana-appliances.htm?pgno=2
- ^ http://www.crn.com/news/storage/221600134/cisco-emc-vmware-channel-chiefs-talk-up-vblock-partner-play.htm
- ^ http://www.crn.com/news/storage/240148969/vce-intros-entry-level-vblocks-unveils-pre-configured-sap-hana-appliances.htm?pgno=1
- ^ 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/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