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Virtual Computing Environment

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VCE, the Virtual Computing Environment Company, is an American computer integration company. It was founded (originally named Acacdia) as a joint venture between Cisco Systems and EMC Corporation with additional investments from VMware and Intel Corporation.

Virtual Computing Environment coalition
Acadia
VCE
Company typeJoint venture
IndustryComputer data storage
Founded2011
Key people
Frank Hauck (President)
Praveen Akkiraju (CEO)
ProductsVblock Systems
Websitewww.vce.com

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 before shipping them to customers.[1]

History

Cisco Systems, EMC Corporation and VMware unveiled a joint partnership in November 2009 to develop cloud computing platforms called Vblock Infrastructure Packages.[2] 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”.[3]

At the same event, Cisco and EMC introduced a joint venture named Acadia.[4] 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.[5]

VCE was created by combining Acadia and the Virtual Computing Environment coalition into a single entity in January 2011, called VCE, the Virtual Computing Environment Company.[6][7]

From 2011-2013, the chairman of VCE was Michael Capellas, who also was a board member of Cisco.[8] In July 2012, Cisco executive Praveen Akkiraju was appointed CEO and Frank Hauck as president.[9]

In May 2013, VCE estimated a $1 billion annual sales rate with more than 1,000 Vblock systems sold.[1] In November 2012, the company slclaimed VCE was the market share leader for integrated infrastructure systems in an analysis by Gartner. The report was Gartner's first analysis of the integrated systems, which traditionally tracked server, networking, and external controller-based storage as individual markets. The report claimed that VCE had a 57.4% share among endors of integrated infrastructure systems in the second quarter of 2012 based on revenue.[10] VCE was named one of the “2013 Virtualization 50” by CRN Magazine.[11]

Products and services

VCE markets products is calls Vblock systems as converged infrastructure that combine VMware vSphere software running on Cisco Unified Computing Systems connected with Cisco Nexus switches, attached to EMC Symmetrix storage. Despite the "block" in the name, the storage can be accessed as either a block device or a file server. Vblock systems are marketed for large-scale data centers which run applications such including Microsoft Exchange , Microsoft SharePoint or SAP ERP.[1][12]

Original 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 to support 300 to 800 virtual machines and use a similar configuration, but with EMC Unified Storage.

Enterprise-level systems

Vblock Systems markets to data centers in financial services firms, hospitals, large enterprises and federal agencies.[1]

The Vblock System 700 was unveiled at EMC World 2012, as the most expensive Vblock System, supporting applications running over thousands of virtual machines. The Vblock System 700 introduced the inclusion of EMC data protection 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.[13]

In February 2013, VCE announced the Vblock 300 and Vblock 700 with increased performance and data throughput, with upgrades to their server and storage components.[12]

Midmarket and entry level systems

In 2013 VCE announced products for the midrange and remote branch office market.[11] These models included 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.[12]

Specialized systems

VCE introduced a specialized system for SAP HANA in February 2013. It combined a Vblock System with SAP HANA in-memory computing and database application.[12]

Vision Intelligent Operations Software

In February 2013, VCE announced the management software application Vision Intelligent Operations Software.[1] VCE Vision software provides a single management pane for the various components in the Vblock Systems it manages.[12]

Services

VCE provides services through partners to plan, design, and deploy Vblock systems.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Joseph F. Kovar (May 27, 2013). "Converged Infrastructure Bets Are In: Where Are They Paying Off?". CRN. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  2. ^ "Cisco and EMC, Together with VMware, form Coalition to Accelerate Pervasive Data Center Virtualization and Private Cloud Infrastructures". Press release. Cisco Systems. November 3, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  3. ^ http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/storage/240008782/a-most-interesting-it-experiment-the-history-so-far-of-vce.htm%3Fpgno=6
  4. ^ Rochelle Garner (November 3, 2009). "Cisco, EMC Form Acadia Joint Venture for Data Centers (Update3)". Bloomberg news. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  5. ^ Joseph F. Kovar (November 3, 2009). "Cisco, EMC, VMware Channel Chiefs Talk Up Vblock Partner Play". CRN. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  6. ^ "VCE Coalition Combines with Acadia, Simplifies Name to VCE". The VAR Guy. January 21, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  7. ^ "VCE Coalition and Acadia Combined and Renamed VCE, the Virtual Computing Environment Company". Press release. VCE. January 20, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  8. ^ Don Clark (May 5, 2010). "Capellas to Run Cisco, EMC Ventures". WSJ.com. Dow Jones & Co. Retrieved August 19, 2010.
  9. ^ "VCE Appoints Praveen Akkiraju Chief Executive Officer". Press release. VCE. July 19, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  10. ^ Adrian O'Connell (November 30, 2012). "Market Share Analysis: Data Center Hardware: Integrated Systems, 1Q11-2Q12" (PDF). Gartner. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  11. ^ a b "2013 Virtualization 50". CRN. May 24, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d e Joseph F. Kovar (February 21, 2013). "VCE Intros Entry-level Vblocks, Unveils Pre-Configured SAP HANA Appliances". CRN. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  13. ^ http://www.crn.com/news/storage/240000838/vce-intros-new-higher-end-vblock-integrates-emc-data-protection.htm
  14. ^ http://www.crn.com/news/storage/229400695/partners-welcome-appointment-of-emc-veteran-as-vce-president.htm
  15. ^ http://www.crn.com/news/networking/232900221/exclusive-with-ciscos-lloyd-take-a-look-at-us-now.htm
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