The term “hyperconverged infrastructure,” or HCI, refers to an infrastructure model that utilizes a software-centric architecture with tight integration of storage, networking, computing, virtualization, and hardware resources. HCI enables the management of all the integrated resources from a single common toolset/console, which helps reduce complexity and simplify resource management.
HCI’s highly flexible and elastic computing environment offers advantages over traditional IT infrastructure because it can help eliminate organizational silos and better manage virtual workloads.
Being able to allocate resources through administrative tools and making changes without having to undertake a service outage is a key benefit to clients. It is a cloud-like situation where the resources can be scaled without making compromises to performance, reliability, and availability.
Some tangible benefits of HCI include:
Derive has experience across on-premise, cloud, hybrid cloud and hyperconverged environments. Derive’s team of experts can advise your organization through a short Risk and Architecture Assessment or as part of a longer-term relationship within our Virtual CTO program. Derive has extensive experience with using a number of leading software products, including Nutanix, HPE SimpliVity, Dell VXRail, and Cisco Hyperflex.
Notes on Converged, Hyperconverged, and Hybrid IT
Although converged and hyperconverged infrastructure are similar in many senses, converged infrastructure relies upon hardware building blocks; hyperconverged infrastructure is entirely software-defined. The latter is in many aspects more flexible and easily scalable.
Combining cloud with on-premises IT can result in unparalleled flexibility and scalability for your business. But the resulting hybrid IT environment introduces complexity that can impact productivity. Hyperconvergence as a software-defined solution offers a cloud-like experience across your entire infrastructure. With software-enabled automation and simplified hybrid cloud management to streamline and speed operations, you can focus on new projects that deliver a competitive edge.
HPE Simplivity is powered by InfoSight, HPE’s AI-powered management software. This platform is ideal for edge, ROBO, VDI, and general virtualization use cases. VM-centric management and mobility, built-in backup and DR, and data efficiency combine in a hyperconverged architecture that’s optimized from datacenter to edge. Benefits include:
Nutanix is an industry-leading hyperconverged infrastructure solution, delivering any application at any scale to power your business growth. Derive partners with Nutanix and has the skills to deliver this enterprise-class solution. Nutanix’s robust platform can run uninterrupted and allow maintenance to be accomplished without service interruptions. Disaster recovery, integrated security and cloud integration ensure predictable performance and efficient operations with Nutanix Enterprise solutions.
Cisco HyperFlex enables multi-cloud IT with an adaptive platform that can service applications wherever it resides. Leveraging Cisco HX software innovations, HyperFlex delivers a simplified performance solution. It is a leader in scaling, support for multiple hypervisors, and flexible cluster scaling with availability zones. With Cisco-certified planning and purchasing, implementation, and ongoing management and support services from Derive Technologies, Cisco HyperFlex solutions can be utilized in any environment.
Built in partnership with VMware, VxRail provides a fast path to transform operations and datacenter infrastructure. Like the other HCI solutions, VxRail is a unified HCI platform. The VxRail HCI System software-defined architecture consolidates compute, storage, virtualization, and management. Being engineered for VMWare, this HCI implementation drives operational efficiencies with full stack integration. The software also has automated end-to-end lifecycle management and AI based predictive analytics.
VxRail has multiple configuration options, and this is where your organization can leverage Derive’s practice leads and architects, who can assess requirements and build a target Infrastructure. The configuration of these systems can be done in the Derive configuration center in New York City.
Key benefits include:
