The Dell Hyperconverged Infrastructure Portfolio for Efficient Architectures
Dell HCI-Technology
Today, virtually every aspect of business involves IT: from the work of individual employees and business processes to products and services. A robust and future-proof IT infrastructure is often essential to this. Dell HCI technology can help increase efficiency, improve communication and collaboration, and boost productivity.
Hyperconverged IT infrastructure
Hyperconverged infrastructures (HCIs) are accessible via software, making it possible to combine different components. The HCI portfolio from Dell EMC includes both complete systems that can be deployed quickly and validated HCI modules for expanding existing IT operating models. We at SVA provide advice to our customers here, and also take care of implementation, operation and other services.
Unlike a traditional architecture, the computing, storage and networking in a hyperconverged infrastructure are software-defined. These are joined by management tools for central administration, monitoring and control. Resources virtualized through hyperconvergence allow these to be managed by a single interface. A key component here is the hypervisor: This isolates the operating system and resources of the virtual machines, allows them to be created and administered, and enables flexible use of server capacities.
Integrating computing and storage in this way can reduce complexity in the data center. It also makes it possible to shift more workloads with scalable architectures to relatively low-cost hardware that follows the de-facto standard x86. Dell EMC VxRail, for example, is a distributed system that consists of modular building blocks. This allows businesses to start small and expand from there. The solutions are available in many different variants for a variety of applications:
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The G series covers standard applications
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The V series has been optimized for VDI environments
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The P series is ideal for demanding workloads like databases
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The E series is designed for beginners
Storage in a hyperconverged infrastructure
The software-defined approach of hyperconvergence virtualizes the storage systems. Unlike traditional network-attached storage (NAS) or storage area network systems (SAN), software-defined storage is deployed on conventional x86 servers. This means that companies are no longer dependent on specially developed hardware. A software layer is created between the physical storage and the data queries, which can also be used to define how and where data is stored.
Networking in hyperconverged infrastructure
Similar to storage, networking functions in a hyperconverged infrastructure are virtualized through software-defined networking (SDN). SDN allows an operations team to centrally control network traffic into topologies, instead of having to run every device separately.
Benefits and opportunities of an HCI
The hyperconvergent portfolio from Dell opens up several options that offer a variety of benefits.
The hyperconvergent portfolio from Dell opens up several options that offer a variety of benefits.
1. Simplified deployment
It is easily possible to create a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) with thin clients in an HCI with virtualization software. This reduces costs and removes the need for an on-site technician.
2. Easier management
Hyperconvergence makes the structure much easier to use. There is no need for specialists like storage experts to administer the components.
3. Greater flexibility
Arguably the clearest advantage is the increased flexibility provided by needs-based utilization. In an HCI-based VDI, users can flexibly adjust policies for the error tolerance of virtual machines, for example. There is also greater freedom regarding the use of server capacities.
4. Easier scalability
Hyperconvergence makes it possible to expand computing, storage and networking resources on x86 according to requirements. This removes the need to constantly purchase new hardware.
5. Greater reliability
By using an HCI, companies can save money while also increasing the failure safety and availability of their IT and the services provided through it.
6. More agility
The greater flexibility and scalability provided through hyperconvergence allows IT departments to adapt their systems to changing departmental requirements faster and more efficiently. They can also provide the desired business applications with the associated resources more quickly.
7. Better utilization of resources
User organizations report that a Dell HCI allows them to achieve greater flexibility and availability at lower costs, thanks to the better utilization of IT equipment.
8. Greater performance with less equipment
A hyperconverged solution means IT departments need less equipment, as they do not need to purchase devices in advance.
9. Lower costs
An HCI from Dell requires less physical hardware. This leads to resource consolidation and therefore savings in terms of space, power consumption and overall costs. Users report that using an HCI has helped them reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) by 30 percent and time to market by 15 percent.
10. Future-ready
Hyperconvergence enables efficient, cutting-edge infrastructures that are suitable for business-critical applications. A software-defined data center, private and public clouds, and integrated edge computing further highlight the benefits of an HCI.
Why choose a Dell HCI with SVA?
Our range of services for HCI ranges from consultation on the selection, procurement and configuration of suitable Dell solutions all the way to the development of customized applications. Past projects have seen us build entire infrastructures for companies and public authorities. If necessary, we can also operate the solutions for you.
As one of the top three infrastructure partners of Dell Technologies in Germany, SVA offers the full range of services from consulting and implementation to financing and operation of entire systems and infrastructure platforms. We have many years of experience in the construction and dimensioning of HCI solutions, and have been awarded by Dell for our special expertise. SVA offers additional value through a stack for a software-defined data center (SDDV) for further automation. This makes it possible to integrate solutions that we have constructed for our customers using our knowledge of hyperconverged infrastructures and our product expertise.
SVA’s successful HCI projects
Hyperconverged infrastructure is a general concept, but successfully implementing it requires a focus on the respective requirements. As such, SVA has constructed hyperconverged solutions for companies and public authorities with various products and focus areas.
FAQs: Frequently asked questions about Dell Networking
What is an HCI (hyperconverged infrastructure or hyperconvergent infrastructure)?
A hyperconverged infrastructure is software-defined, and combines processors, storage, networking and virtualization technologies with the associated management tools. In traditional IT infrastructures, computing, storage and networking are separate systems that are managed separately. In terms of hardware, HCIs use components in line with industry standards (x86 server). Dell EMC and VMware are leaders for hyperconverged infrastructure in the Gartner Magic Quadrant.
What is the difference between convergent and hyperconvergent infrastructure?
Convergent and hyperconvergent infrastructure both combine the four components of computing, storage, networking and management. In hyperconvergent systems, all resources are software-defined and therefore do not rely on hardware for their handling. The hardware is invisible to users and administrators. Instead, they access virtual and distributed resources via an abstracting software layer. In convergent infrastructures, by contrast, the hardware dependency still exists.
How do HCI and Cloud work together?
An HCI is usually located in a company’s own data center and can be implemented in a private cloud. Public clouds, whose resources and services are used by customers remotely, can be operated on HCIs. Hybrid clouds can also have a hyperconvergent basis.
What are the benefits of an HCI?
The main advantages of a hyperconvergent architecture are better scalability, greater efficiency and lower costs.
Better scalability:
An HCI is easier to scale than conventional infrastructure. Hardware components can be deployed in a few hours and workloads within minutes. The performance of business-critical applications such as relational databases can also be boosted quickly. This allows IT departments to react quicker to changing business requirements.
Improved efficiency:
Hyperconverged infrastructures allow a single team to monitor and manage all resources. Storage capacities are combined into pools that can then be dynamically allocated according to the required capacity, performance and security.
Lower operating costs:
The operating costs fall due to the scalable architecture that only requires standard x86 servers. Required capacities can be added as needed without any interruptions. This avoids over-provision, which leads to further cost reductions in the data center.
For which applications can HCIs be used?
Hyperconvergence is suitable for many applications, as long as they can run in a virtualized environment. These include business applications like ERP or data analysis, infrastructure systems such as DevOps solutions or a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), as well as end user applications like remote office solutions or CAD workstations.
Would an HCI be suitable for my business?
In principle, a hyperconvergent structure is suitable for any business that wants to virtualize. This new architecture requires support, however, from purchasing equipment to IT staff. HCI solutions aim to replace rather than expand existing structures. Our list of successful customer projects shows the variety of companies where HCI was successfully implemented and the benefits that have resulted.
Which criteria should companies bear in mind when choosing a suitable HCI solution?
Different applications have different requirements that must be harmonized with a hyperconvergent solution. For CAD applications, for example, companies must check whether the solution supports graphics cards, whether the necessary storage technology is present and if the scalability is sufficient.
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