IT Infrastructure Services (IT IS) Blog

What is FlexPod?

Posted on May 11, 2015 Updated on May 16, 2015

FlexPod is a integrated computing, networking, and storage solution developed by Cisco and NetApp. Its configurations and workloads are published as Cisco Validated Designs. FlexPod is categorized by established and emerging client needs:

• FlexPod Data Center was developed for large enterprises.
• FlexPod Express serves small and medium-sized enterprises.
• FlexPod Select focuses on high capacity and performance for specialized workloads.

Cisco and NetApp support FlexPod deployments through the Cooperative Support Model.

FlexPod components include Cisco Unified Computing System (Cisco UCS)servers, Cisco Nexus switches, and NetApp unified storage systems.

The FlexPod architecture can scale up or out. And it can be optimized for a variety of mixed workloads in both virtualized and nonvirtualized environments.

Large enterprise data centers need agile platforms with high availability and scalable storage. Along with reducing operating costs, chief information officers want to use a converged infrastructure to support hybrid cloud computing.

Small and medium-sized enterprises need a simplified setup and easy use, access to public cloud services, and greater value for their data center budgets.

Many enterprises also need purpose-built, high-capacity platforms for specialized workloads. Large-scale, real-time data analytics place unique demands on computing stacks. Video surveillance, in-memory databases, and public cloud infrastructures have similar capacity needs.

FlexPod’s architecture can be configured for the growing needs of all these clients. FlexPod is deployed with more than 4100 customers and available in more than 100 countries. For the future, FlexPod customers and partners want configuration guidance, easy ordering, and validation for the configuration that is most aligned with their needs.

To meet these emerging trends, FlexPod delivers three named configurations:

• FlexPod Data Center
• FlexPod Express
• FlexPod Select

Cisco and NetApp support FlexPod through a Cooperative Support Model, receive best in class experience from NetApp, Cisco and our ecosystem partners delivered through collaborative and coordinated support services for your FlexPod integrated infrastructure.

FlexPod benefits from integrated management in the form of Cisco UCS Director.UCS Director supports cohesive, flexible data centers, built on FlexPod, that increase IT and business agility, while reducing operational processes and expenses.

An overview of the FlexPod solution is available through an iPad app.