Cisco today formally introduced its much anticipated data center architecture. Calling the approach its “Unified Computing System,” Cisco says it combines computing, network, storage access and virtualization technologies onto a single platform. The company claims that such consolidation reduces complexity, energy use, and cost. UPDATE: Network World’s Jim Duffy has more on what the UCS means to Cisco. UPDATE 2: Network World’s Denise Dubie: Could Cisco and BMC become more than partners? UPDATE 3: Jon Brodkin: Cisco competitors downplay new blade server
Part of the announcement is a new series of blade servers, the Cisco UCS B-Series, based on the next-generation family of Intel Xeon processor, Nehalem. Cisco says the blades have extended memory technology to support applications with large data sets and allow more virtual machines per server. (Compare server products.) More on the server blade and partnerships here. The unified network fabric is based on 10 Gigabit Ethernet and performs the functions of a LAN, SAN and high-performance computing network. Services and partnerships with other vendors were also part of the announcement. The system and its associated services are scheduled to be available in the second quarter of this year. Related: BMC’s role in Cisco’s Unified Computing System launch Cisco’s data-center push holds promise, perils Cisco to unveil blade server for data center virtualization Microsoft, Intel to back Cisco’s Unified Computing launch Cisco exec rationalizes data center invasion
