Cisco FlexPod vs. VersaStack

FlexPod is great for mid to large size companies, where the flexibility and depth of a traditional SAN and high performance servers is required. For smaller companies, it might make more sense to go with a hyper converged solution such as Hyperflex or Nutanix (both of which can still run on Cisco UCS servers, but would not be making use of Netapp storage), to meet the requirements in a smaller footprint.

Incentivized

Versastack dashboard configuration is quick through the technical assistant and the ability to handle multiple projects data from one point is profitable. The Versastack also simplifies the multi cloud environment management and to connect with the third part solutions is simple. Versatile environment deliverance is another best thing on Versastack and data security is good.

• Single Pane of Glass Server Administration.
• Ease of firmware upgrades.
• Incredible support when you have an issue. The Cisco/NetApp/VMware FlexPod support teams work together and drive your issues down to the root cause.

Incentivized

• Excellent datacenter management tool.
• Data transfer is amazing.
• Resource allocation features are fantastic.

• KVM control of the blades still requires Java. Avocent is using HTML5 now, and it would be nice if the KVM console for these UCS blades could too.
• Price - Like any Cisco product, there are cheaper options. They aren't nearly as fully featured, but at times, it would be nice if UCS could be a bit cheaper.

Incentivized

• Not much the product is very tricky to set.
• Some features configuration needs professional
• Managing imported big data across many platforms.

Being a Cisco shop already it was a natural fit to go with a solution based on their technology. Then add in VMware which we are were already using - that was two out of the three for the FlexPod. Then factor in NetApp's de-duplication technology and flexibility in configuration and options and it's a match made in heaven. Not to say we haven't had some stumbles and some issues but it works and it works well.

Incentivized

Through the use of Versastack tools is an easy process on different project resources management, protecting multiple dataflow across various environment is also incredible and reliable datacenter modernization solution. The reports produced by the Versastack tools are accurate and easy to transform and the pulling of different data from other data sources is cost effective and secure.

• FlexPod has allowed our team to be extremely quick to resopnd to new VM build requests. The amount of RAM, CPU and backplane offered by B series blades allows us to go with very high VM density. The quick deployment of service profile templates also means that when we have to add new hosts, it is done quicker.
• FlexPod and the service profile portability (along with VMware) has allowed for full upgrades and migrations from M1/M2 series hardware to M4 hardware without any downtime or outages to the clients. Blades can be moved into new chassis, or service profiles moved to new generation blades, with no impact to the customers' ability to work.

Incentivized

• With Versastack is very productive on various project resources allocation.
• Easy to access and integrate to other platforms.
• Excellent performance deliverability and reporting system.