Vblock

Vblock
VCE (company) · Public domain · source
Name	Vblock
Developer	Dell EMC and Cisco Systems and VMware
Released	2010

Vblock Vblock is a converged infrastructure product line co-developed by Dell EMC, Cisco, and VMware that integrated compute, storage, networking, and virtualization into pre-configured systems for enterprise data centers. It aimed to simplify deployment, reduce integration risk, and accelerate operational consistency across large-scale IT environments. The platform influenced subsequent hyper-converged and converged offerings from vendors and was positioned for customers migrating workloads from traditional architectures to standardized systems.

Overview

Vblock combined hardware and software stacks from companies such as Dell EMC, Cisco Systems, and VMware into validated configurations designed for rapid deployment. The product tied together servers like Cisco UCS B-Series, storage arrays such as EMC Symmetrix, and virtualization layers including VMware vSphere under joint lifecycle management agreements involving organizations like VCE Company. Vblock targeted enterprises, service providers, and government agencies that required tested interoperability among vendors such as Intel Corporation, Microsoft, Red Hat, and Oracle Corporation.

History and Development

The initiative originated amid consolidation trends driven by companies including IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and NetApp exploring integrated systems. Announced in 2009 and launched commercially in 2010, the program reflected collaborations similar to partnerships between Cisco Systems and EMC Corporation and later corporate alignments with Dell Technologies after acquisitions. Key milestones included roadmap updates coinciding with releases from VMware vCenter, EMC VNX, and enhancements aligning with processor generations from Intel Xeon and firmware updates coordinated with Cisco NX-OS. Strategic industry events such as VMworld, Cisco Live, and Dell EMC World showcased new Vblock versions and partner integrations.

Architecture and Components

Architecturally, Vblock assembled compute nodes like Cisco UCS C-Series and blade systems interoperating with storage platforms such as EMC VNX and EMC Isilon depending on the model. Networking incorporated components from Cisco Nexus and Catalyst families with management via tools like Cisco UCS Manager and orchestration through VMware vCenter Server and vRealize Suite. Data protection integrations included products from EMC Avamar, EMC RecoverPoint, and backup vendors such as Commvault and Veritas Technologies. Security and identity integration leveraged solutions from Microsoft Active Directory, RSA Security, and Symantec Corporation.

Deployment and Integration

Deployment workflows followed validated designs aligning with methodologies used by Accenture, Deloitte, and Capgemini for systems integration and professional services. Installation often referenced standards from industry groups like the Distributed Management Task Force and used automation tools such as Puppet, Chef (software), Ansible (software), and orchestration via VMware vRealize Orchestrator. Integration scenarios included connectivity to public cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform through hybrid architectures supported by partner programs with vendors such as NetApp Private Storage and Equinix.

Performance and Scalability

Performance tuning for Vblock aligned with benchmarks and practices from organizations like SPEC.org and leveraged technologies from Intel and NVIDIA for acceleration in select workloads. Scalability was achieved by adding validated growth units combining compute, storage, and networking elements similar to scale strategies used by Facebook, Google, and Amazon (company) for large data centers albeit in an enterprise-validated form factor. Workload optimization targeted enterprise applications from SAP SE, Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server, and virtualization-hosted middleware such as IBM WebSphere and Red Hat JBoss.

Use Cases and Industry Adoption

Adoption occurred across sectors including financial services with firms like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, telecommunications operators such as AT&T and Verizon Communications, healthcare providers including Mayo Clinic and Kaiser Permanente, and public sector deployments with agencies analogous to NASA and U.S. Department of Defense. Common use cases comprised virtual desktop infrastructure implementations using Citrix Systems or VMware Horizon, private cloud foundations in conjunction with OpenStack, and consolidated enterprise resource planning systems for vendors like SAP SE and Oracle Corporation.

Compatibility and Support

Support arrangements were governed by joint support models created by vendors including Dell Technologies, Cisco Systems, and VMware, Inc. with interoperability matrices updated alongside releases from Microsoft Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and firmware updates from Intel Corporation. Lifecycle and end-of-support considerations mirrored practices established by ISO standards and vendor product lifecycle policies from companies such as EMC Corporation and Cisco Systems. Third-party ecosystem compatibility encompassed backup solutions from Veeam Software, encryption from Thales Group, and monitoring through Splunk and SolarWinds.

Category:Converged_infrastructure