I was reading this article from our friends at The Register which has this picture for an entry level FlexPod from NetApp/Cisco.
It just seems wrong. I mean the networking stuff. Given NetApp’s strong push for IP-based storage, one would think an entry level solution would simply have 2×48 port 10gig stackable switches, or whatever Cisco’s equivalent is(maybe this is it).
This solution is supposed to provide scalability for up to 1,000 users – what those 1,000 users are actually doing I have no idea, does it mean VDI? Database? web site users? File serving users? ?????????????
It’s also unclear in the article if this itself scales to that level or it just provides the minimum building blocks to scale to 1,000 users (I assume the latter) – and if so what does 1,000 user configuration look like? (or put another way how many users does the below picture support)
I’ll be the first to admit I’m ignorant as to the details and the reason why Cisco needs 3 different devices with these things but whatever the reason seems major overkill for an entry level solution assuming the usage of IP-based storage.
The new entry level flex pod
The choice of a NetApp FAS2000 array seems curious to me – at least given the fact that it does not appear to support that Flex Cache stuff which they like to tout so much.
No PAM means just spindles, and that looks like the 2U variant of the 2240 so that means 24 disks. Honestly I think one could get a far better pricing scheme buying ala carte. I guess if you were looking to do a forklift from some truly dated legacy gear this would be a good fit.
At the end of the day its still just legos that you could put together yourself.
Comment by gchapman — April 10, 2012 @ 7:57 am