Nexenta Works with VMware to Simplify VDI Deployment
New NexentaVDI plug-in eliminates storage and system management complexity for VDI environments
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Oct 19, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Today at VMworld(R) 2011 Europe, Nexenta Systems, the world's leading provider of OpenStorage solutions, announced it has partnered with VMware to simplify VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) deployments.
At VMworld Europe 2011 (Bella Center in Copenhagen, Oct 18-20), Nexenta is demonstrating its 'NexentaVDI' provisioning and rapid deployment solution for VMware View(TM) 5. Also at the show Nexenta will be recruiting participants for its NexentaVDI beta programme.
The NexentaVDI solution simplifies storage and system management into just three simple steps. The NexentaVDI solution addresses the key challenges of VDI deployment through a single dashboard with real-time analytics. It offers rapid deployment of the NexentaStor OpenStorage VSA across the VMware vSphere(R) cluster based on simple user inputs such as Desktop Pool type, number of users, target performance levels and more. Each VSA is configured and tuned with the best mix of ZFS features and parameters based on key desktop pool attributes.
With NexentaVDI, managers simply name a desktop pool and indicate how many desktops are to be provisioned in that pool. NexentaVDI automatically sets up the underlying storage, VMware View desktop pool, and optimises the deployment to provide superior performance for the environment, transparently handling the disparate storage requirements of both persistent and non-persistent virtual desktops. "A process that used to take days and an army of storage and virtualisation specialists has been almost fully automated and now takes a matter of minutes," claims Jim Fitzgerald, vice president of business development at Nexenta.
"NexentaVDI takes advantage of the inherent flexibility of VSA storage, offering a purpose-built storage layer for the type of VDI pool being deployed," said Parag Patel, vice president, Global Strategic Alliances, VMware. "The NexentaVDI plug-in offers an improved level of simplicity, validated performance, and auto-optimisation. VMware is excited to see such integrated solutions coming to market."
Combining end-to-end automation with the sophisticated features of the ZFS file system, the NexentaVDI solution showcases the tiered storage features of VMware View 5, working in tandem with the VSA (Virtual Storage Appliance) configuration and tuning. Fitzgerald believes that the NexentaVDI solution can assist users looking to adopt the technology but concerned about the complexity and costs.
He said: "VMware View(TM) 5 provides a fantastically simple way to manage desktops and applications while increasing security and control for users. Users now want to see this
simplicity extend across all layers of the VDI stack, especially around the demands on storage. They also want to see the deployment and management costs driven right down. As a VMware partner, our goal for the NexentaVDI solution was to make it easier than ever before to realise the advantages of VDI made possible by VMware View 5 and NexentaStor 3.1."
NexentaStor is already a popular solution for many VMware View-based VDI environments. When coupled with VMware View tiered storage, the joint solution is capable of overcoming the performance and cost challenges associated with the unique I/O patterns generated by VDI workloads. This solution enables customers to easily utilise SSDs to improve the read and write performance, normalize the I/O pattern and cost effectively meet the high-performance requirements of a VDI environment.
Availability
NexentaVDI will be generally available in Q1 2012. Free trials of NexentaStor can be downloaded at: www.nexenta.com/freetrial
About Nexenta
Nexenta Systems is the leading supplier of OpenStorage solutions for the enterprise.
www.nexenta.com