EMC Supports Windows Server 2012

EMC Corporation announced its VSPEX Private Cloud for Windows Server 2012 together with broad EMC technology support for Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft private cloud environments.

Microsoft customers moving to Windows Server 2012 will be designing private cloud infrastructures based on Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V for mixed application workload environments. For these customers, optimizing their cloud infrastructure for virtualized application performance and scalability, simplified management and high quality of service will be key requirements.

EMC has invested to provide Microsoft customers accelerated private cloud deployment options, EMC technology support and EMC Global Services expertise to ensure customers a path to the latest release of Windows Server.

Support for Windows Server 2012
Across EMC’s Technology Portfolio
EMC has tested its portfolio of storage platforms, automated management, data protection and security software with Windows Server 2012 to help customers deploy Windows Server 2012 with flexibility and choice across their Microsoft on EMC environments. With this announcement, EMC will offer a set of technologies and solutions spanning storage, automated management, replication, backup and security ready within ninety days of Microsoft general availability for Windows Server 2012. This support will enable customers to leverage Windows Server 2012 functionality with EMC technology to deploy cloud infrastructures for transactional and big data application workloads, optimize management efficiency and ensure high level of QoS.

Accelerating the Journey to Cloud Computing for SMBs
VSPEX provides Microsoft customers and others the power to choose the technology in their private cloud infrastructure while removing the complexity and risk that typically comes with designing, integrating and deploying a best-of-breed solution. The new VSPEX Private Cloud for Windows Server 2012 configuration is certified for the Microsoft Private Cloud Fast Track program, which enables administrators to establish and accelerate a pre-configured private cloud. A joint effort between Microsoft and companies such as EMC and Cisco, the Fast Track program helps organizations quickly develop and implement private clouds while reducing both cost and risk.

Available exclusively through channel partners, the new Microsoft Fast Track-validated VSPEX Private Cloud for Windows Server 2012 configuration, based on Cisco UCS servers, is designed to accelerate the journey to cloud computing. The VSPEX Private Cloud for Windows Server 2012 takes advantage of VNXe unified storage systems, along with Windows Server Hyper-V, to deliver predictable performance and reduce the planning, sizing and configuration burdens of adopting a private cloud environment.

Optimize Microsoft Private Cloud Deployments
with EMC Global Services
EMC Global Services provides a portfolio of strategic consultation, planning, delivery and support services across the entire lifecycle of Microsoft environments.

• Strategy – Through workshops with IT and business leaders, EMC consultants develop a strategic roadmap for application virtualization.
• Assessment – EMC will assess the application workload and supporting infrastructure and develop recommendations for how to optimize the application and virtual environment.
• Architect and Deployment – EMC will design, build, and test the virtualized application and infrastructure that meets the business requirements and assist with migration of applications data to the new virtualized environment.
• Support – EMC will provide world-class service and support of the EMC technology, leveraging best practices and the expertise of its Microsoft-certified support professionals.

EMC’s Microsoft-certified consultants have expertise designing Microsoft-enabled private clouds managed by Microsoft System Center to help customers transform their IT infrastructure, reduce costs, improve application availability, and enhance service delivery.

Matt Seif, VP, IT, CSU Industries, Inc., said: "CSU Industries is a performance-driven organization where being at the leading edge of technology helps us meet our ambitious customer satisfaction and uptime goals. As one of the world’s fastest-growing 3rd party HW support providers, we needed an infrastructure solution that could keep up with our incredible growth. After beta testing Windows Server 2012 on our EMC unified storage we were amazed with the results and have now standardized our infrastructure on Microsoft and EMC. Speed was the biggest differentiator; we are now able to complete tasks 30% quicker due to new Windows Server 2012 functionality and storage integration. And with the new Hyper-V Replica feature, we have seen data recovery time decrease as much as 80% in our DR testing. As a 99% virtualized shop with Hyper-V, running Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SharePoint, SQL Server, and now Windows Server 2012, we have seen firsthand the benefits of the marriage between Microsoft and our EMC unified storage."

Waleed Omar, IT services support manager, Mantrac Group, said: "As an early-adopter, we recognize game changing technologies. After beta testing Windows Server 2012 on EMC VNX unified storage we believe that we’ll gain a cost effective and flexible platform for unified management spanning across physical, virtual and cloud computing models which will transform IT."

Roar Bergersen, senior solution architect / CTO Europe, Atea ASA, said: "Atea ASA is in the process of building a state of the art data center for our new Outsourcing Services, based on Windows Server 2012, System Center suite 2012 SP1, along with EMC VNX unified storage and EMC VPLEX for storage virtualization and data center redundancy. We selected EMC because of its ability to meet our criteria for high density, automation, scalability and performance and manageability. And with our ability to use new EMC and Microsoft technology to improve management, processes, automation and performance, we are hitting the market with the best cloud services ever."

Mike Schutz, GM, product marketing, Windows Server, Microsoft, said: "Windows Server 2012 was designed on the foundation of Microsoft’s long experience with running large cloud services and data centers, and we’re pleased that EMC has taken a leadership role in preparing its technology to help our mutual customers seamlessly migrate to Windows Server 2012 and deploy a Microsoft private cloud environment."

Prasad Rampalli, SVP, Solutions Group, EMC, said: "EMC’s readiness for the Windows Server 2012 launch, along with the breadth of our product and services expertise will give EMC and Microsoft customers the confidence to transition to the cloud. We’ve made the right investments to ensure that this process is efficient and easy for the customers so that they can faster realize the benefits of cloud computing."

More information on these EMC platform and software technologies