HDS Supports Microsoft Private Cloud Fast Track V3

Hitachi Data Systems Corporation announced that Hitachi Unified Compute Platform (UCP) Select for Microsoft Private Cloud supports Microsoft Corp.’s Private Cloud Fast Track architecture, version 3.

This updated converged solution adds support for Windows Server 2012, System Center 2012 SP1 and the associated monitoring packs, PowerShell cmdlets (pronounced ‘command-lets’) and Orchestration integrations, and combines Hitachi compute and Hitachi storage with virtualization capabilities and networking.

Hitachi Unified Compute Platform Select for Microsoft Private Cloud provides a simplified approach to delivering scalable, preconfigured, and validated infrastructure platforms for on-premises, private cloud implementations. With local control over data and operations, customers can dynamically pool, allocate, secure, and manage resources for agile IaaS or platform-as-a-service. Likewise, business units can deploy line-of-business applications with speed and consistency using self-provisioning and decommissioning automated data center services in a virtualized environment.

This announcement builds on the longstanding strategic relationship and close collaboration between Hitachi Data Systems and Microsoft. As an inaugural participant in the Fast Track Program, HDS has seen momentum and growth in demand for Microsoft’s private cloud solutions over the last three years. It has seen strong adoption of its Microsoft Private Cloud Fast Track solutions in key vertical markets including telecommunications, hosted managed services, and the service provider space, as well as global 1000 customers in the retail and financial sectors. Rapid deployment of Microsoft applications such as SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange, SharePoint and Microsoft Lync Server is driving customer adoption, demonstrated by the strong alignment between HDS and the Microsoft Fast Track team in Redmond and worldwide.

HDS was one of the first OEMs to commit to the Microsoft Private Cloud Fast Track program as a Gold Sponsor at TechEd Berlin in November 2010. It introduced its first Microsoft Private Cloud solutions in early 2011, followed by version 2 solutions for Microsoft Private Cloud in 2012, and this announcement of version 3 solutions.

"In today’s dynamic market, companies require an IT infrastructure that can adapt and grow with their business while protecting their current investments," said Mike Walkey, SVP, global partners and alliances, HDS. "We are proud to deliver innovative information solutions optimized for the latest version of Microsoft Private Cloud FastTrack architecture, providing the flexibility and scalability that our mutual customers demand. We are dedicated to continuing our investment in Microsoft private cloud solutions for our joint customers and continue to see these solutions driving a strong business impact for Hitachi Data Systems."

The new Microsoft validated HDS reference architectures provide seamless integration with the VM Manager component of System Center 2012 and transparent live migration of VMs on same-site and multi-site deployments up to distances of 200 kilometers, or 125 miles. Hitachi Unified Compute Platform Select for Microsoft Private Clouds also supports provisioning of compute and storage resources, allowing customers to provision VMs with support for the Orchestrator component of System Center 2012. With the heterogeneous virtualization capabilities of Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform and Hitachi Unified Storage VM, companies can extend investments in supported 3rd party storage.

"With Microsoft’s cloud OS vision, customers gain groundbreaking technology to deploy cloud infrastructure using Windows Server 2012 and System Center 2012 SP1," said Chris Phillips, partner director PM, Windows Server and System Center, Microsoft Corp. "Strategic collaborations with innovative companies like Hitachi Data Systems help customers move forward with their deployments quickly and confidently. Hitachi Data Systems has been an active participant in the Microsoft Private Cloud Fast Track program since its inception. Their latest solution, the Hitachi Unified Compute Platform Select for Microsoft Private Cloud, version 3, builds on their experience and success with Microsoft private cloud implementations in the datacenter. Microsoft and Hitachi Data systems help our customers realize the benefits of our cloud OS vision today, by providing a quick and efficient way for telecommunications companies, hosters, service providers, and enterprises to deploy robust Microsoft private cloud solutions."

Hitachi Data Systems and Microsoft have a long-standing relationship that has delivered mission-critical solutions to customers around the world. Hitachi solutions that support Microsoft applications include Hitachi Compute Blade, Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform, the storage virtualization platform for enterprise data centers, Hitachi Unified Storage systems, and Hitachi Storage Cluster for Windows Server Hyper-V, an end-to-end server-to-storage virtualization solution.