There was a time not too long ago where Cisco Systems and Microsoft did not get along.
In fact, company CEOs John Chambers and Steve Ballmer held a debate in New York city moderated by CBS This Morning host Charlie Rose to try and iron-out their differences.
But it seems that Cisco and Microsoft have made up and announced a range of new joint ventures and integrated solutions that target the data centre market.
Cisco’s Unified Data Center architecture will be combined with Microsoft Fast Track architecture solutions, while also delivering on go-to-market initiatives for jointly vetted solutions that help enable channel partners who resell both Cisco data centre and Microsoft Cloud OS technologies.
But it did not stop there, through the combination of the Cisco Nexus 1000V Series, Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V Extensible Switch and System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 solution providers can design virtualized data centre networks alongside physical networking and cloud computing infrastructure.
Cisco’s UCS combined with UCS Manager open API and PowerTool for Microsoft’s PowerShell utility with System Center 2012 is going to be offering as a configuration for solution providers.
Also the FlexPod system created by Cisco and storage vendor NetApp will be offered as a Microsoft Private Cloud. This IaaS solution features management, automation and orchestration capabilities integrated with Microsoft System Center 2012.
Satinder Sethi, vice president, Data Center Solutions, Cisco said alliances like the one we have with Microsoft allow us the opportunity to jointly develop innovative and integrated solutions to help drive out data center complexity, in turn delivering simplified operations, and improved information technology productivity and data center utilization for our partners and customers.
Brad Anderson, corporate vice president, Windows Server and System Center for Microsoft, said the company’s Cloud OS approach gives customers a comprehensive platform for implementing their infrastructure on premises, with a hosting service provider, and in the cloud. Combining the proven Microsoft Fast Track architecture with Cisco’s innovative Unified Data Center architecture provides partners and customers with a first-class option for navigating their way through today’s new age of data center deployment and management.
