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Hyperconvergence

Streamline your System

Converge your network, storage and computing into one

Traditionally a hardware-only operation, convergence is giving way to hyperconvergence, a software-centric architecture that tightly integrates compute, storage and virtualisation resources. Management is through a common tool set for a fast, secure, reliable and affordable solution.

High Availability

Most hyperconvergence systems (HCSs) need a minimum of three storage nodes (a physical or virtual machine with access to one or more HDDs or SDDs) for high availability.

Increase in Virtual Storage

Developments in technology (eg Storage Class Memory – SCM) has increased the use of virtual storage nodes, less common before due to the potential consequence of unpredictable performance and latency.

Hardware Independent

Traditionally HCSs have been supplied as proprietary systems by several key manufacturers. HCSs can also be sold as software for installation on existing hardware. With its support for SCM, Server 2019 makes HCS management easier and enhances performance.

The DMS hyperconvergence solution for Education

Combines Microsoft’s WSSD software (free with Server 2016 and Server 2019)
and Intel’s Dual Xeon servers with their unique Optane memory.

Windows Server Software-Defined

WSSD uses industry-standard servers with local-attached drives to create highly available, highly scalable software-defined storage at a fraction of the cost of traditional SAN or NAS arrays. Its architecture simplifies deployment, while features such as caching, storage tiers, and erasure coding, together with the latest hardware innovations, deliver unrivalled efficiency and performance.

Intel Optane Technology

The first major storage and memory breakthrough in 25 years, Intel® Optane™ combines next generation non-volatile memory, 3DXPoint™ (cross-point), with Intel’s advanced system memory controllers and interface hardware and software IP. Together, these building blocks deliver game-changing technology that presents new computing possibilities for a variety of users.

Windows Server Software-Defined

Windows Server Features

All WSSD solutions deliver a fully validated hardware platform.

 

Security: Help protect against breaches
All solutions offer built-in security. Hyper-Converged Premium solutions add protection for virtual machines even if the host is compromised.

 

Compute: Right-size resources
Both hyper-converged solutions offer a Server Core option for host to help reduce resource usage and increase availability.

 

Networking: Speed up changes
All solutions take advantage of performance-enhancing networking technologies in Windows Server. Hyper-Converged Premium solution adds software-defined networking features to help to automate workload deployment with virtualized switching, routing, load balancing and firewalls— no configuration changes to the physical network needed. Prevent security vulnerabilities from spreading with micro-segmentation, access-control lists, and encrypted networks. Reduce costs with virtual appliances like the software load balancer and software gateway. Speed up your infrastructure with remote direct memory access (RDMA) and a data plane optimized for 40 gigabits per second and beyond.

 

Storage: Increase performance
All WSSD solutions offer Storage Spaces Direct, which easily exceeds 150,000 mixed 4k random IOPS per server with consistent low latency. Build software-defined storage from locally attached flash and hard drives. Ensure fault tolerance with distributed software resiliency and unlock unprecedented performance with built-in read/write caching and support for the latest NVM Express and persistent memory.

 

Management: Simplify it
All WSSD solutions enable you to deploy and manage software-defined features across infrastructure using PowerShell and Windows Admin Center. Provision virtual machines and storage, configure networking, monitor health and performance, and install updates in just a few clicks.

 

Hyper-V
The foundational hypervisor technology of the Microsoft cloud. Divvy up computing resources through virtualisation, run multiple Windows or Linux OS side-by-side, achieve high availability via clustering, and provide the most secure environment with shielded VMs on a guarded fabric.

WSSD Solution Features

The software-defined technology in Windows Server provides a platform for hyper-converged infrastructure solutions that help organisations sustain efficiency and adjust to changing needs.

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Software-Defined Storage (SDS)
Enterprise-grade shared-nothing storage solution built on server node clusters replaces traditional SAN/NAS at a much lower cost. Organizations can quickly add storage capacity as needs grow over time. Support for all-flash NVMe drives delivers unrivalled performance.

 

Hyper-converged Infrastructure (HCI) Standard
Highly virtualised compute and storage combine in a server node cluster, making them easier to deploy, manage, and scale. Eliminates traditional IT compute, storage, and networking silos, for simplified infrastructure.

 

Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) Premium
Comprehensive “software-defined datacenter in a box” adds Software-Defined Networking and Security Assurance features to HCI Standard. This makes it easy to scale compute, storage, and networking up and down to meet demand just like public cloud services.

What you’ll love about Windows Server Software-Defined program

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Lower Costs

Consolidate with industry-standard hardware. Buy what you need today and seamlessly scale out tomorrow.

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Industry - Leading Performance

Awesome VM performance with millions of IOPS and consistent sub-millisecond latency.

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Simpler Operations

Manage and monitor your infrastructure easily with dashboard and native PowerShell automation.

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Hybrid

Cloud and on-premises working together with the only HC infrastructure platform from a leader in public cloud.

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Enterprise-grade Security

Shielded VMs, network micro-segmentation and native encryption for data at rest and in transit.

Intel Optane Technology

Fast, Dense, Non-volatile Storage

 

Intel® Optane™ combines next generation non-volatile memory, 3DXPoint™ (cross-point), with Intel’s advanced system memory controllers and interface hardware and software IP. Together, these building blocks deliver a game-changing technology that presents new computing possibilities for a variety of users.

  • The gap between high-performing volatile DRAM and lower performing, affordable NAND inhibits data centre transformation
  • Intel® Optane™ technology is a new, non-NAND, non-volatile storage media that fills the cost/capacity gap with a new tier
  • Intel® Optane™ DC persistent memory, Intel® Optane™ DC SSDs, and Intel® QLC 3D NAND SSDs are new data tier enablers
  • The combination of Intel® QLC 3D NAND SSDs and Intel® Optane™ technology, offer flexibility to match many workloads
  • The Intel’s 3D NAND “ruler” form factor features an efficient thermal design, high capacity, and simpler manageability
Intel Optane

DRAM is very fast, but volatile; unlike many silicon components, DRAM density isn’t doubling every two years.

 

NAND memory in today’s SSDs is dense and non-volatile. Fast compared to other technologies, but much slower than DRAM

 

OPTANE is faster than NAND, denser than DRAM, and non-volatile.

Hyperconvergence – The DMS Solution

DMS offers powerful servers in Intel, Dell or Hewlett Packard configurations. Prices vary according with requirements; the broad spec below gives a guideline.

High Throughput for breakthrough performance

Low Latency for responsiveness under load

Predictably Fast service for Quality of Service

Ultra-High Endurance for today’s data centre

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• Dual Intel® Xeon® Processors
• Intel Mother Board
• 256Gb Memory
• LSi SAS HBA 9300-16i SGL
• 10GB Mellanox ConnectX-4 Network Card
• 30Tb+ Windows Storage Space
• Redundant Power Supply
• On Site Warranty