Comments on: SmartStack by Cisco, Nimble & VMware

By: Erik Scholten

Erik Scholten — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 07:56:00 +0000

“Optimized desktop storage density: $43 per desktop for 1,000 users in 3U of rack space” so the cost is only for the storage. The additional cost depends on the VDI solution and servers used. The article is written from a storage point of view.

By: Erik Scholten

Erik Scholten — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 07:54:00 +0000

The article says: “requiring only 3U of rack space, for $43 for storage per desktop” and “Optimized desktop storage density: $43 per desktop for 1,000 users in 3U of rack space”.

So it never states that the whole solution uses 3U of rack space, the article is written from a storage point of view.

As the additional components are concerned: I think this will be a ExpresPod-like setup with C-series rack servers and Nexus 3000 switches, so with 200 VDI users per server, five servers you can get the whole solution in 10U (5 x 1U server, 1 x 3U storage, 2 x 1U switch)

By: Tom Courtney

Tom Courtney — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 23:28:00 +0000

This is an interesting option, however you don’t talk about other costs. Such as, is the $43 just the storage component or does it include the associated hardware and software licenses?

By: Kristopher Linville

Kristopher Linville — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:13:00 +0000

Erik, I appreciate the news but the article is a little misleading in the regard that you position it as being “only 3U of rack space” which is far from accurate if you’re referencing the complete architecture of the VDI solution. That 3U is for the storage array only. The UCS B-Series Chassis is an additional 6U and then you have to also include the Fabric Interconnects and most likely a couple of Nexus 5k switches which would bring the total rack space requirement up 13U. The difference in 3U and 13U is quite a large margin for error if you ask me. That’s 7% of a rack vs. 31% of a rack.