FlexPod Partner Programme: Flexible and Dynamic Converged Solution. Powered by SolutionsPath

FlexPod Partner Programme:

Flexible and Dynamic

Converged Solution

Powered by SolutionsPath™

Technology

1. Introduction

The next few years will see seismic shifts in the way IT is delivered, as companies position themselves for convergence and cloud. If your business isn’t ready to profit and grow from these changes, you risk falling behind in the market.

Midmarket enterprise customers as well as Managed Service Providers (MSP) are looking for a simpler, more flexible, automated, and dynamic infrastructure that will better align IT resources with continually changing business demands.

Embrace the change and invest in FlexPod, a pre-validated datacentre platform, employing best-of-breed components from NetApp FAS/e-series, Cisco UCS and Nexus switches. The perfect platform for future shared infrastructure solutions, FlexPod will make it simple for you to profit from tomorrow’s cloud-led datacentre opportunities.

• Customers can start small and evolve into a FlexPod solution, maximising their existing IT investments whilst adopting a more strategic path to the cloud-ready datacentre – all without sudden impacts on resources and budgets • Unlike competing offerings, FlexPod’s single architecture

at all sizes means ultimate scalability. FlexPod scales up massively to accommodate even the most dynamically changing enterprise IT environment

• Use FlexPod to challenge multiple customer pain points: slow application deployment, complex workload provisioning, silos of server, storage and networking, proliferating management tools and inefficient processes

• Maximise returns on virtualisation and enable the move to converged systems and public, private or hybrid cloud delivery with FlexPod as the underlying shared infrastructure platform

• For the most predictable engagement, FlexPod is also available as a pre-validated, pre-sized frameworked solution that includes service support to ensure accurate scoping and trouble-free delivery

• Leverage FlexPod’s industry-first features to close business: a Co-operative Support Model where all participating vendors support the solution, and secure multi-tenancy for private cloud.

Industry leaders NetApp and Cisco have a powerful global presence and have been working together on a shared virtualised datacentre vision since 2003. They are transforming the datacentre with a unified architecture and virtualisation technologies that result in highly efficient virtualisation and cloud computing solutions built on jointly validated reference architectures. Together they have helped thousands of customers to increase efficiency and agility and reduce TCO.

3 IDC forecasts the total integrated systems market will grow from

$7.3 billion in 2013 to $17.9 billion in 2018, representing a five-year 2013–2018 compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.6%. Avnet Technology Solutions EMEA therefore recognises this is an opportunity for the channel – and calls for the channel to act now to drive growth in EMEA.

The reason for this phenomenal growth is a shift in the way a growing number of customers are consuming IT. Customers are increasingly looking for systems that are simple to manage, easy to scale, provide elasticity, don’t require advanced forecasting and deliver on the promise of software defined everything.

What is FlexPod?

FlexPod is a pre-designed, prevalidated infrastructure building block built on Cisco UCS, Cisco Nexus datacentre switches and NetApp FAS/e-series storage components. Plugging straight into virtualisation projects and virtualised environments, FlexPod is hypervisor ready and optimised for deployment alongside VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V.

Cisco UCS

The Cisco Unified Computing (UCS) architecture was designed, from the ground up, for virtualised environments. It unifies compute, network, storage access, and virtualisation into a cohesive system. UCS has a radically simplified architecture: • Dramatically reduces the number of devices that must be

purchased, cabled, configured, powered, cooled, managed, and secured

• Extended memory technology allows UCS to support up to 384 Gigabytes memory and up to a 60% reduction in the cost of memory, thereby supporting more VMs per server than other competitor server manufacturers.

Cisco Nexus

Cisco Nexus datacentre switches use award-winning Unified Fabric technology to consolidate traffic onto one simplified, cost-effective architecture. Nexus switches also offer: • Excellent scalability and fast, easy “zero-touch” installation • Automatic configuration

• In-service upgrades

• Single point of policy management all greatly simplify management and increase efficiency, availability, and security

Veeam

The Veeam Availability Suite v8 integration with FlexPod enables:

• Agent-less fast Backups from Storage Snapshots, with application consistency to protect critical applications and increase RPO without impacting storage performances • High-speed recovery options to easily recover individual

items or entire VMs from NetApp Snapshot®, SnapMirror® and SnapVault®

• Fast, application-consistent recovery points by orchestrating NetApp Data ONTAP® to create snapshot-only backups • Reduced risk of data loss by automating the creation of

secondary backups to NetApp SnapVault

• Verified protection by automating the testing of backups in the background and guarantee recoverability of every file, application and VM (virtual machine)

• A cloud-ready platform that enhances data availability by providing an efficient way to get backups off-site to a service provider

APC by Schneider Electric

By integrating the best-in-class offers of FlexPod from NetApp and Cisco with the APC by Schneider Electric portfolio of Infrastructure, Power & Cooling solutions, we can deliver a truly end-to-end solution which plugs-in to your business with no fuss, no mess, no waste and with maximum speed, and efficiency.

APC Converged Infrastructure Solutions delivers fast and risk free deployment of FlexPod, guaranteeing large savings in time & cost on infrastructure design, build , deployment and relocation, while ensuring FlexPod stays ‘Always On’, with system management from afar for Remote & Branch Offices.

2. The Converged Infrastructure Market

evolution

NetApp Unified Storage

NetApp’s multiprotocol unified storage platform for all tiers of storage provides advanced efficiency capabilities that dramatically reduce capacity use along with:

• Built-in data protection and scalability features • Optimised performance with 10GbE or FCoE

• Efficiencies including built-in de-duplication, thin provisioning and rapid cloning

• Automated storage management, data protection and security features.

Proven across a broad range of environments

FlexPod has been pretested and jointly validated with popular hypervisors, operating systems, applications, and infrastructure software, including:

• VMware® View and vSphere™ • Citrix Xen Desktop

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux® (RHEL) • Oracle®

• SAP®

• Microsoft® Exchange, SQL Server®, and SharePoint® • Microsoft Private Cloud built on FlexPod

FlexPod can be optimised to support several of these workloads simultaneously. NetApp and Cisco have also jointly developed reference architectures—several of them Cisco Validated Designs, with prescriptive sizing guides—to help you integrate and flex the solution to meet your specific requirements for the following critical environments:

• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). FlexPod is an easy-to-deploy, self-contained virtual desktop solution in a rack. Its modular design facilitates rapid, repeatable deployment of thousands of virtual desktops. FlexPod integrates with, and is optimized for, VMware View and Citrix XenDesktop. A virtual desktop solution built on FlexPod provides unmatched price/ performance. You gain extreme efficiencies by deduplicating up to 90% of redundant user and OS data, and I/O performance can be accelerated by up to 50% with NetApp® cache acceleration technology (Flash Cache). The extended memory technology of Cisco® Unified Computing System™ provides the industry’s greatest number of VMs per core density.

• Development and test. FlexPod enables rapid provisioning and deprovisioning of virtual resources, making it an ideal platform for development and test environments. NetApp FlexClone® software facilitates rapid dev/test setup with cloning technology that lets you deploy thousands of space-efficient VMs for new projects in minutes, accelerating time to production and time to market. Resources can be easily cloned and redeployed, reducing preparation time for other initiatives such as DR testing. FlexPod high compute and storage

consolidation ratios and utilisation levels also enable you deploy development and test environments on a denser infrastructure that reduces space requirements and capital costs.

FlexPod Solution Family

Primarily Branch, Retail,

Edge, and SMB _{Service Provider} Enterprise / Massively scalable shared virtual

data center infrastructure Dedicated app infrastructure Specialized environments within

enterprises !Enterprise Apps

! Private & Hybrid Cloud !VDI ! Big Data and Analytics

UCS Mini

5

Avnet converting the technology stack into a compelling solution

Avnet delivers a single-source platform to help you successfully bring FlexPod to your customers faster, easier and more profitably. Avnet delivers the entire FlexPod project lifecycle – pre-sales support, consolidated quoting, single order capability, assembly and testing, ship complete and tracking.

Avnet is unique in that it is the only distributor in EMEA that has both the breadth of tier one vendors in its portfolio – Cisco, EMC, NetApp, HDS, VMware, and VCE – and the skills and means to assemble, test and pre-configure highly complex converged systems on behalf of its customers in EMEA.

Tongeren, Belgium, is part of the Avnet European distribution centre, which houses both a pan-European distribution and logistics operation, and an integration centre, primarily serving Avnet Technology Solutions EMEA customers.

This distribution centre the only one in Europe which is especially equipped for safe assembly, pre-configuration and validation of IT solutions like FlexPod solutions. The centre is 34,000 square meters in size and over one million packages are shipped every year from this location.

As a value-added distributor and strategic partner, Avnet simplifies the approach to converged infrastructure for its customers, partners and resellers and makes it easier for them to invest in this growing market.

Avnet is ready to build your FlexPod solutions, having put in place all the resources required to deliver the technology stack in its entirety. Use this capability as an interim solution whilst establishing

your in-house skills and as an add-on to your resources for Distributor engagement with Avnet allows customers, partners and resellers to address the aforementioned challenges by capitalising on Avnet’s expertise and leadership in this area:

• Pre-integration to remove complexity and reduce risk. • A “live project” approach for more reliable testing, and

continuous monitoring and maintenance.

• A “single source” approach which provides one point of contact to reduce complexity.

• A “transformative” approach to infrastructure which aims to break down the silos within a business to increase collaboration on IT projects/deployments.

• The standardised approach to converged infrastructure to significantly reduce risk, take the ‘guesswork’ out of architecting new environments and delivering IT services. • Highest standard and accreditation – converged infrastructure

is assembled by certified engineers which closes the gap on the lack of training and accreditation needed to configure, validate and create such complicated IT systems.

• Insight into the broader converged infrastructure ecosystem across EMEA – through SolutionsPath™, Avnet can provide a solid overview of the converged infrastructure opportunities and solutions to educate the channel and drive growth.

Enjoy:

• Lower Expenses via: faster time to market, variable cost workforces and high value consulting and integration • Improved Process: Consulting vs. rack and stack; repeatable,

high quality assembly and test; unique, customisable serial numbers and detailed white-glove services

• Fewer Profit Leaks from: accurate solution and technical design, no missed components and the only end-to-end test vehicle in the market.

3. How can Avnet help?

• Business and disaster recovery. FlexPod can be configured with integrated data protection software to provide fast recovery from system, site, and regional outages for business continuity. The combination of NetApp MetroCluster™ and SnapMirror® with Cisco UCS™ Manager and WAAS offers automated monitoring and failover, as well as cost-effective replication to a secondary site for continuous protection against unplanned downtime. Our solution also lets you move virtual server and storage resources and data nondisruptively across hardware to eliminate planned downtime.

• Secure multi-tenancy and secure separation. FlexPod leverages the Cisco SAFE architecture and NetApp

MultiStore® technology to deliver the industry’s only secure multi-tenancy architecture1. Secure multi-tenancy enables each tenant – application, business unit, or customer – to be securely isolated within the FlexPod environment. Secure multi-tenancy provides the data separation and service-level guarantees offered by application silos, while delivering the efficiencies of a converged, virtualized infrastructure. FlexPod also securely separates nonvirtualized workloads across the data center. 2SMT has undergone and passed several security compliance tests PCI Compliance validation, FISMA certification and ICSA Audit.

Developed by Avnet, in partnership with its suppliers, SolutionsPath™ is a proven methodology that includes business intelligence tools, education and lead-generation resources designed to help resellers and customers grow their business through specialisation.

Engagement is simple with the FlexPod Partner Programme

You can connect with this world-leading solution by joining our FlexPod Partner Programme. The most proactive partners will enjoy returns from the sale of the FlexPod itself and from the surrounding services.

The FlexPod Partner Programme is open to Business Partners at every level of service capability, with partners able to complement their in-house skills and resources with Avnet’s, ensuring expert deal support from Avnet and NetApp and maximising your margin opportunity from outset.

Only participating partners will benefit from these exclusive programme deliverables: • Unique FlexPod frameworks that simplify deployment and maximise project returns • Training paths developed specifically for FlexPod

• Finance options to eliminate any cost-based customer pushback • Service support to complement your in-house skills and resource

• Scope to create bespoke incentives for your team.The same applies for this converged infrastructure market – a real opportunity for the channel.

Image of SolutionsPath™ Programme content – example below

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1. Dedicated partner end-user events to identify end-user accounts to attend 2. Targeted end-user demand generation

to identify new opportunities

1 Maximising solution and wallet share through existing customers

2. Highly profiled new customer opportunities

5. SolutionsPath University

1 day University on Customer

workshops & scenarios FlexPod Converged expert sales force

4. SolutionsPath

Portal & Market Insight

• 1 portal to access playbooks that contain all sales tools

• Subscription to Datacentre Market Insight on the latest research hot topics to keep you up-do-date

Easy to use sales guides for identifying, qualifying and engaging customers through a solutions focused sales process

3. SolutionsPath Certify

NetApp Storage partner status

Cisco UCS certified

Fully certified partner on FlexPod Converged Solutions

Veeam

2. SolutionsPath Briefing online

Partner Briefing:

A half day agenda to educate Channel Sales and Marketing on the opportunity in the Converged Market

Awareness of market opportunity and programme content

1. SolutionsPath Analyse

Look at current customer buying profile from Avnet

Identify prospect customers from profile identified from local IT database

Knowledge of existing customer profile Agreed profile of partner target market to identify new prospects

7 Avnet anticipated the rise in adoption of Converged Infrastructure and aligned our business to help partners and their end-users realise the productivity and efficiency gains of Converged Infrastructure deployments. Avnet continue to be at the forefront with NetApp and Cisco

• Avnet EMEA have a year long standing relationship with NetApp

• Avnet are the only distributor with integration and assembly distribution centre for FlexPod in EMEA, based in Belgium.

• Highest standard certification engineers to configure and validate converged Infrastructure solutions

• Insight to the broad converged infrastructure eco-system

• A proven channel enablement methodology called SolutionsPath™ to help partners accelerate growth in key markets

Benefits of the FlexPod Partner Programme

• Avnet’s FlexPod Partner Programme offers a fast-track to FlexPod revenues, both for partners who are new to this technology and those who have already ventured into this market

• Avnet’s FlexPod frameworks and Partner Programme make this a simple, profitable

engagement - reducing the sales cycle by as much as 50% over non converged infrastructure solutions

• Reduced cost of sale – faster time to market, uses variable cost workforces and high-value consulting and integration

• A better process – no more rack and stack, repeatable high quality assembly and test • Fewer profit leaks – via accurate scoping, no missed components and end-to-end testing • Save time with single: source, quote, order and invoice – then ship complete

• Ensured accuracy as every FlexPod deployed has been designed, sized and built by Avnet’s accredited specialists

• Avnet services minimise the risk of failure and missed components and accelerate delivery • Avnet can help to extend the solution by leveraging FlexPod’s reach within the IT environment

to find further hardware and service opportunities

• Strong finance packages, including new lease options, from Avnet and NetApp remove any cost based customer objections and will enable customers to buy at outset the solution they want to grow into.

5. Avnet and NetApp, Cisco & Veeam

investing in partners

As a global IT solutions distributor, Avnet Technology Solutions transforms technology into business solutions for customers around the world. It collaborates with customers and suppliers to create and deliver services, software and hardware solutions that address the changing needs of end-user customers. The group serves customers and suppliers in North America, Latin America and Caribbean, Asia Pacific, and Europe, Middle East and Africa. It generated US $11.0 billion in

Avnet Europe Comm VA Kouterveldstraat 20 B-1831 Diegem www.avnet.com/ts/emea