Fujitsu simplifies next-generation hyper-converged infrastructures with PRIMEFLEX for Storage Spaces Direct

Issued by CoCre8
Munich, 02 May 2017

News facts:
* Fujitsu Integrated System PRIMEFLEX based on Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct helps organisations fast-track the deployment of business-centric IT.
* Pre-configured, pre-tested systems significantly simplify and accelerate the deployment of Microsoft hyper-converged data centre environments.
* Next-generation virtualisation platform reduces complexity and total cost of ownership of data centre infrastructures.

Fujitsu today extends its growing PRIMEFLEX integrated systems portfolio with the introduction of PRIMEFLEX for Storage Spaces Direct, targeted at helping enterprise reduce complexity and risk in deploying high-performance, Microsoft-based hyper-converged infrastructures in data centres. Based on trusted, proven Fujitsu virtual infrastructure configurations that combine servers, storage and networking, the latest PRIMEFLEX system supports changing business requirements, and helps drive down costs.

Fujitsu Integrated System PRIMEFLEX is one of the industry's most comprehensive set of pre-configured and pre-tested systems for the business centric data centre. The latest addition uses Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct technology included with Microsoft Windows Server 2016 to make use of locally attached hard drives in server systems to create highly available, highly scalable software-defined storage at a fraction of the cost of traditional SAN or NAS arrays. As a result, Fujitsu PRIMEFLEX provides an ideal foundation for the rapid implementation of a future-proof IT infrastructure, reducing deployment risk, cost of ownership, and cutting the deployment time for hyper-converged IT environments.

One of the first Fujitsu customers to benefit from PRIMEFLEX for Storage Spaces Direct is Swedish IT service provider, Make IT. Adam Lantz, Sales Director at Make IT, says: "The PRIMEFLEX solution gives us excellent performance and reduces cost in several ways - for storage, floor space, power and cooling in the data centre. The flexible PRIMEFLEX platform design means we can serve the needs of customers of all sizes, translating into investment protection for our future growth aspirations."

Olivier Delachapelle, Head of Enterprise Business, Category Management Data Centre at Fujitsu in EMEIA, says: "Data centre virtualisation has been a game-changing technology with huge boosts for the efficiency, performance, availability and flexibility of IT infrastructures. As organisations move to digital business processes, the move to hyper-converged infrastructures is the next step forward. Hyper-converged is resilient and agile, meaning that businesses can easily adapt IT resources to changing business demands. However, it does not make economic sense to try and build a hyper-converged infrastructure foundation from scratch, as it is highly complex and time-consuming, and requires specialist skills. To take the headache out of moving to hyper-converged systems, Fujitsu and Microsoft have worked together to provide a proven, integrated platform."

Speed is a key attribute of the new PRIMEFLEX system, which delivers ultra-responsive sub-millisecond response times thanks to a resource-efficient hypervisor-embedded design in combination with high-speed all-flash storage plus high-throughput, low-latency networking technology. Configurations start from just two servers and flexibly scale up to 16 machines, supporting up to 800 virtual servers or desktops, and offer extensive automation capabilities, helping save time and money on maintenance tasks. These are key reasons why Fujitsu Integrated System PRIMEFLEX for Storage Spaces Direct is ideal for businesses where IT support is limited, such as small and medium-sized businesses, and for enterprises with remote and branch offices.

Pricing and availability

Fujitsu Integrated System PRIMEFLEX for Storage Spaces Direct is available in EMEIA from May 2017 directly from Fujitsu and through Fujitsu's partners. Pricing depends on configuration and region.

Fujitsu provides PRIMEFLEX for Storage Spaces Direct as an all-in-one package including hardware, software and support. The compute and storage infrastructure leverages high-performance, energy-efficient PRIMERGY x86 servers in combination with the software-defined server and storage technology already integrated in Microsoft Windows Server 2016. Developed based on Fujitsu's extensive experience with Microsoft hyper-converged infrastructures, the new solution joins existing Fujitsu PRIMEFLEX Integrated Systems for Microsoft environments including PRIMEFLEX Cluster-in-a-box, which is based on the software-defined storage technology introduced in Windows Server 2012.

Online resources:
* Visit the PRIMEFLEX homepage: http://www.fujitsu.com/global/products/computing/integrated-systems/
* Read the Fujitsu blog: http://blog.global.fujitsu.com/index.php/microsoft-makes-hyper-convergence-happen-fujitsu-makes-it-easy
* Follow Fujitsu on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Fujitsu_Global
* Follow us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/fujitsu
* Find Fujitsu on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FujitsuICT
* Fujitsu pictures and media server: http://mediaportal.ts.fujitsu.com/pages/portal.php
* For regular news updates, bookmark the Fujitsu newsroom: http://ts.fujitsu.com/ps2/nr/index.aspx

Fujitsu

Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 156 000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. Fujitsu uses its experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with its customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US$41 billion) for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2016. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.

Fujitsu South Africa

The evolving nature of every business means changes, enhancements and upgrades to its data centre infrastructure. Businesses are finding data centre upgrades to be not only disruptive but also costly. There is a constant need to re-train and re-skill data centre staff in order to effectively manage applications whilst ensuring data availability, security and energy consumption optimisation. Not to mention maintaining compliance and service level agreements.

Fujitsu South Africa's approach to servers, mainframes, storage and integrated systems offers the flexibility to tailor data centre technologies to our customer's specific requirements. We provide the benefits of secure, robust, future-proofed technologies from a single source supported by a unique, consultative approach. This ensures you get exactly what your organisation demands bringing true business value to companies.

Web site Fujitsu South Africa: http://www.fujitsu.com/za/

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