NetApp FlexPod

Available models

NetApp FlexPod is available in several versions.

• FlexPod Datacenter for enterprise applications and virtualization in large enterprises.
• FlexPod SF to support multiple applications, clients and tenants with the storage capacity each one needs.
• FlexPod Express for small and medium-sized enterprises and branch offices.
• FlexPod Select for specialized, data-intensive workloads like big data and analytics.
• FlexPod Modular Infrastructure (FMI) for a plug-and-play pre-racked system based on baseline versions of the various models.

FlexPod systems are assembled from approved components based on one of the many design guides.

The five different versions have their own standard components, however. For example, while the Datacenter and Select versions use Cisco Nexus 9000 switches, the smaller Express version uses the Nexus 3000 series switches and Cisco UCS Mini for a smaller form factor.

FlexPod SF is unique in that it uses the SolidFire Element OS running on Cisco rack servers for storage instead of the NetApp all-flash FAS arrays.

FlexPod pros and cons

One advantage cited for NetApp FlexPod and similar converged infrastructure products is they can scale resources, such as compute and storage, independently. That is different from hyper-converged systems that require customers to scale all the resources together.

However, if an IT department uses the same design guides for its FlexPod units, it can scale out all the components like a hyper-converged infrastructure if that suits the user.

A possible disadvantage with all the NetApp FlexPod versions -- except for FlexPod SF -- is that the user is buying hardware and software from only Cisco and NetApp. That means there is no one throat to choke or support system to rely on, particularly if the IT administrator uses a DIY approach and does not buy from one of the many VARs that assemble and sell FlexPod systems. With FlexPod SF, all the hardware is Cisco hardware, including the storage component.

Competition

Dell EMC's VxBlock Systems, a competing product, is shipped as a preconfigured tool that is also based on Cisco UCS servers and network switches. Prior to February 2018, each VxBlock System had its own number designation based on whether it used Dell EMC Unity, VMAX or XtremIO storage arrays. With the introduction of VxBlock System 1000, any of those storage systems can be used.

Other converged infrastructure systems include VersaStack and FlashStack. VersaStack includes Cisco UCS servers with IBM Storwize storage. FlashStack combines Cisco UCS with Pure Storage all-flash arrays.