Dell offers streamlined hybrid cloud experience based on Nutanix

Dell Technologies has informed us that it will launch a new hybrid cloud offering based on Nutanix. It plans to sell and deliver a full HCI solution with the Dell XC Plus and Dell PowerFlex, with the servers, compute and storage coming from Dell, while the Nutanix platform runs on top for the hybrid cloud experience.

Dell Technologies announced that it will expand its 14-year partnership with Nutanix to include new solutions. Earlier this year, the parties announced that they would be working more closely together. Although it’s been a long time since the two parties first joined forces, it’s no secret that Nutanix was not exactly the preferred choice in a Dell sales pitch over the past decade. At the time, Dell Technologies also owned VMware, Nutanix’s major competitor. Dell’s preference was logically to sell VMware.

With Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware and the whole soap opera that followed, the deck have been reshuffled. Dell Technologies needs a reliable hybrid cloud offering, and now Nutanix is the safest choice. That is not to say Dell is no longer a VMware partner; that relationship has recently been partially restored.

This allows Dell Technologies to continue to support existing customers to whom it has sold VMware for years. The fact is, however, that many customers want to get away from VMware and are looking for an alternative. Cisco previously partnered heavily with Nutanix. HPE, too, is again much more active in offering Nutanix, but has also presented its own virtualization alternative, which should be available later this year.

At Dell Technologies, they have also been working on their own virtualization alternative for several years, but so far that has not resulted in a product presentation. Now Dell Technologies is choosing to realize a revamped hybrid cloud offering in partnership with Nutanix.

Also read: VMware customers want to migrate away – not all of them can

Dell XC Plus appliance combines Nutanix Cloud Platform software stack with PowerEdge servers

Dell Technologies is introducing the Dell XC Plus appliance that enables it to better manage on-premises and hybrid cloud environments and streamline processes. The appliance allows the Nutanix Cloud Platform software stack to be deployed on Dell PowerEdge servers, enabling a complete hyper-converged infrastructure.

From the Nutanix Cloud Platform console, one has access to a single management environment that allows end users to manage both hardware and software. This console is set up to deploy a hypervisor of your choice, including the included Nutanix AHV hypervisor, as well as automation, database and storage optimizations. Hybrid cloud is emphasized for good reason, so connecting and managing a Nutanix cloud environment is also among the options.

Dell PowerFlex first external storage to fully integrate with Nutanix

In recent years, Dell Technologies has been busy taking its storage technology to the next level, moving away from custom-built hardware to software defined storage that can be used on all mainstream hardware. As a result, Dell can no longer offer its PowerFlex storage only on-premises, but also in cloud environments of hyperscalers.

Now comes another step, as Dell PowerFlex is the first software defined storage solution that fully integrates with Nutanix. This allows an organization to have the benefits of Dell PowerFlex storage as well as the storage optimizations offered by the Nutanix platform. Together, they can provide an even better performing storage solution within the Nutanix Cloud Platform.

According to Dell, all Nutanix storage features remain intact, from disaster recovery and enterprise data protection to networking and security.

Even more momentum for Nutanix

Nutanix has had a fine proposition in the market for many years, but is suddenly hotter than ever because of Broadcom’s actions. Nutanix’s momentum seems to get better every quarter. Especially as more and more traditional server manufacturers improve their relationship with Nutanix, having been treated poorly by Broadcom, and customers are now asking for alternatives.

Also read: Growth of Scale “explodes” due to VMware exodus