Data Centre Networking

Data centre networks are under pressure from raw server port, switch and fibre optic cable density, and the rapidly changing patterns of storage and data network traffic due to virtualisation and the adoption of cloud services.

This pressure produces risks to current service delivery, delays to new project implementations and increasing capital and operational expenditure. The co-existence and now convergence of traditional fibre channel and Ethernet services onto shared switches, directors and Ethernet ports offers the chance to reduce port count and improve fibre optic infrastructure utilisation, reducing capital costs.

Selecting the right core products and management tools can greatly improve flexibility and reduce operating costs. Cisco and Brocade have dominated this market and have brought their legacy of products forward but at costs that are still high. Lower cost, fresh solutions from providers such as Xsigo offer convergence and management flexibility at substantially lower costs.

We have worked with partners to develop services that audit, test and review data centre and storage networks to support change planning. For example, planning convergence should be underpinned by a firm baseline assessment of current infrastructure; specialists such as Data-Shield offer comprehensive review services. Mapping a way to control costs and deliver flexible data centre networks can put customers at a real advantage in planning ongoing infrastructure investment.

We support customers in sourcing storage network products and services, helping ensure full lifecycle cost visibility and designing in flexibility without hidden scale or change costs.

We work within customers to develop Data Centre transformation strategy and plans

How UnityBridge can help