Pure Storage Adds SQL, VDI, Expanded Support To All-Flash Converged Infrastructure

All-flash storage array provider Pure Storage on Monday expanded its FlashStack converged infrastructure offering with new reference architectures for specific software applications.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based vendor also changed its P3 partner program in conjunction with technology partner Cisco to allow solution providers the opportunity to take on more services responsibility for the FlashStack offering.

The new FlashStack converged infrastructure solutions come on the heels of the introduction early this month of the FlashArray//m, Pure Storage's first solution featuring a hardware platform designed by the vendor specifically for use as a flash storage array as opposed to the industry-standard servers it used previously.

[Related: Pure Storage Unveils First Custom-Built Hardware For Its All-Flash Arrays]

FlashStack converged infrastructure reference architectures, which typically include Cisco UCS servers and networking along with VMware software, are now also available with Microsoft SQL and Citrix XenDesktop virtual desktop applications, said Michael Sotnick, Pure Storage's vice president of global channels and alliances.

"We're continuing to see increased momentum around converged infrastructure solutions," Sotnick told CRN. "We'll continue to invest in reference architectures across multiple workloads."

Sotnick said the new Pure Storage FlashStack CI for Microsoft SQL Server 2014 is aimed at simplifying the deployment of repeatable SQL infrastructures that take advantage of high-speed flash storage to provide quick reports on data.

The new Pure Storage FlashStack CI for Citrix XenDesktop 7.6 provides configurations that scale up to 7,500 production-ready virtual desktops in a single rack, he said.

Converged infrastructure is increasingly a "must-have" offering to the customer base of Integrated Archive Systems, said John Woodall, vice president of engineering of the Palo Alto, Calif.-based solution provider and Pure Storage channel partner.

With the expansion of Pure Storage's converged infrastructure offerings, the company is proving it can provide the kind of solutions required of storage vendors, Woodall told CRN.

"Pure Storage needs to have the reference architectures and the 'cook books' that go with them to compete," he said. "It's what EMC and all the major vendors do."

Pure Storage also is targeting its top tier of solution provider partners with a new program that lets them take first calls on level-1 and level-2 support issues on converged infrastructure solutions, Sotnick said.

The program is aimed at channel partners who already are authorized by technology partner Cisco to provide level-1 and level-2 support on UCS servers and networking solutions.

"These partners have already invested in level-1 and level-2 support from Cisco," he said. "We are extending that by investing in resources to help them become FlashStack authorized support partners so they can provide the same support to all components in the FlashStack reference architecture."

Solution providers who have not invested in level-1 and level-2 support capabilities can still resell FlashStack, with customers in this case getting support from Pure Storage, Cisco or a third-party provider, Sotnick said.

"Those partners can still provide all other services, including sales, design, configuration and deployment," he said.

PUBLISHED JUNE 22, 2015