The benefits of hyper converged infrastructure and how power management can support HCI environments

Hyperconverged infrastructure is a technological advancement for data center architecture. Like its similarly named precursor, converged infrastructure (CI) and HCI both aim to decrease the cost of deployment and operations while simplifying data center management. The two systems differ in a few significant ways, though.

HCI is software-defined. Mostly run on off-the-shelf x86 servers, HCI uses smaller building blocks of virtualized computing, storage and networking to create a robust environment, meaning they are more maneuverable and cost-efficient to build out.

• Scalability: Add capacity when you need it. Add performance where you need it. Scale-out old resources when you don’t need them. HCI makes it easier and more cost-effective than buying huge blocks of infrastructure every few years.
• Compatibility: You don’t have to waste a precious minute researching vendors and platforms to make sure your hardware gets along. HCI brings together key IT system components into one box, or system, that’s managed through a software layer.
• Efficiency: HCI is like building with Lego blocks. Which means you can build a virtual server compute environment yourself — ideal for companies without giant mega-data centers. HCI helps reduce storage space and bandwidth.
• Adaptability: With HCI, you get exactly what you need in one box – no matter your specific needs. So, you can go from zero to having a powerful, feature-rich, virtual server environment in a day.
• Mobility: People are totally mobile these days. Shouldn’t their data and apps be? HCI also creates greater mobility in workloads and applications by centralizing management instead of centralizing hardware.

The advantages of HCI technology are impressive, but HCI doesn’t come without risks. Power disruptions are even more detrimental in condensed and virtualized IT environments. Every server needs more power and flexibility which instantly shifts the power demands on existing infrastructure, and the reality is that these infrastructures are often improperly provisioned and therefore lack an adequate power management strategy.

Eaton’s industry-leading power protection products are the ideal way to safeguard HCI systems because the total backup power solutions are built for and aimed at companies adapting to the latest technologies.

Eaton’s strategic partnerships with the leading HCI providers are part of those safeguarding solutions and can further enhance and simplify data center management. These strategic partnerships ensure vendors have verified that Eaton’s UPSs, PDUs and Brightlayer Data Centers suite are compatible with their infrastructure, which saves time and money and reduces risk from deployment through the lifespan of equipment. With ever-growing responsibilities and ever-present IT fire drills, Eaton has focused on designing solutions that enable IT professionals and data center managers to manage power remotely. Eaton's Intelligent Power Manager (IPM), in particular, is easy to use and its comprehensive automation approach keeps systems online, intelligently resolves issues, and enables companies to get the most out of their power devices.