THE FUTURE OF DATA CENTER CONSOLIDATION: SUPERCONVERGENCE 1SHAIKH ABDUL AZEEM, 2SATYENDRA KUMAR SHARMA 1 2 Research Scholar, Dean, Faculty of Engineering 1,2,Department of Computer Science, Pacific Academy of Higher Education & Research University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India E-mail: [email protected], 2 [email protected] Abstract - Convergence in industries is creating tremendous new opportunities and new modes for technology innovation. Convergence providing greater risk management, greater control mechanisms, greater consistency and predictability and greater cost reduction. Convergence with the view of network convergence is leading current IT infrastructure to new levels of efficiency through greater integration and centralization. Convergence is the name where advancements in compute, storage, and network are converging to enable new capabilities, reduction in cost, and introduction of new scale of computing which are previously unimaginable. Performance, resiliency, and scalability are the demands of modern cloud computing environment. The next generation of converged infrastructure, the superconvergence, is poised to provide exactly that. Companies are enabling a giant leap in cloud performance through converged storage, networking, and server systems. This paper provides details regarding the next generation of IT Infrastructure development, the superconvergence. Keywords - siloed, CI, HCI, SCI, Data Centre, Unified Platform, NVMeoF I. INTRODUCTION As the convergence is getting developed, super convergence solutions are coming into the market This is the era of convergence. Once converge system because of this naturally the silos of earlier IT implemented properly, then it can virtualize more Infrastructure implementations management are applications and desktops by just carrying a bit of getting disappear, and the possibility of a true single more resource power. Virtual platform sits at the pane of glass management tool moves closer to center or we may say at the heart of the cloud. reality. There is no magic to the development of IT Mobility is providing more value to that convergence technologies. Every existing solution builds on what mechanism, providing access from anywhere and has come before. The move toward convergence in makes self as convergence of void, network, cloud computing takes advantage of advances in data compute, and software. Cloud and mobile computing processing, virtualization, software, electronics, and are revolutionizing the whole internet & computing best practices. Convergence is the culmination of a world, they are driving new innovation and also whole host of technical growth across the industry enabling new business models. If properly [2]. When we combine two or more functionalities in implemented converged infrastructure environments a single unit, we have convergence. Previously IT are capable to provide more resources to virtual Infrastructure is divided into many components, workloads, which will improve user density, management of these components is very problematic performance, and the overall user experience. job. For every equipment we have to provide proper Immediate change is not possible, traditional server cooling, cabling, floor space and power etc, and have environments which we were using from long time spent for every component separate. So to overcome will be there but future cloud and datacenter this problem researched and equipment platforms will be built on latest generation/version of manufacturers found that they could consolidate converged system infrastructure. Network various functions within the same multiservice box. convergence because of reducing IT costs, improving Cloud Computing providers are bringing more and data-center performance and because of providing more functions together in smaller packages. New integrated solutions are under big demand by the technologies such as software-defined networking industries [1]. A single platform that is capable of (SDN and network functions virtualization (NFV) integrating compute, storage, and networking can make it possible to add once-cumbersome greatly reduce the processing workload in comparison technologies to their portfolio of IaaS and SaaS to a multi-device environment. As we know hyper- offerings. As virtualization is getting developed and converged infrastructure is the tight integration of works hand-in-hand with cloud computing, the components can result in greater elasticity, data convergence of technologies becomes possible to the protection, availability, data efficiency, and cost nth degree [3]. control. As convergence solutions spread throughout the industry, new possibilities become evident. The II. WHY TO CONSOLIDATE DATA CENTER? potential of superconvergence over hyperconvergence is that it mixes network virtualization and Consolidation of data center is a hot topic. management capability and extends the capabilities. Consolidation is mainly effective when the business Proceedings of IEEEFORUM International Conference, 23rd July, 2017, Mumbai, India 52 The Future of Data Center Consolidation: Superconvergence is distributed in multiple locations and it is growing take a close look we observe that as technology is rapidly. But small organizations, which are not spread improving digital devices are shrinking in size while across locations, may not opt for consolidation. So, its functionality is expanding and increasing. the decision and benefits of consolidation may vary Previously digital devices are created for specific from point to point. The main purpose of functions, their functionality is decided during the consolidation is to make data centers more efficient design stage, then a proper software by the company and cost effective. Apart from this, the other benefits installed inside the device, which act as inbuilt include: easy to maintain compliance, strong security software and because of particular device will act as implementation and increased energy efficiency. server, workstation, routers, switches, firewalls, Cloud infrastructure is playing a very important role storage units, load balancers etc. Every device has for these consolidation activities, which leads to special characteristics for example server will superconvergence. Overall, there are multiple factors perform the job of server only not router or load which motivate organizations to opt for data center balancer. But now the advent of new technologies consolidation [4]. Business enterprises face through a view of convergence it is possible to have increasingly complex challenges every day. Every all these functions on a single platform. A silo or enterprise wants to securely store and process data as isolation in IT Infrastructure is usually related to economically as possible. However, big data makes segregation of data, but we can also see it in terms of this task difficult. Servers are under tremendous loads functionality. We generally think of computers, such which may cause performance issues and impact as workstations or servers with their individual business continuity. There is, therefore, a strong case operating systems and software packages, as a for consolidating data centers. Chief information distinct type of IT component. Network devices, like officers (CIOs) of the company tend to weigh the switches, routers, firewalls and load balancers, have pros and cons of having their own data centers. With traditionally been understood as different from the advent of convergence in the cloud, CIO’s got workstations or servers. With the development of great relief. Organizations always want to increase high-functioning storage networks, that too has been data center capabilities without loosening the present viewed as a different type of component. way of work and environment. Data centers Virtualization and management can be considered consolidation becomes important because of number two more silos. Different generations in the of factors. Businesses face more complex challenges development of IT infrastructure are in protecting their data while their servers have to 1) 1st generation : Siloed Infrastructure manage an ever-increasing load of complex and 2) 2nd generation : Converged Infrastructure (CI) varied data. Clearly, the challenges are new and more 3) 3rd generation : Hyperconverged Infrastructure difficult. The main reasons for consolidating data (HCI) centers are given below: [5] 4) 4th generation : Superconverged Infrastructure 1) Server Load Management (SCI) 2) Increased Control of Systems by the IT Department Each generation is more converged compare to 3) Easier Security Management previous one. In the 1st generation, IT infrastructure 4) Easier Disaster Recovery is siloed into four separate functional units: compute, 5) Compliance storage, networking and virtualization. In the 2nd generation through Converged Infrastructure (CI), it Convergence, hyperconvergence and became possible to manage these silos through a superconvergence difference between these three is a single software application, but physical devices matter of degree. Convergence is nothing but a siloed remained distinct. In the 3rd generation, architecture where compute, storage and network Hyperconverged Infrastructures (HCI) combined capabilities remained separate. In a converged functions in a single device – usually compute and system, parts of these three components were tied storage, but rarely including networking. The 4th together by the use of management software. generation the era of Superconverged Infrastructure