Lenovo Introduces New Networking Solutions And Software

Today Lenovo announced new network offerings targeting the traditional IT data center, as well as private and public cloud environments, two new Lenovo RackSwitchs and Lenovo Flex System SI4091. Lenovo also announced new automated systems management solutions, Lenovo XClarity and Lenovo XClarity Pro.

Today Lenovo announced new network offerings targeting the traditional IT data center, as well as private and public cloud environments, two new Lenovo RackSwitchs and Lenovo Flex System SI4091. Lenovo also announced new automated systems management solutions, Lenovo XClarity and Lenovo XClarity Pro.

Lenovo RackSwitch

Lenovo has two new RackSwitch products, the RackSwitch G8296 and the RackSwitch G8272. Both products are top-of-the-rack network switches that are optimized to support Lenovo server and storage solutions. The switches are cloud ready, have low latency performance for 10Gb and 40Gb Ethernet connectivity, and support OpenFlow and Virtual Extensible LAN communication protocols.

RackSwitch G8296 specifications:

• Performance:
  • 100% line rate performance
  • Sub 600 nanoseconds latency
  • 2.56 Tbps non-blocking switching throughput (full duplex) 1.44 Bpps
• Interface options:
  • 86 × 1/10 GbE SFP/SFP+ ports
  • 10 × 40 GbE QSFP+ ports
  • Up to 94 × 10 GbE SFP+ connections with optional breakout cables
• VXLAN, VMready, Virtual Fabric (UFP) support
• OpenFlow
• Hot-swappable redundant power supplies
• Dimensions:
  • Form Factor: 2U
  • WxD: 17.4 x 22.5 in
  • Weight: 20 lb
• Power:
  • 50 – 60 Hz
  • 100 – 240 V ac auto-switching
  • Typical power consumption: 210W

RackSwitch G8272 specifications:

• Performance:
  • 100% line rate performance
  • Sub 600 nanoseconds latency
  • 1.44 Tbps non-blocking switching throughput (full duplex) 1 Bpps
• Interface options:
  • 48 × 1/10 GbE SFP/SFP+ ports
  • 6 × 40 GbE QSFP+ ports
  • Up to 72 × 10 GbE SFP+ connections with optional breakout cables
• VXLAN, VMready, Virtual Fabric (UFP) support
• OpenFlow
• Hot-swappable redundant power supplies
• Dimensions:
  • Form Factor: 1U
  • WxD: 17.32 x 19.19 in
  • Weight: 20 lb
• Power:
  • 50 – 60 Hz
  • 100 – 240 V ac auto-switching
  • Typical power consumption: 123W

Lenovo Flex System SI4091

The Lenovo Flex System SI4091 is lower cost interconnect module that supports 10Gb Ethernet or FCoE. The module comes preconfigured reducing the number of required management points. The SI4091 also consumes up to 30% less power than competitive offerings. These features give it a lower total cost of ownership.

Lenovo XClarity

XClarity centralizes and streamlines hardware resource management, speeds cloud as well as tradition infrastructure deployment, and enables visibility and control of physical resources from external, higher level management software tools. The XClarity solution comes in two editions: XClarity Administrator and XClarity Pro.

XClarity Administrator gives IT professionals easy configuration that only takes minutes and has a tablet-friendly user interface allowing users to quickly find information and execute tasks. Automated core infrastructure tasks like firmware updates, configuration management, and operating system deployments simplify and expedite deployments (both cloud and traditional) freeing up IT resources. Developers can easily integrate the solution with external cloud orchestration or IT service management software tools using open REST APIs.

XClarity Pro takes the benefits of XClarity Administrator and adds in Lenovo XClarity Integrator for VMware vCenter and Lenovo XClarity Integrator for Microsoft System Center. The Pro version of the solution is aimed at customers that want to further centralize their server management activities within the virtualization management environment. The solution streamlines server maintenance in cluster environments to reduce workload downtime, by moving workloads from affected hosts through automated, non-disruptive rolling reboots and firmware updates. Unplanned downtime is reduced by evacuating workloads from affected hosts during predicted hardware failures.

Other features include:

• Intuitive, Graphical User Interface
• Auto-Discovery & Inventory
• Firmware Updates & Compliance
• Configuration Patterns
• Bare Metal Deployment
• Security Management
• Upward Integration
• REST APIs & Windows PowerShell
• SNMP, SYSLOG, & Email Forwarding

Availability and pricing

Lenovo RackSwitch G8296 is expected to be available in August 2015 with a list price of $29,999. Lenovo RackSwitch G8272 and Lenovo Flex System SI4091 will be available at the end of April 2015 with a list price of $19,999 and $7,999 respectively. Lenovo XClarity Administrator and Lenovo XClarity Pro are expected to be available in the second quarter of 2015 with a list price of $200 per managed server and $350 per managed server respectively.

Lenovo XClarity

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