For many businesses, converged infrastructure has helped to take the complications out of IT management, offering a bundled, all-in-one solution. But what does it cover, why was it so popular, and is it still relevant in today’s tech landscape?
This article unpacks what converged IT infrastructure is, its business benefits and challenges, and how Evernex can support your enterprise CI.
What is converged infrastructure?
Converged Infrastructure is a pre-packaged combination of IT systems. While these bundles primarily cover critical IT hardware assets, they can also include management software.
Instead of having to purchase and set up different hardware and software components, such as servers, networking and storage, from multiple vendors, companies can buy all the IT resources they need , preconfigured, from one supplier.
How does converged infrastructure work?
Converged infrastructure solutions combine compute, storage, and networking components into a pre-integrated package which users manage as one unified system. This contrasts to traditional systems, in which businesses purchased and configured each component separately. Non-converged, Do-It-Yourself approaches can lead to multiple contracts, compatibility issues between devices, and poor IT visibility.
Before sale, Converged Infrastructure (CI) providers generally test and pre-configure these hardware “packages” to ensure compatibility and performance.
Key takeaway: Combining data center infrastructure into one cohesive, complete package can simplify and streamline deployment, while non-converged strategies can add contract and operational complexity.
What are the key components of Converged Infrastructure?
The main components CI normally includes are:
- Network equipment
- Servers
- Storage devices
- Management software
These assets are vital for businesses to successfully execute IT operations across their enterprise.
What are the benefits of Converged Infrastructure solutions?
Converged infrastructure systems offer several benefits for enterprise IT environments. As they come preconfigured and with a unified management interface, CI bundles allow businesses to simplify IT management, improve scalability and performance, and reduce operational risks associated with deployment and maintenance. Here is a handy table of the top benefits of converged architectures:
| Benefits of Converged Infrastructure | Reason |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Converged infrastructure provides a validated, compatible platform that enhances system security and reduces risks. |
| Simple, unified management | CI eliminates the need for IT teams to manage and integrate multi-vendor products, streamlining use. |
| Enhanced scalability and agility | Converged architecture makes it easier and faster to scale resources through unification. In essence, businesses can simply add on pre-configured and tested modules as needed. |
| Improved efficiency | The expert preconfiguration and tested compatibility of CI solutions optimize connectivity and performance, accelerating deployment. |
| Reduced overheads | Converged infrastructure systems minimize physical floorspace in data centers and avoid the need for multiple supplier contracts. This improves IT visibility and reduces unnecessary costs. |
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What are examples of converged infrastructure models?
Many tech giants developed their own converged solutions, from Cisco to Lenovo. Some of the IT industry’s most well-known converged deployments include:
- FlexPod (Cisco + NetApp)
- HPE ConvergedSystem
- Dell EMC VxRack Flex
- Lenovo ThinkAgile HX Series
What are the challenges of converged infrastructure?
Converged infrastructure systems have become less popular in recent years. This is largely due to the emergence of newer architectures, but also because converged systems can pose certain challenges:
| Challenge of converged architectures | Reason |
|---|---|
| High upfront costs | Although they can present cost savings in the long run, purchasing a CI system can present a considerable upfront investment. This high CapEx may stretch a business’s IT budget, especially for smaller companies. |
| Vendor lock-in | Sourcing pre-configured bundles from one supplier can make it difficult to incorporate solutions, whether hardware or software, from different vendors or to switch suppliers. This dependence creates vendor lock-in, giving the supplier greater control over pricing, support terms, and future tech choices. |
| Multi-vendor scaling isues | Trying to integrate individual components from different vendors into a CI system can create compatibility and management difficulties as the system grows. This can lead to complex troubleshooting, higher support needs, and slower scaling. |
| Lack of flexibility | Converged infrastructure ties businesses to pre-configured stacks and modules. This limits customization options and hardware choices. Adapting to unique workloads or evolving requirements can become more difficult as a consequence. |
| Performance limitations | The performance of an enterprise CI deployment is limited by the capacities of the vendor’s components. This leave little room for optimization and prevent organizations from configuring the system to meet higher performance demands. |
What are the best practices to follow for my converged infrastructure system?
For a business to keep its converged infrastructure systems in top condition, it must follow certain guidelines. Here are some of the top practices you can implement when purchasing or maintaining a converged IT solution:
- Data center needs assessment: What networking, compute and storage resources does your business require to meet its operational requirements?
- Planning for future scaleability: Consider how you may need to scale up or down your IT infrastructure in line with evolving business demands, and whether the CI package can adapt to your future needs.
- Choosing the right vendor: Look for providers that offer robust SLAs, transparent pricing, integration flexibility, and proven interoperability across networking, compute and storage components.
- Planning for data migration: If you are migrating from a traditional set-up to a CI deployment, ensure that you have a comprehensive, up-to-date migration plan. This will help you efficiently and securely move your critical data and systems to the new environment.
- Staff training: Ensure that your IT team receives appropriate training on the CI platform’s management tools, workflows and automation features. Proper operation and maintenance of the converged environment will reduce downtime and improve overall system performance.
What is converged infrastructure?: Cheat sheet
- CI is a pre-packaged, often pre-configured set of data center hardware sold by a single provider.
- Converged infrastructure allows for easy deployment, modular scaling and complete IT visibility, but it can lead to vendor lock-in.
- Hyperconverged infrastructure has overtaken CI in recent years due to its greater compatibility with cloud and virtualized environments.
Converged Infrastructure vs Hyperconverged Infrastructure: What are the differences?
Hyperconverged infrastructure solutions have overtaken converged architectures in recent years.
Hyperconverged systems are the next step up from converged infrastructure, adapting to today’s more cloud-based IT models.
While converged infrastructure solutions and Hyperconverged infrastructures (HCI) have similar aims, and both bring together multiple individual components under an integrated system, there are some key differences which distinguish converged infrastructure from HCI solutions. Here is a helpful table breaking down the differences:
| Converged infrastructure | Hyperconverged infrastructure |
|---|---|
| CI primarily focuses on combining compatible, pre-configured hardware devices to create a harmonious system. | HCI covers hardware devices but is more software-forward. This strategy uses a virtualized interface to manage compute, storage and networking resources. |
| CI was extremely popular in previous years. However, it has recently faded into the background as businesses move to virtualized servers and IT environments. | Hyperconverged Infrastructures are now more popular than converged systems due to its improved scalability, enhanced effectiveness and software focus. |
| Although management is often centralized, the degree of centralization differs. Some CI platforms require separate management tools for each component, resulting in complex administration and slower scaling than HCI. | HCI’s centralized, software-defined management allows for easier automation and more seamless scalability by adding more nodes. |
How to deploy CI architectures
There are two main approaches to ensure the successful deployment of converged data center infrastructures. These are:
- Reference architectures : Pre-validated configuration guidelines to help the user execute the deployment correctly and efficiently.
- Pre-racked configurations: The compute, storage, and network components come pre-installed in a data center rack, providing a plug-and-play option.
What converged infrastructure services does Evernex offer?
Evernex is a global leader in comprehensive IT management and support. Our third-party maintenance services help businesses maximize their data centers’ potential in every stage of their hardware’s lifecycle.
Here are some of the key features that make Evernex an ideal maintenance partner for your enterprise converged infrastructure:
Comprehensive IT support and optimization
Evernex’s IT lifecycle management services cover your entire IT infrastructure from procurement and installation to retirement and disposal.
Our IT support services include, but are not limited to:
- Installation and deployment
- Network optimization
- Inspections and diagnostics
- Repairs
- IT asset disposition (ITAD)
- Disaster recovery and Back-up as a Service
Multi-vendor expertise
Our specialist engineers have extensive experience in a wide range of IT hardware makes and models, including legacy equipment. This means we are equipped to expertly maintain and optimize your converged system, whichever provider you chose and whether or not it has past its EOL or EOSL dates.
Refurbished component replacements
Evernex’s Spare-as-a-ServiceTM (SPaaSTM) provides certified, refurbished spare parts direct to your door. This service is particularly important for older CI data centers, which may contain legacy components no longer available from the manufacturer or provider.
When does manufacturer support end for your converged IT?
Find out with our multi-vendor EOSL database
Go to database
Frequently asked questions
What is converged infrastructure in IT?
CI solutions are pre-packaged and pre-configured bundles of data center hardware, including critical components such as servers, networking resources and storage devices, sold by a single vendor. They may also include a centralized management software.
What are the benefits of a converged system?
The advantages of CI include long term cost-efficiency, modular scalability, guaranteed compatibility and simplified management.
What companies use converged IT infrastructure?
Converged IT is best suited to larger enterprises which require a pre-integrated, predictable, and stable IT environment. Comparatively high upfront costs may make purchase difficult for some SMBs, although it can present costs savings in the long run.
What is the difference between converged and hyperconverged infrastructure?
Converged infrastructures are pre-packaged and pre-configured bundles of server, network and storage hardware. Hyperconverged infrastructure combines compute, storage and networking hardware components with a virtual, centralized management interface.
Is converged infrastructure still relevant in the cloud era?
Converged infrastructure has faded in popularity in recent years, replaced by software-driven HCI. This is because HCI offers easier management and scaling in the era of cloud computing.
How does CI improve IT operations?
CI offers simpler procurement, management and deployment than if a business were to choose each component independently. They also reduce contract administration complications and avoid incompatibility issues, streamlining operations.