PowerStore validation with Microsoft Azure Arc-enabled data services updated to 1.25.0
Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:04:34 -0000
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Microsoft Azure Arc-enabled data services allow you to run Azure data services on-premises, at the edge, or in the cloud. Arc-enabled data services align with Dell Technologies’ vision, by allowing you to run traditional SQL Server workloads on Kubernetes, on your infrastructure of choice. For details about a solution offering that combines PowerStore and Microsoft Azure Arc-enabled data services, see the white paper Dell PowerStore with Azure Arc-enabled Data Services.
Dell Technologies works closely with partners such as Microsoft to ensure the best possible customer experience. We are happy to announce that Dell PowerStore has been revalidated with the latest version of Azure Arc-enabled data services, 1.25.0.
Deploy with confidence
One of the deployment requirements for Azure Arc-enabled data services is that you must deploy on one of the validated solutions. At Dell Technologies, we understand that customers want to deploy solutions that have been fully vetted and tested. Key partners such as Microsoft understand this too, which is why they have created a validation program to ensure that the complete solution will work as intended.
By working through this process with Microsoft, Dell Technologies can confidently say that we have deployed and tested a full end-to-end solution and validated that it passes all tests.
The validation process
Microsoft haspublished tests for their continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline that partners and customers to run. For Microsoft to support an Arc-enabled data services solution, it must pass these tests. At a high level, these tests perform the following:
- Connect to an Azure subscription provided by Microsoft.
- Deploy the components for Arc-enabled data services, including SQL Managed Instance, using both direct and indirect connect modes.
- Validate Kubernetes (K8s), hosts, storage, container storage interface (CSI), and networking.
- Run Sonobuoy tests ranging from simple smoke tests to complex high-availability scenarios and chaos tests.
- Upload results to Microsoft for analysis.
When Microsoft accepts the results, they add the new or updated solution to their list of validated solutions. At that point, the solution is officially supported. This process is repeated as needed as new component versions are introduced. Complete details about the validation testing and links to the GitHub repositories are available here.
More to come
Stay tuned for more additions and updates from Dell Technologies to the list of validated solutions for Azure Arc-enabled data services. Dell Technologies is leading the way on hybrid solutions, proven by our work with partners such as Microsoft on these validation efforts. Reach out to your Dell Technologies representative for more information about these solutions and validations.
Author: Doug Bernhardt
Sr. Principal Engineering Technologist