Azure Arc-enabled data services meets VxRail
Tue, 29 Jun 2021 14:00:38 -0000
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On June 29th, 2021, Microsoft and Dell Technologies announced the launch of Azure Arc-enabled data services as part of the Azure Hybrid and Multicloud Digital Event. This launch benefits several Dell Technologies product lines, including Dell EMC VxRail, Powerflex, PowerMax, and PowerStore. While my colleague, Robert Sonders, discusses the technical details of Azure Arc-enabled data services in his blog, I want to highlight the value that VxRail delivers for customers when running Azure Arc-enabled data services on VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG).
The figure above shows the stack transition from VxRail up through TKG, and Azure Arc-enabled data services. These lines don’t separate into hard lines between products as when you add SQL Server to a bare metal server. VxRail, specifically VMware vSphere, has to integrate at some point to TKG. This is defined in what is now called the “Holistic” model used to communicate between data formats or models. For more information, see Why Canonicalization Should Be a Core Component of Your SQL Server Modernization (Part 2). The vSphere software has key factors in running TKG, as does TKG to run the control plane with vSphere. TKG and Kubernetes (K8s) has a similar requirement when it comes to controlling Azure Arc in Kubernetes.
Azure Arc-enabled data services is an application data services layer available to developers that now provides either a SQL Managed Instance or a PostgreSQL Hyperscale Instance. With Azure Arc-enabled data services, these instances receive updates on a frequent basis, including servicing patches and new features -- similar to the experience in Azure. In addition, updates from the Microsoft Container Registry are provided to you, and you set deployment cadences in line with your own policies. Again, Rob's blog goes into much more detail about Azure Arc-enabled data services.
VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) addresses challenges in the enterprise Kubernetes runtimes, allowing Kubernetes-orchestrated containers across multiple cloud infrastructures. TKG is also tested, signed, and supported by VMware. This includes signed and supported open-source applications: shared Kubernetes services that a production Kubernetes environment requires.
As of v1.3.0, TKG supports Photon OS and now Ubuntu 20.04. Adding Ubuntu 20.04 to TKG’s list of supported operating systems allows for the “bring your own node image” experience by providing different OS options when deploying consistent Kubernetes environments and containers.
VxRail provides the only fully integrated, pre-configured, and pre-tested VMware hyperconverged integrated system optimized for VMware solutions. VxRail transforms HCI networking and simplifies VMware cloud adoption while meeting any HCI use cases, including support for many of the most demanding workloads and applications. Powered by Dell EMC PowerEdge server platforms and VxRail HCI System software, VxRail features next-generation technology to future-proof your infrastructure and enable deep integration across the VMware ecosystem. The advanced VMware hybrid cloud integration and automation simplifies the deployment of a secure VxRail cloud infrastructure.
VxRail helps make this layer of the stack more efficient by simplifying management and operations. Although there is no direct VxRail integration with TKG or with Azure Arc-enabled data services applications, infrastructure admins can expand dynamically and add lifecycle infrastructure to meet the resource needs of next-generation applications developed with Azure Arc that run on TKG. With VxRail, we deliver automated Lifecycle Management (LCM), automated cluster right sizing with cluster expansions, and, as clusters may shrink to quickly deliver the right infrastructure resources for next-generation apps when needed, bringing agility to on-prem infrastructure as well as to cloud native app architectures.
Conclusion
Dell EMC VxRail provides the secure, scalable, and proven platform to build Azure Arc-enabled data services on TKG. VxRail allows enterprises to effectively execute across edge, private, public, hybrid, and multi-clouds while now adding Azure Arc-enabled data services. VxRail is the solid foundation for running TKG, which provides a consistent, upstream-compatible implementation of Kubernetes, all while delivering the Azure Arc-enabled data services as a solution.
Dell Technologies focuses on innovation and enhancing solutions, and providing validated solutions like Azure Arc-enabled data services. This solution helps your organization focus on what matters to you.
Additional Resources
VxRail white papers: https://infohub.delltechnologies.com/t/white-papers-40/
Robert Sonders’ InFocus blogs: https://infocus.delltechnologies.com/author/robert_sonders/
Azure Arc validation program: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-arc/kubernetes/validation-program
TKG 1.3.1 docs: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Tanzu-Kubernetes-Grid/1.3.1/rn/VMware-Tanzu-Kubernetes-Grid-131-Release-Notes.html#k8s-versions
Blog: Fuel Azure hybrid cloud with a validated infrastructure: https://www.delltechnologies.com/en-us/blog/fuel-azure-hybrid-cloud-with-a-validated-infrastructure/
Blog: Let’s get technical, and fuel your Azure hybrid cloud with Azure Arc: https://infocus.delltechnologies.com/robert_sonders/lets-get-technical-and-fuel-your-azure-hybrid-cloud-with-azure-arc/