The PowerFlex system creates a server-based storage area network (SAN) by combining PowerFlex virtualization with Dell EMC PowerEdge servers. Local storage resources are combined to create a virtual pool of block storage with varying performance tiers. The system architecture enables you to scale from as few as four nodes to over a thousand nodes. In addition, the PowerFlex system provides enterprise-grade data protection, multitenant capabilities, and add-on enterprise features such as quality of service (QoS), thin provisioning, and snapshots.

Note: Dell EMC PowerFlex was formely known as the VxFlex family and VxFlex OS. Some of the figures in this document and some of the cross-referenced documentation might still refer to “VxFlex.”

Dell Technologies offers the PowerFlex system in the following consumption models:

• Ready Nodes—PowerFlex Ready Nodes are stand-alone servers that are preconfigured to run the PowerFlex platform with qualified hypervisors or operating systems.

Because PowerFlex Ready Nodes are not included in the SAP HANA HCI certification, they are outside the scope of this guide.

• Integrated rack—The PowerFlex integrated rack comes preinstalled with integrated top-of-rack (ToR), aggregation, and out-of-band (OOB) management switches to provide optimal network traffic flow. The PowerFlex integrated rack is designed using Cisco Nexus aggregation switches that provide 10/40 GbE IP uplink connectivity to the external network for superior performance. Often, network bottlenecks can limit the scale of an HCI system. The 10/25 GbE ToR switches in the PowerFlex integrated rack eliminate these restrictions and provide a path for future growth.

The PowerFlex integrated rack is included in the SAP HANA HCI certification for the PowerFlex HCI solution using VMware vSphere hypervisor and the PowerFlex platform.

The following figure shows the integrated network:

Figure 1.              PowerFlex integrated rack, an engineered system with integrated rack-scale network fabric

• PowerFlex appliance—The PowerFlex appliance is an HCI system for high-performing, multi-hypervisor environments that is easy to acquire, own, and scale. Because its components are validated and tested prior to shipping, the PowerFlex appliance offers a turnkey experience and gives customers “bring your own” networking flexibility.

The PowerFlex appliance offers enhanced lifecycle management and automation using PowerFlex Manager. PowerFlex Manager provides software alerts, monitoring, reporting, and lifecycle management.

The PowerFlex appliance is available with smaller starting configurations than the PowerFlex integrated rack and provides greater network flexibility. The network switch must be in the support list for PowerFlex Manager.