IBM SoftwareCloud Computing

Data Sheet

IBM SmartCloudProvisioningBuild a low-cost, highly scalable private cloud on abreakthrough IBM platform

Highlights● Improve time to value with a reliable,

non-stop cloud capable of automatically

tolerating and recovering from software

and hardware failures

● Reduce IT costs and complexity by

enabling self-service requests and

automating operations

● Create rapid scalability to meet business

growth with near-instant deployment of

hundreds of virtual machines

Today’s organizations face an unparalleled rate of change. According to anIBM study, 80 percent of CEOs anticipate turbulent change in their com-panies and are planning bold moves in response.1 Many organizations areturning to cloud computing—an approach that promises to improve ITservice delivery and increase utilization of resources while reducing operating expenses.

But while many companies need the flexibility, security and control that aprivate cloud offers, they don’t want the complexity and risk of anadvanced cloud implementation. For those seeking an easier and moreaffordable entry into cloud computing, IBM offers a low-cost, highly scal-able option through IBM® SmartCloud Provisioning.

SmartCloud Provisioning provides businesses with a true infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) cloud, reducing costs and providing a highly scalable,rapid deployment environment for running applications and reacting todynamic changes in user resource demands. It works behind the scenes toprevent service outages by automatically working around hardware fail-ures and supporting in-place adding, removing and upgrading of physicalservers—all without configuration changes. SmartCloud Provisioning also provides an easy first step toward cloud computing, providing a hardware- and hypervisor-agnostic approach and integrating with other IBM products to provide a comprehensive service managementinfrastructure.

SmartCloud Provisioning is a breakthrough entry-level platform thatallows companies to get cloud-enabled within a few hours. It allows stan-dardization of IT processes for new levels of operational efficiency, and itserves as a foundation for adding advanced cloud capabilities, includingcloud orchestration, as needs change in the future.

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IBM Software Data SheetCloud Computing

Rapid and reliable access to the cloudWith SmartCloud Provisioning, IT organizations can rapidlyimplement the specific type of cloud environment they need,whether small, medium or large. It provides rapid deploymentof virtual systems as well as network and storage virtualizationwith preconfigured images that help organizations get the cloudup and running quickly.

Companies can then start taking immediate advantage of theincreased flexibility and performance that cloud computingoffers. Accelerating the delivery of computing resources in turn speeds the delivery of innovative products and services,enabling companies to respond faster to market challenges andopportunities.

This low-touch private cloud environment offers near-zerodowntime with automated capabilities that can recover fromstorage or compute node failures while the cloud continues torun. Patches and upgrades can be applied to the cloud withouttaking it down. New tasks such as power/restarts and configura-tion settings can be performed within minutes through an intu-itive interface. And highly fault-tolerant parallel deployment ofvirtual machines allows organizations to improve performanceagainst the most stringent service level agreements.

Capabilities that cover the cloudSmartCloud Provisioning is a true IaaS cloud providing ahighly scalable, rapid deployment environment with near zero downtime and automated recovery across heterogeneousplatforms. The solution offers an easy-to-use, self-service userinterface so end users can get fast and reliable access to the systems they need, ultimately boosting productivity.

Rapid scaling to meet demandAt any point, the cloud can be rapidly scaled up or down asneeded, helping organizations meet changing IT requirementswithout disrupting operations. Administrators can reduce their

provisioning overhead by minimizing the copying of image data through the use of copy-on-write technology which handles changes on each provisioned virtual machine.

Low touch infrastructureStandardized and automated configuration, provisioning and monitoring help administrators save valuable time whilereducing errors and improving security and compliance. Thesolution can automatically tolerate and recover from softwareand hardware failures, and redundant nodes have a highly avail-able and robust infrastructure. Management agents connectedin a peer-to-peer network are coordinated by a dynamicallyelected leader agent.

API API API

Cloudmanagement

fabric

Virtual Storage Area Network

Within an Infrastructure-as-a-Service architecture, IBM SmartCloud

Provisioning provides a highly scalable, fault-tolerant, parallel deployment of

virtual machines to help improve performance against the most stringent

service level agreements.

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IBM Software Data SheetCloud Computing

Reducing the cost and complexity ofcloud computingSmartCloud Provisioning is a breakthrough platform that provides a simple and lightweight entry into cloud technology,helping companies reduce the cost and complexity associatedwith deploying cloud computing while providing comprehen-sive capabilities for visibility, control and automation.

Armed with the tools to provision hundreds of virtual machinesin as a little as two minutes, IT organizations can realize thevalue of the solution in a matter of days. SmartCloud

Provisioning can then become the basis for otherIBM advanced cloud offerings such as IBM Service Delivery Manager for the cloud.

IBM has led thousands of successful cloud engagements and hasestablished cloud adoption patterns that reflect best practicesbased on extensive experience in the field. IBM can providecloud solutions from the beginning of the adoption curve tofull-scale, enterprise-wide operations, giving organizationsacross all industries one-stop access to comprehensive solutions that support multiple delivery models, platforms and workload types.

IBM SmartCloud Provisioning at a glance

Hardware requirements:

The following are minimum required values for memory and disk space.

Linux on x86_64 for PXE server:

● Number of processors: One

● Memory: 4 GB

● Disk: 50 GB

Linux on x86_64 with VT capacity for compute node:

● Number of processors: One

● Memory: 8 GB

● Disk: 100 GB

Linux on x86_64 with VT capacity for storage node:

● Number of processors: One

● Memory: 8 GB

● Disk: 200 GB

Software requirements:

IBM SmartCloud Provisioning supports the following operating systems.

● Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 6/6.1 (64 bit)

IBM SmartCloud Provisioning supports the following hypervisors.

● KVM

● Xen

● VMware

Please Recycle

For more informationTo learn more about IBM SmartCloud Provisioning, contactyour IBM representative or IBM Business Partner, or visitibm.com/tivoli/products/service-agility-accelerator-cloud

Additionally, financing solutions from IBM Global Financingcan enable effective cash management, protection from technology obsolescence, improved total cost of ownership andreturn on investment. Also, our Global Asset Recovery Serviceshelp address environmental concerns with new, more energy-efficient solutions. For more information on IBM GlobalFinancing, visit: ibm.com/financing

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Product data has been reviewed for accuracy as of the date of initialpublication. Product data is subject to change without notice. Anystatements regarding IBM’s future direction and intent are subject tochange or withdrawal without notice, and represent goals and objectives only.

The information provided in this document is distributed “as is” withoutany warranty, either express or implied. IBM expressly disclaims anywarranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose ornoninfringement. IBM products are warranted according to the terms andconditions of the agreements (e.g. IBM Customer Agreement, Statement ofLimited Warranty, International Program License Agreement, etc.) underwhich they are provided.

The customer is responsible for ensuring compliance with legalrequirements. It is the customer’s sole responsibility to obtain advice ofcompetent legal counsel as to the identification and interpretation of anyrelevant laws and regulatory requirements that may affect the customer’sbusiness and any actions the customer may need to take to comply withsuch laws. IBM does not provide legal advice or represent or warrant thatits services or products will ensure that the customer is in compliance withany law or regulation.1 “Enterprise of the Future: Global CEO Study,” IBM Corporation, 2008.

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