VMware + IBM + Emulex: Optimized for Virtualization

IBM and VMware® have designed optimal virtualization platforms that are better balanced for virtual workloads. Utilizing the Emulex 10GbE Virtual Fabric Adapter for IBM System x and BladeCenter based on the OneConnect™ Universal CNA technology, or Emulex LightPulse Fibre Channel HBAs with IBM solutions in VMware environments enables maximum performance and bandwidth in shared storage infrastructures.  VMware enables the consolidation of application processing to maximize server utilization and reduce operational costs. Using virtualization, multiple Virtual Machines (VM) run simultaneously and independently on one or more shared processors. Two key factors that determine the number of virtual machines that the infrastructure can handle are the characteristics of the servers and their connectivity to shared storage.   Emulex is the connectivity leader for VMware environments, providing greater server consolidation capabilities and dual port I/O performance. Emulex Virtual Fabric Adapters and LightPulse Fibre Channel HBAs increase IBM server efficiency by offloading I/O related operations from the server.

IBM, VMware and Emulex Deliver Integrated Virtualization Right Out of the Box  
The Emulex OneConnect UCNA architecture provides 10GbE integration into five enterprise-class and high-volume IBM System x platforms, including the System x3650 M3, x3550 M3, x3850 X5, x3950 X5 and x3690 X5; and three IBM BladeCenter server platforms, including the HS22, HS22V and HX5. In addition to these integrated models, IBM offers 10Gb/s Ethernet Virtual Fabric Adapters based on Emulex's single-chip OneConnect UCNA technology as an option card across most of IBM System x and BladeCenter servers.

The IBM Virtual Fabric solution offers the benefits and flexibility of both virtual NIC and I/O convergence on a single end-to-end solution.  The combination of IBM, VMware and Emulex provides robust platforms offering outstanding scalability, rock-solid reliability and enhanced security designed to help reduce costs and keep your virtualized data center infrastructure up and running.

Case Study: Sheraton Increases Server Bandwidth, Reduces Footprint and Enables Virtualization for High-Performance Applications
Faced with increasing hardware utilization, new casino applications and data center space constraints, the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino chose to virtualize with the Emulex 10GbE Virtual Fabric Adapter (CFFh) for IBM BladeCenter. Read the case study.