ESG Lab Testing of VDI Solution Based on EMC VSPEX and Brocade Networking

Brocade Communication Systems, Inc. announced results based on testing performed by ESG Lab.

The results validated a 3,500-virtualized desktop reference architecture based on a single EMC XtremIO all-flash storage array connected to 16 servers via a Brocade Gen 5 FC SAN and VDX Ethernet fabric switches connecting servers to the virtual desktops. Testing results were published in a report that is available from ESG Lab, EMC, and Brocade.

The results validated that the end-user computing proven infrastructure reference architecture with Brocade networking was able to easily support up to 2,500 full-clone or 3,500 linked-clone virtual desktops on an XtremIO X-Brick node with sufficient headroom for additional desktops or other applications.

According to the ESG Lab report, “Delivering the optimal user experience is an essential IT task, but it is complex and difficult to design and build an environment that can deliver the predictable performance required for VDI. The VSPEX End-user Computing Proven Infrastructure with XtremIO all-flash storage and Brocade networking eliminates planning and configuration burdens, virtually guarantees a successful deployment, and delivers on both IT and end-user requirements.“

“Organizations implementing VDI on their own are faced with huge challenges in complexity and sheer scale when moving from a proof-of-concept to an environment supporting thousands of end-users,” said Tony Palmer, senior lab analyst, ESG Lab. “We were impressed with the ability of the solution-which combines components from both EMC and Brocade-to easily support all of the I/O-intensive workloads we could present. In each case the solution delivered excellent application-level response times.“

The VSPEX end-user computing proven infrastructure reference architecture tested by ESG Lab included a XtremIO X-Brick all-flash storage array and two 6510 Gen 5 FC SAN switches managed with Fabric Vision technology. They are sold by EMC under the Connectrix B-Series brand. Sixteen servers, simultaneously connected to the EMC storage and Brocade SAN fabric, were used for the testing, each configured with VMware Horizon View virtual desktops and the vSphere server virtualization platform. A pair of  VDX switches provided connectivity between the hosts and virtual desktops.

“Enterprises are demanding more from their storage and networks to support VDI and other I/O-intensive workloads, which has led to exponential growth in the deployment of solid-state storage connected with Gen 5 FC SAN and Ethernet fabrics,” said Jack Rondoni, VP, storage networking, Brocade. “In partnering with EMC, the ESG Lab validation of this reference architecture is designed to help our mutual customers accelerate their virtual desktop projects with the confidence that only a proven infrastructure can provide.“

Performance numbers generated during the ESG Lab testing included booting up 2,000 linked-node virtual desktops from ‘Power Off’ to ‘Available’ in just 8mn and 30s, enabled by the combination of fast response times for the XtremIO all-flash storage (just 0.35 ms) and the ability of the Gen 5 FC SAN and VDX switches to allow data transmission at sustained speeds of 16Gb/s and 10 Gb/s, respectively.

Using workload generation testing tools, the XtremIO array was able to generate more than 120,000 8K IO/s with an 0.77ms response time for application R/Ws. Fabric Vision technology provided policy-based management to simplify monitoring, as well as automated management of storage network resources, which helped ensure that the required service levels were achieved for uncompromised application availability.

“Today’s end users all expect the responsiveness of modern flash-based devices like tablets, smartphones, and ultrabooks for their applications, and most other VDI arrays just can’t deliver,” said Robin Ren, CTO, XtremIO, EMC Corp.. “Our testing with ESG Lab has now validated the XtremIO/Brocade solution in providing massive I/O performance and scalability to ensure every desktop user gets that same flash-based experience, which is often better than traditional laptop and desktop systems.“

VSPEX end-user Computing Proven Infrastructures are modular, virtualized infrastructures validated by EMC and delivered by VSPEX partners. virtualization, server, network, storage, and backup layers are all included. Partners can select the compute, connectivity, and virtualization technologies that best fit a customer’s environment, while XtremIO all-flash and VNX storage systems and EMC Powered Backup technologies provide the storage and backup layers.

Access to ESG Lab report EMC VSPEX End-User Computing Proven Infrastructure with XtremIO and Brocade