Virtual Computing Environment#Vblock

Cisco Systems, EMC Corporation and VMware (partially owned by EMC) unveiled a joint partnership in November 2009 to develop cloud computing platforms called Vblock Infrastructure Packages.{{Cite news |title= Cisco and EMC, Together with VMware, form Coalition to Accelerate Pervasive Data Center Virtualization and Private Cloud Infrastructures |work= Press release |date= November 3, 2009 |publisher= Cisco Systems |url= http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2009/corp_110309.html |access-date= August 9, 2013 }} The partnership was originally called the VMware-Cisco-EMC alliance, though the name was later shortened to VCE, for the “Virtual Computing Environment coalition”.{{Cite news

|title= A Most Interesting IT Experiment: The History (So Far) Of VCE

|author= Joseph F. Kovar

|date= October 12, 2012

|work= CRN

|url= http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/storage/240008782/a-most-interesting-it-experiment-the-history-so-far-of-vce.htm/pgno/0/5

|access-date= August 9, 2013 }}{{Cite web

|title= Virtual Computing Environment coalition-VCE coalition

|work= Original web site |url= http://www.vcecoalition.com/index.htm

|url-status=dead

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100719214207/http://www.vcecoalition.com/index.htm

|archive-date= July 19, 2010

|access-date= August 13, 2013

}}

At the same EMC World trade show, Cisco and EMC introduced a joint venture named Acadia.{{Cite news |title= Cisco, EMC Form Acadia Joint Venture for Data Centers (Update3) |author= Rochelle Garner |date= November 3, 2009 |work= Bloomberg news |url= https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=azxgvBN9ckao&pos=7 |access-date= August 9, 2013 }}{{Cite news |title= Cisco and EMC Form Venture to Serve Data Centers |work= The New York Times |author= Ashlee Vance |author-link=Ashlee Vance |date= November 3, 2009 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/technology/business-computing/04cisco.html?_r=0 |access-date= August 13, 2013 }} The goal of Acadia, originally set up as a separate legal entity, was to build Vblock Infrastructure Packages in a standardized and repeatable fashion for customer data centers.{{Cite news |title= Cisco, EMC, VMware Channel Chiefs Talk Up Vblock Partner Play |author= Joseph F. Kovar |date= November 3, 2009 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/storage/221600134/cisco-emc-vmware-channel-chiefs-talk-up-vblock-partner-play.htm |access-date= August 9, 2013 }} Michael Capellas, who also was a board member of Cisco, was named chairman of Acadia, and its first chief executive officer (CEO) in May 2010.{{cite web |url=https://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748703322204575226973507577344.html |title=Capellas to Run Cisco, EMC Ventures |author=Don Clark |date=May 5, 2010 |work=WSJ.com |publisher=Dow Jones & Co. |access-date= August 19, 2010 }}{{Cite web |title= ACADIA |work= Original web site |url= http://www.acadia.com/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101019041025/http://www.acadia.com/index.htm |archive-date= October 19, 2010 |access-date= August 9, 2013 }} Sales initially encountered some confusion among customers (which often had different staffs for storage and networking, for example), and different fiscal quarter sales cycles.{{Cite web |title= Customers embracing Vblocks, but VCE sales harmony a work in progress |work= By the Bell blog |author= Steve Kaplan |date= October 19, 2010 |url= http://bythebell.com/2010/10/customers-embracing-vblocks-but-vce-sales-harmony-a-work-in-progress.html |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}

By the end of 2010, Capellas told analysts the venture had 65 customers, with an average system costing about $2.5 million.{{Cite news |title= Vblock clouds moisten the data center: Capellas talks up VCE sales and pipeline |author= Timothy Prickett Morgan |work= The Register |date= December 21, 2010 |url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/21/vce_acadia_ramp/ |access-date= August 11, 2013 }}{{Cite news |title= Capellas-led coalition making strides by the Vblock |author= John Webster |work= CNET news |date= December 20, 2010 |url= http://news.cnet.com/8301-21546_3-20026158-10253464.html |access-date= August 11, 2013 }}

Acadia and the Virtual Computing Environment coalition combined into a single entity in January 2011, called VCE, the Virtual Computing Environment Company.{{Cite web |title= VCE Coalition Combines with Acadia, Simplifies Name to VCE |work= The VAR Guy |date= January 21, 2011 |url= http://thevarguy.com/virtualization-applications-and-technologies/vce-coalition-combines-acadia-simplifies-name-vce |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140424153658/http://thevarguy.com/virtualization-applications-and-technologies/vce-coalition-combines-acadia-simplifies-name-vce |url-status= usurped |archive-date= April 24, 2014 |access-date= August 9, 2013 }}{{Cite news |title= VCE Coalition and Acadia Combined and Renamed VCE, the Virtual Computing Environment Company |work= Press release |date= January 20, 2011 |publisher= VCE |url= http://www.vce.com/about/media/news?id=tcm:20-468 |access-date= August 9, 2013 }} Originally located in Silicon Valley and Dallas, Texas, an expansion was announced in March 2011 to Richardson, Texas with an investment from the Texas Enterprise Fund.{{Cite news |title= VCE, Major Cloud Computing Company, Plans Major Expansion in Richardson |work= Press release |date= March 15, 2011 |publisher= VCE, The Virtual Computing Environment Company |url= http://www.vce.com/about/media/news?id=tcm:20-476 |access-date= August 9, 2013 }} In October 2011, another office opened in Marlboro, Massachusetts, close to VCE's EMC-owned manufacturing plant in Franklin, Massachusetts.{{Cite news |title= Cloud computing allows companies to outsource IT services |author= Priyanka Dayal |work= Worcester Business Telegram |date= December 11, 2011 |url= http://www.telegram.com/article/20111211/NEWS/112119983/1002/business |access-date= August 21, 2013 }}{{Cite news |title= EMC, Cisco, Intel & VMWare Launch Joint Venture in Marlborough |author= Brandon Butler |work= Worcester Business Journal |date= October 13, 2011 |url= http://www.wbjournal.com/article/20111013/METROWEST01/310139999/emc-cisco-intel--vmware-launch-joint-venture-in-marlborough |access-date= August 21, 2013 }} In July 2012, Cisco executive Praveen Akkiraju was appointed CEO and Frank Hauck as president.{{Cite news |title= VCE Appoints Praveen Akkiraju Chief Executive Officer |work= Press release |date= July 19, 2012 |publisher= VCE |url= http://www.vce.com/about/media/news?id=tcm:20-2159 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130809191844/http://www.vce.com/about/media/news?id=tcm:20-2159 |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 9, 2013 |access-date= August 9, 2013 }} It was estimated VCE had 1200 employees at the time, with undisclosed revenues but accumulated losses.{{Cite news |title= VCE Taps Cisco Veteran As New CEO |work= CRN |date= July 19, 2012 |author= Chad Berndtson |url= http://www.crn.com/news/networking/240004002/vce-taps-cisco-veteran-as-new-ceo.htm |access-date= August 21, 2013 }} Publicized customers included Babson College{{Cite news |title= Taking College IT Out of the Hardware Business |author= Bridget McCrea |date= September 15, 2011 |work= Campus Technology digital magazine |url= http://campustechnology.com/articles/2011/09/15/taking-college-it-out-of-the-hardware-business.aspx |access-date= August 21, 2013 }} and the Mississippi Community College Board.{{Cite web |title= Vblock Video Success Story – MS Community College Board |work= Press release |date= July 11, 2012 |url= http://www.ventech.com/2012/07/vblock-video-success-story-ms-community-college-board/ |publisher= Venture Technologies |access-date= August 21, 2013 }} The press debated if the venture should be considered a "startup company", with one headline joking "VCE = virtual cash erosion" and questioning millions of dollars of executive compensation.{{Cite news |title= Vblocks bleed out EMC money: VCE = virtual cash erosion |author= Chris Mellor |date= August 8, 2011 |work= The Channel |url= http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2011/08/08/vce_losses/ |access-date= August 21, 2013 }} Others considered the arrangement to be a wise investment.{{Cite news |title= Is VCE a Flailing Startup? A Study of Snark in New Media |author= Mark Hopkins |work= Silicon Angle |date= August 17, 2011 |url= http://siliconangle.com/blog/2011/08/17/is-vce-a-flailing-startup-a-study-of-snark-in-new-media/ |access-date= August 21, 2013 }}

Through 2012, there was a mixture of some success (with speculation of layoffs), and continued confusion due to products from competing partners such as NetApp FlexPod and Xsigo Systems.{{Cite news |title= The VCE Gamble: You Got To Know When To Hold 'Em, Know When To Fold 'Em |author= Chad Berndtson and Joseph F. Kovar |date= November 26, 2012 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/data-center/240008994/the-vce-gamble-you-got-to-know-when-to-hold-em-know-when-to-fold-em.htm?pgno=2 |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}{{Cite news |title= Cisco's 3-ring circus: Xsigo CEO on bait and switches |author= Chris Mellor |work= The Register |date= February 24, 2012 |url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/21/vce_acadia_ramp/ |access-date= August 13, 2013 }} Cisco had announced its own "framework" called CloudVerse in late 2011 that was not specific to VMware.{{Cite news |title= Cisco's Bigger Bundle of Networking |work= New York Times Bits |author= Quentin Hardy |date= December 6, 2011 |url= http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/ciscos-bigger-bundle-of-networking/ |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}{{Cite news |title= Cisco CloudVerse: Build One Private Cloud, Multiple Hypervisors |work= Information Week |author= Charles Babcock |date= December 8, 2011 |url= http://www.informationweek.com/cloud-computing/infrastructure/cisco-cloudverse-build-one-private-cloud/232300123/ |access-date= August 13, 2013 }} In August 2012, EMC announced a VSPEX reference architecture and partnership with Lenovo and other distributors that was seen as competing with a lower-cost option.{{Cite news |title= EMC Lenovo Deal Raises Questions For EMC-Cisco VCE Partnership |author= Joseph F. Kovar |date= August 2, 2012 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/storage/240004893/emc-lenovo-deal-raises-questions-for-emc-cisco-vce-partnership.htm |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}{{Cite news |title= EMC hands disties licence to assemble VSPEX: Tells resellers to build it themselves or get someone else to do it |author= Paul Kunert |work= The Channel |date= August 15, 2012 |url= http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2012/08/15/emc_vspex/ |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}{{Cite web |title= EMC Intends VSPEX for Data Center Flexibility |work= Channelnomics |date= April 12, 2012 |author= Larry Walsh |url= http://channelnomics.com/2012/04/12/emc-intends-vspex-data-center-flexibility/ |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}

In a November 2012 report by Gartner, VCE had a 57.4% share of integrated infrastructure systems in the second quarter of 2012 based on revenue.{{Cite web |title= Market Share Analysis: Data Center Hardware: Integrated Systems, 1Q11-2Q12 |publisher= Gartner |author= Adrian O'Connell |date= November 30, 2012 |url= http://www.vce.com/asset/documents/gartner-market-share-analysis-report.pdf |access-date= August 9, 2013 }} Gartner had previously tracked server, networking, and external controller-based storage as individual markets. VCE was named one of the “2013 Virtualization 50” by CRN Magazine.{{Cite news |title= 2013 Virtualization 50 |work= CRN |date= May 24, 2013 |url= http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/virtualization/240155351/2013-virtualization-50.htm?pgno=43 |access-date= August 9, 2013 }} In May 2013, VCE estimated a $1 billion annual sales rate with more than 1,000 Vblock Systems sold. However, in US Securities and Exchange Commission filings, EMC accounted for a cumulative loss of over $430 million by September 2012, and Cisco a loss of $457 million by early 2013, since revenues are recorded to the owning companies, not VCE itself.{{Cite news |title= Cisco, EMC tout VCE market share, but report losses |author= Larry Dignan |work= Between the Lines |publisher= ZDNet |date= February 21, 2013 |url= https://www.zdnet.com/article/cisco-emc-tout-vce-market-share-but-report-losses/ |access-date= August 11, 2013 }} EMC reported an investment of $667.2 million in cash and $13.2 million in stock-based compensation to VCE, for a stake of about 58%.{{Cite web |title= Quarterly Report for period ended September 30, 2012 |date= November 2, 2012 |work= Form 10-Q |publisher= SEC |author= EMC Corporation |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/790070/000079007012000154/emc-2012930x10q.htm |access-date= August 11, 2013 }} Cisco reported a gross investment of $457 million, for a stake of about 35%.{{Cite web |title= Quarterly Report for Quarter ended January 26, 2013 |date= February 19, 2013 |work= Form 10-Q |publisher= SEC |author= Cisco Systems, Incorporated |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/858877/000085887713000013/csco-2013126x10qq2.htm |access-date= August 11, 2013}}

By 2013, some of the same press writers that initially criticized VCE came to view the structure of VCE as being good business for investors.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/03/06/emc_vce_losses/|title = EMC loses half a BEEELLION on VCE ... But it's NOT what it seems|website = The Register}} Other press highlighted VCE as a source of innovation and financial performance for investors.[https://archive.today/20140401155400/http://www.eweek.com/storage/why-vces-newest-vblock-systems-demonstrate-innovation.html Unknown]{{Cite web|url=http://www.itbusinessedge.com/blogs/unfiltered-opinion/vce-stars-in-emc-financial-results.html|title = VCE Stars in EMC Financial Results|date = 13 February 2014}} Total VCE for 2013 has been reported at over $1B with over a 50% year-over-year growth rate.{{cite web | url=http://wikibon.org/wiki/v/VCE_Drives_Simplification_Past_$1B | title=VCE Drives Simplification Past $1B - Wikibon }}

In October 2014, EMC announced that it had acquired majority control of the VCE venture, with Cisco maintaining a 10% stake.

In January 2016, EMC announced that VCE had become the Converged Platform Division of EMC with Chad Sakac as President.{{Cite web

|url = https://www.emc.com/about/news/press/2016/20160106-01.htm|title=EMC Appoints Chad Sakac as President of VCE

|date = 2016-01-06

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171215084514/https://www.emc.com/about/news/press/2016/20160106-01.htm

|archive-date = 2017-12-15

|access-date = 2022-04-28

|url-status = unfit

}}

On September 7, 2016, EMC was acquired by Dell.{{Cite web|title=$67 billion Dell-EMC deal closes today|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/07/67-billion-dell-emc-deal-becomes-official-today/|date=2016-09-07|access-date=2022-04-28|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US}} The Converged Platform Division of EMC is currently known as the Converged Platform and Solutions Division of Dell EMC.

By February 2018, Dell EMC announced VxBlock System 1000{{cite web | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/dell-emc-unveils-new-vxblock-system-1000/ | title=Dell EMC unveils new VxBlock System 1000 | website=ZDNet }} as a perpetual architecture{{cite web | url=https://www.dell.com/en-us/dt/converged-infrastructure/converged-systems.htm#tab0=0&tab1=0 | title=VxBlock Converged Infrastructure Systems }} and the Dell Technologies converged systems business achieved $6.51B USD of market sales during 2020 according to International Data Group.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dell.com/en-us/dt/converged-infrastructure/converged-systems.htm|title=VxBlock Converged Infrastructure Systems|website=www.dell.com}}

VCE marketed converged infrastructure servers known as {{Proper name|vBlocks}}, which combine VMware vSphere software running on Cisco Unified Computing Systems (UCS) connected with Cisco Nexus switches, attached to EMC Symmetrix storage. Despite the "block" in the name, the storage can be accessed as either a block device or a file server.

Vblock Systems are marketed for large-scale datacenters which run software applications such as Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SharePoint or SAP ERP.

They are delivered in standard 19-inch rack units to aid in planning for cooling and power requirements.{{Cite news |title= VCE Intros Entry-level Vblocks, Unveils Pre-Configured SAP HANA Appliances |author= Joseph F. Kovar |date= February 21, 2013 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/storage/240148969/vce-intros-entry-level-vblocks-unveils-pre-configured-sap-hana-appliances.htm |access-date= August 9, 2013 }}

The company initially manufactured converged datacenter units known as Vblock, which incorporate Cisco servers and networking hardware, EMC storage systems, and VMware for virtualization.{{Cite news |title= Converged Infrastructure Bets Are In: Where Are They Paying Off? |author= Joseph F. Kovar |date= May 27, 2013 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/data-center/240155540/converged-infrastructure-bets-are-in-where-are-they-paying-off.htm |access-date= August 9, 2013 }}

Later, VxBlock was added providing the ability for customers to run VMware NSX.

In 2015, VxRack and in 2016 VxRail were added as separate products.

In 2009, the Virtual Computing Environment coalition announced three models of Vblock Infrastructure Packages. Vblock 2, intended for high-end data centers, was designed to support 3,000 to 6,000 virtual machines using Cisco UCS, Cisco Nexus 1000v and multilayer director switches (MDS), as well as EMC Symmetrix VMAX storage and VMware vSphere software. Vblock 1, intended for the midmarket, was designed for 800 to 3,000 virtual machines and had had a similar configuration to the Vblock 2, but with EMC Clariion storage rather than EMC Symmetrix VMAX. Vblock 0, the intended low-end configuration, was projected for release in 2010 to support 300 to 800 virtual machines and use a similar configuration, but with EMC Celerrastorage.{{Cite web |title= Virtual Computing Environment Coalition |date= November 5, 2009 |author= Joerg Hallbauer |work= Gestalt IT |url= http://gestaltit.com/all/tech/storage/joerg/virtual-computing-environment-coalition/ |access-date= August 9, 2013 }} The term "infrastructure package" was later changed to "infrastructure platform" and then just "Vblock System".

Vblock is the brand name VCE uses for racks containing the components of its data center products. Prepackaging, called converged infrastructure, allows customers to select preconfigured and integrated solutions, with predictable units of power, weight, cooling, and geometry for data center planning purposes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/21/vce_acadia_ramp/|title=Vblock clouds moisten the data center|website=The Register}}

File:EMC Vblock 300 FX.jpg Vblock systems consist of storage and provisioning from EMC, switches and servers from Cisco, and VMware virtualization software running on the servers. In addition, Vblock system customers' support calls are handled by VCE.

Vblock had two series based on the following compositional elements:{{cite web| url=http://vmackem.co.uk/?p=553 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208004416/http://vmackem.co.uk/?p=553 | archive-date=2016-12-08 | title=VCE Vblock Update}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.lightreading.com/video.asp?doc_id=216883|title=Recent videos | page 1 of 69 | Light Reading}}

• EMC provides storage and provisioning
• VNX
• VMAX
• Ionix UIM/P
• Cisco provides compute and networking
• UCS
• Nexus
• VMware provides virtualization
• vSphere
• with vDS provided via Cisco Nexus 1000V
• with MPIO provided via EMC PowerPath/VE

Vblock brand naming changed since its inception.{{Cite web|url=http://siliconangle.com/blog/2011/08/17/is-vce-a-flailing-startup-a-study-of-snark-in-new-media/|title=Is VCE a Flailing Startup? A Study of Snark in New Media|date=17 August 2011}} In 2009, the term Vblock Infrastructure Packages was announced by then Acadia (technical partnership), the Virtual Computing Environment coalition, as well as their primary investors. In late 2010 and continuing through 2011, the term Packages was replaced with Platforms. By mid-2012, the term, Infrastructure Platforms was replaced with Systems in wider circulation to arrive at, simply, Vblock™ Systems.{{Cite web|url=http://vdi-virtual-desktop-infrastructure.tmcnet.com/articles/295096-vce-fastpath-platform-simplifies-vdi-vblock-systems.htm|title = VCE FastPath Platform Simplifies VDI on Vblock Systems}} Meanwhile, constituent elements and technology included upgrades to the product lines from Cisco, EMC, and VMware.{{Cite web|url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20111211/NEWS/112119983/1002/business|title=Cloud computing allows companies to outsource IT services}}

Originally, these combined a reference architecture with a physical and logical configuration step initially at a customer data center or colocation data center and later within a pre-manufacturing environment for shipment to a customer data center or colocation data center. Options were limited during the time these were marketed and sold.

• 300: In contrast to the 0, 1, 1U later series were produced in manufacturing centers and then installed within a customer data center or colocation data center by a VCE partner or professional services team.

Models were named EX, FX, GX and HX, and later 320, 340, and 350.

• 500:The EMC XtremIO based model
• 700: This series offers an even larger number of options. Models were named LX and MX, and later 720 and 740.

No confirmed numbers were announced publicly by VCE or its investors until 2013 {{Cite web|url=http://www.crn.com/news/networking/240004002/vce-taps-cisco-veteran-as-new-ceo.htm|title = VCE Taps Cisco Veteran as New CEO|date = 19 July 2012}} but when it was disclosed the numbers were provided conservatively as being over 800 customers in almost 60 countries with nearly 2000 VCE manufactured Vblock Systems sold.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vce.com/about/media/news?id=tcm:20-18846|title=Converged Infrastructure (CI)}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vce-surpasses-2013-goal-of-1-billion-in-annual-sales1-accelerates-growth-in-q1-2014-258445551.html|title=VCE Surpasses 2013 Goal of $1 Billion in Annual Sales(1), Accelerates Growth in Q1 2014|website=www.prnewswire.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://siliconangle.com/blog/2014/04/11/vce-passes-1b-with-50-year-to-year-growth/|title = VCE passes $1B with 50% year-to-year growth|date = 11 April 2014}} Because of the lack of a manufactured physical and logical build on an actual VCE manufacturing floor, previous deployments in 2009 and early 2010 of what were called or referred to as Vblock (often with various use of upper and lower case spelling) are not considered to be Vblock by some pundits and infrastructure professionals {{Cite web|url=http://www.bythebell.com/2010/10/customers-embracing-vblocks-but-vce-sales-harmony-a-work-in-progress.html|title = Customers embracing Vblocks, but VCE sales harmony a work in progress|date = 19 October 2010}} since these so-called reference architectures varied greatly from project to project when compared to late 2010 manufactured Vblock. Anecdotally, institutions and companies using Vblock have been involved in published testimonials.{{cite web| url=http://www.ventech.com/2012/07/vblock-video-success-story-ms-community-college-board/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205212638/http://www.ventech.com/2012/07/vblock-video-success-story-ms-community-college-board/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 5, 2013 | title=Unknown}}{{Cite web|url=https://campustechnology.com/articles/2011/09/15/taking-college-it-out-of-the-hardware-business.aspx|title=Taking College IT Out of the Hardware Business -|website=Campus Technology}}{{cite web |url=http://blocksandbytes.com/2013/01/27/vce-vblock-1st-year-in-review/ |title=VCE vBlock – 1st Year in Review {{!}} blocksandbytes |website=blocksandbytes.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302112731/http://blocksandbytes.com/2013/01/27/vce-vblock-1st-year-in-review |archive-date=2013-03-02}}

In May 2011, the Vblock System Series 300 was announced with models EX, FX, GX and HX (smallest to largest). The Vblock 2 was renamed the 700 series.{{Cite web |title= VCE Vblock Update |date= May 9, 2011 |author= David Owen |work= vMackem |url= http://vmackem.co.uk/?p=553 |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}

The Vblock System 700 LX was announced at the EMC World May 2012 trade show, as the most expensive Vblock System, supporting thousands of virtual machines. VCE introduced the inclusion of EMC software for backup, recovery, replication, business continuity and data mobility for virtualized environments. Applications included EMC Avamar, EMC Data Domain, and EMC RecoverPoint. The Vblock System 700 included EMC VPLEX workload mobility and business continuity software, as well as support for new features in EMC Unified Infrastructure Manager, improved VMware integration, and centralized monitoring of multiple Vblock Systems.{{Cite news |title= VCE Intros Entry-level Vblocks, Unveils Pre-Configured SAP HANA Appliances |author= Joseph F. Kovar |date= May 22, 2012 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/storage/240000838/vce-intros-new-higher-end-vblock-integrates-emc-data-protection.htm |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}

In February 2013, VCE announced Vblock 300 and Vblock 700 models with increased performance and data throughput, using upgraded server and storage components.

In 2013 VCE announced products for the midrange and remote branch office market.

These models included the Vblock System 100 and Vblock System 200.

The Vblock 100 was designed to host up to 200 virtual machines in a 24U or 42U rack mount space with up to eight Cisco C220 M3 blade servers, two Cisco Catalyst 3750-X switches and up to 8 TB of storage capacity on an EMC VNXe3150 or VNXe3300 array. The Vblock 200 comes configured with up to 12 Cisco servers, two Nexus 5548UP unified Ethernet and SAN switches, a Cisco Catalyst 3750 management switch, and up to 105 hard drives via the included VNX 5300 array.

VCE introduced a specialized system for SAP HANA in February 2013. It combined a Vblock System with SAP HANA in-memory computing and database application software. Later in September 2013 VCE introduced specialized system for high performance database for Oracle as well as extreme applications for both VMware and Citrix VDI environments.{{Cite news |title=VCE Vblocks Converged Infrastructure Gets Update |author=Charles Babcock |date= April 12, 2012 |work= InformationWeek |url=http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/virtualization/vce-vblocks-converged-infrastructure-get/240161433}}

Dell introduced a hyperconverged system at EMC World 2015 in February 2015. The first model is the VxRack 1032 based on EMC ScaleIO software defined storage. The second model was announced at VMware World in September 2015, called the VxRack 1034 based around VMware VSAN. Both models use commodity hardware (rumoured to be sourced from Quanta) with an attached local disk presented via ScaleIO or VSAN software.

Desktop virtualization management software that uses VMware View called FastPath was announced in August 2011, and upgraded in June 2012.{{Cite web |title= VCE's FastPath Desktop Virtualization Platform is Here |author= Aaron Delp |work= Blog |date= August 29, 2011 |url= http://www.aarondelp.com/2011/08/vces-fastpath-desktop-virtualization.html |access-date= August 21, 2013 }}{{Cite web |title= VCE FastPath Platform Simplifies VDI on Vblock Systems |date= June 18, 2012 |work= TMC news |author= Mini Swamy |url= http://vdi-virtual-desktop-infrastructure.tmcnet.com/articles/295096-vce-fastpath-platform-simplifies-vdi-vblock-systems.htm |access-date= August 21, 2013 }}

In February 2013, VCE announced the management software application Vision Intelligent Operations Software.

VCE Vision software enables a single management pane for the components in the Vblock Systems it manages via plugins for third party management, automation, and orchestration tools from VMware, Cisco, BMC, CA, and others via RESTful API, SNMP, and unified logging.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vce.com/products/vblock/vce-vision|title=Converged Infrastructure (CI)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.vce.com/developers|title = Converged Infrastructure (CI)}}{{cite web |url=http://business.itbusinessnet.com/article/VCE-Unveils-Foundational-Networking-Capabilities-To-Enable-The-Application-Centric-Infrastructure-3254394 |title=VCE Unveils Foundational Networking Capabilities To Enable The Application Centric Infrastructure |website=business.itbusinessnet.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528005602/http://business.itbusinessnet.com/article/VCE-Unveils-Foundational-Networking-Capabilities-To-Enable-The-Application-Centric-Infrastructure-3254394 |archive-date=2014-05-28}}

VCE provides services through partners to plan, design, and deploy Vblock Systems.{{Cite news |title= Partners Welcome Appointment Of EMC Veteran As VCE President |author= Joseph F. Kovar |date= March 31, 2011 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/storage/229400695/partners-welcome-appointment-of-emc-veteran-as-vce-president.htm |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}{{Cite news |title= Exclusive With Cisco's Lloyd: Take A Look At Us Now |author=Chad Berndtson |date= April 12, 2012 |work= CRN |url= http://www.crn.com/news/networking/232900221/exclusive-with-ciscos-lloyd-take-a-look-at-us-now.htm?pgno=7 |access-date= August 13, 2013 }}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{EMC}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:VCE}}

Category:EMC Corporation

Category:2014 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Computer companies established in 2009

Category:Cloud computing providers

Category:Computer companies disestablished in 2016

Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States

Category:Defunct computer hardware companies

Category:Defunct software companies of the United States

Category:Software companies established in 2009

Category:Software companies disestablished in 2016