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Empowering AI-Driven Organizations with Nutanix GPT-in-a-Box

11/3/2024

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As more of my customers embrace the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, the demand for robust, secure, and scalable AI infrastructure has surged. Nutanix has taken a pivotal role in addressing these needs with its GPT-in-a-Box 2.0 solution, an enterprise-ready, full-stack AI platform tailored for organizations that require secure, on-premises AI deployments. This offering streamlines AI adoption by providing a comprehensive ecosystem, optimized infrastructure, and extensive partner support, allowing businesses to deploy and manage AI applications at scale.

Simplified AI Deployment with GPT-in-a-Box

Nutanix’s GPT-in-a-Box simplifies the deployment, operation, and scaling of AI workloads. With its 2.0 iteration, the solution includes an integrated inference endpoint and end-to-end features, such as GPU and CPU certification, high-performance storage, Kubernetes management, and in-depth telemetry. This design allows organizations to leverage generative AI (GenAI) models like LLMs on-premises, providing control over data security and operational flexibility.
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GPT-in-a-Box is particularly beneficial for industries with stringent data regulations, such as government and finance, where public cloud alternatives may not meet compliance requirements. By extending Nutanix’s hybrid infrastructure strengths to AI, organizations can now manage AI applications with the same control and resilience they expect from their existing IT environments.

Key Use Cases Across Major Industries

AI use cases differ widely across industries, and GPT-in-a-Box has been designed to support the unique needs of various sectors, including:
  • Finance & Insurance: AI-driven solutions help contextualize compliance, detect suspicious activities, and recommend financial products. Benefits include limiting revenue loss, improving patient and customer experience, and driving operational efficiency.
  • Healthcare: With AI applications such as medical coding, claims processing, and precision medicine, healthcare providers can optimize reimbursements and leverage genomic data for tailored treatment strategies.
  • Public Sector: Given the sensitivity of government data, the public sector benefits from secure on-premises AI capabilities for tasks like media classification and fraud detection, while addressing legacy infrastructure limitations.

These use cases highlight Nutanix’s commitment to enabling industry-specific applications while ensuring data privacy and operational control.

Building a Comprehensive AI Ecosystem: Nutanix AI Partner Program

To further simplify AI adoption, Nutanix launched its AI Partner Program. Collaborating with industry leaders such as DataRobot, Codeium, Pryon, and AccuKnox, Nutanix offers pre-validated solutions that span generative AI applications, MLOps, compute infrastructure and consulting. This diverse ecosystem allows customers to deploy enterprise AI use cases, including document search, code generation, model monitoring, and enhanced security, with minimal integration effort.

Some key partner contributions include:

  • DataRobot: MLOps and model governance tools for building and managing AI in hybrid environments.
  • Pryon: Enterprise search solutions using AI to extract insights from internal data.
  • Codeium: AI-assisted code generation and management.
  • AccuKnox: Security solutions for GenAI applications, providing Zero Trust protection against cyber threats.


By combining its platform capabilities with trusted partners, Nutanix enables organizations to take full advantage of GenAI technology while maintaining control over data and infrastructure.

Technology Underpinnings: The Architecture of GPT-in-a-Box 2.0


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Revolutionizing Data Management: The Technical Nexus of Nutanix, Cisco, and Cohesity

2/12/2024

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In this blog, I aim to delve into the significance of collaboration. With increasing demand from customers for streamlined data center solutions to aid in their modernization efforts, whether transitioning from the cloud, seeking alternatives to VMware, or incorporating a comprehensive range of technologies spanning network, compute, storage, backup, and security, the convergence of these cutting-edge technologies is redefining the terrain. This convergence provides businesses with unparalleled capabilities to navigate the intricacies of digital transformation. Leading this revolution is the collaborative alliances between Nutanix, Cisco, and Cohesity. They offer a comprehensive approach to data infrastructure that seamlessly merges innovation with technical expertise.
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In 2023, Cisco revealed its global strategic alliance with Nutanix, fostering collaboration and a shared vision: to furnish businesses with seamless, agile, and scalable solutions adept at addressing the swiftly evolving demands of the digital era. This development marked a significant industry transformation, including the discontinuation of Hyperflex in favor of Nutanix.
​Central to this three-pronged solution is Nutanix's hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), which serves as a strong modern IT architecture. Nutanix's HCI platform unifies compute, storage, and networking into a single, software-defined solution, eliminating the need for traditional siloed infrastructure and simplifying management complexities. By leveraging Nutanix's distributed architecture and built-in resiliency features, organizations can achieve unparalleled scalability, agility, and performance across their entire infrastructure footprint including public cloud.
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The partnership extends to data protection and management through integration with Cohesity, a leading provider of modern data management solutions. Cohesity's hyper-converged secondary storage platform consolidates data management functions such as backup, recovery, replication, and archival onto a single, web-scale platform, simplifying operations and reducing infrastructure sprawl. By seamlessly integrating with Nutanix's HCI and Cisco's networking infrastructure, Cohesity enables organizations to achieve near-instantaneous backup and recovery times, ensuring business continuity and data resiliency in the face of disruptions.
​Complementing Nutanix's HCI prowess is Cisco's formidable networking and security expertise. Through seamless integration with Cisco's XDR (Extended Detection and Response) capabilities, organizations can fortify their defenses against a myriad of cyber threats, ranging from ransomware attacks to advanced persistent threats (APTs). Cisco's XDR platform leverages advanced analytics, machine learning, and automation to detect, investigate, and remediate security incidents in real time, ensuring comprehensive protection across the entire Nutanix environment.
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​The further integration between Cisco XDR and Cohesity brings together the strengths of both platforms, creating a unified approach to cybersecurity and data management. Here's how this integration benefits organizations:
  1. Comprehensive Threat Detection: Cisco XDR continuously monitors network traffic, endpoints, cloud environments, and other data sources for suspicious activities and indicators of compromise. By integrating with Cohesity, XDR can also analyze backup and archival data for signs of potential threats, providing organizations with a more comprehensive view of their security posture.
  2. Faster Incident Response: In the event of a security incident, time is of the essence. The integration between Cisco XDR and Cohesity enables organizations to quickly access and analyze backup data to identify the scope and impact of an attack. This allows security teams to respond promptly and mitigate the damage before it spreads further.
  3. Improved Data Protection: Cohesity's data management capabilities complement Cisco XDR's security features by providing robust backup, recovery, and data retention capabilities. By integrating with Cohesity, XDR ensures that critical data is protected against loss or corruption, even in the event of a successful cyberattack.
  4. Streamlined Operations: The integration between Cisco XDR and Cohesity simplifies security and data management workflows, allowing organizations to consolidate their tools and streamline operations. This enables security teams to work more efficiently and effectively, reducing the risk of human error and improving overall security posture.
The integration between Cisco XDR and Cohesity offers organizations a powerful solution for cybersecurity and data management. By combining threat detection, incident response, and data protection capabilities, this integration helps organizations better defend against cyber threats and safeguard their critical data assets.
​From a technical standpoint, the integration between Nutanix, Cisco, and Cohesity is underpinned by a shared commitment to interoperability, performance optimization, and ease of deployment. Leveraging open APIs and standardized protocols, the three partners have collaborated extensively to ensure seamless integration and compatibility across their respective platforms. This collaborative approach extends to joint engineering efforts, with dedicated teams working to optimize performance, scalability, and reliability across the entire solution stack.
​Moreover, the partnership offers a unified management experience through Nutanix Prism, providing administrators with a single-pane-of-glass interface to monitor, manage, and orchestrate their entire infrastructure environment. Nutanix Prism seamlessly integrates with Cisco Intersight, enabling organizations to leverage Cisco's cloud-based management platform for streamlined operations and enhanced visibility across distributed environments.
​The convergence of Nutanix, Cisco, and Cohesity represents a paradigm shift in the realm of data management, offering organizations a comprehensive, future-proof solution to navigate the complexities of modern IT infrastructure. By combining Nutanix's HCI innovation with Cisco's networking and security prowess, and Cohesity's data protection expertise, businesses can unlock new levels of agility, efficiency, and resilience in their journey towards digital transformation. As organizations continue to embrace the challenges and opportunities of the digital age, the Nutanix-Cisco-Cohesity partnership stands ready to empower them with the tools and technologies they need to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

References:

  • Nutanix/Cisco
  • Cisco/Nutanix Forge Alliance
  • Nutanix/Cohesity
  • Cisco XDR/Cohesity
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Time to Upgrade: Nutanix Legacy Software End-of-Sale Announcement

2/6/2024

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In the dynamic realm of technology, software products continuously undergo upgrades, transitions, and eventual retirements. This pattern is evident with Nutanix, a prominent provider of cloud software and hyper-converged infrastructure solutions. Their recent announcement concerning the end-of-sale for legacy software products signals a significant transition for Nutanix users, emphasizing the importance of understanding the implications and planning for the shift to the new Nutanix Cloud Platform. Let's delve into the details of this announcement.

​Understanding the Announcement:

As of February 1st, 2024, Nutanix has officially declared the end-of-sale for its legacy software products, including AOS, Flow, Prism, Calm, Files, Objects, Mine, and Era. This announcement marks the beginning of a transition period for Nutanix customers. The end-of-sale date is set for July 31st, 2024, which means that after this date, these legacy products will no longer be available for purchase.

Impact on Customers:

For existing Nutanix customers with active software subscriptions, there's a grace period until January 31st, 2025, to renew their subscriptions for the legacy products. However, after this date, renewals will only be possible with equivalent products from the new Nutanix Cloud Platform portfolio. This transition offers an opportunity for users to explore the enhanced features and benefits of the new platform while ensuring uninterrupted service for their current workloads.

Options for Customers:

Nutanix is providing customers with flexibility during this transition period. Customers can choose to renew their legacy software subscriptions before the end-of-renewal date or opt for equivalent products from the new portfolio. Additionally, Nutanix offers the option to convert legacy software subscriptions to new portfolio subscriptions before the expiration of the legacy subscription term. This allows users to seamlessly transition to the new platform without disruption.

Renewals and Conversions:

What are the options for renewing a legacy software portfolio subscription?
  1. Convert Legacy Software Portfolio Subscription to NCP and Renew NCP: Nutanix offers customers the option to convert their existing legacy software portfolio subscriptions to the new Nutanix Cloud Platform (NCP) subscriptions. By opting for this conversion, customers can seamlessly transition to the latest offerings while ensuring continued support and access to advanced features. Once converted, customers can renew their NCP subscriptions to maintain uninterrupted service.
  2. Renew Legacy Software Portfolio Subscription Directly with NCP (Coming Soon): Nutanix is working on providing customers with the option to directly renew their legacy software portfolio subscriptions with the new Nutanix Cloud Platform. This forthcoming feature will streamline the renewal process and enable users to transition to the NCP seamlessly. Stay tuned for updates on when this option becomes available.
  3. Renew with Legacy Software Portfolio Subscription Before January 31, 2025: Until January 31, 2025, customers have the opportunity to renew their existing legacy software portfolio subscriptions directly. However, this option is applicable only for subscriptions expiring before January 31, 2025. It's important for customers to assess their subscription expiration dates and take timely action to ensure continuity of service.

Equivalent Products

The table below lists the closest equivalent products. Make sure to take the training on NCP if you have more questions. 
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Planning for the Future:

For Nutanix customers, planning for the future involves understanding the implications of the end-of-sale announcement and taking appropriate action. It's essential to assess current software needs, evaluate the features and benefits of the new Nutanix Cloud Platform, and engage with the Nutanix account team or qualified partner for further guidance and support. By proactively planning for the transition, customers can ensure continuity of operations and leverage the latest innovations offered by Nutanix.
The end-of-sale announcement for Nutanix legacy software products signifies a strategic shift towards the new Nutanix Cloud Platform. While this transition may present challenges, it also offers opportunities for users to modernize their infrastructure and optimize their cloud operations. By understanding the milestones, exploring available options, and engaging with Nutanix resources from strong partners, customers can navigate this transition effectively and unlock the full potential of the Nutanix ecosystem.

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Unlocking the Power of Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2): Sizing and Deployment on Azure and AWS

10/18/2023

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​Navigating the dynamic landscape of cloud computing requires solutions that offer flexibility, simplicity, and cost-efficiency. Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) emerges as a beacon of innovation in the hybrid multi-cloud realm, providing a comprehensive platform that caters to diverse cloud deployment needs. This extensive guide dives deep into the world of NC2, exploring its intricate details, highlighting its advantages, and illuminating its deployment intricacies on Azure and AWS. Whether you are planning a migration to the cloud or optimizing your current cloud infrastructure, NC2 is a force to reckon with.

Demystifying Nutanix NC2

​Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) stands as a testament to the evolution of cloud technology, bringing together the prowess of Nutanix's hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) stack – comprising Nutanix AOS, AHV, and Prism – into the public cloud arena. It accomplishes this feat by running on bare metal instances, facilitating seamless application migration from on-premises environments to renowned public cloud providers like Azure and AWS.

The Multifaceted Benefits of NC2

  1. Simplicity: At the heart of NC2's value proposition lies a single management console that seamlessly orchestrates workloads across on-premises and public clouds. This unified approach simplifies operations, reducing operational costs while streamlining management.
  2. Flexibility: NC2 is a jack of all trades, capable of supporting various workloads, including virtual machines, containers, and bare metal instances. This remarkable flexibility empowers organizations to select the ideal deployment model for their specific use cases.
  3. Cost Efficiency: NC2 operates on a pay-as-you-go model, ensuring that customers pay only for the resources they utilize. This dynamic pricing structure not only reduces costs but also enhances resource optimization.

Exploring NC2's Use Cases

The versatility of NC2 makes it an invaluable asset for organizations. Here are some practical use cases:
  • Lift-and-Shift Migrations: NC2 simplifies the migration of workloads from on-premises to public clouds without necessitating alterations to existing applications.
  • Cloud-Native Applications: For cloud-native applications, such as microservices and containers, NC2 provides an optimal environment within a hybrid multi-cloud ecosystem.
  • Disaster Recovery: NC2 facilitates the creation of disaster recovery sites in public clouds, fortifying workloads against on-premises disruptions.

Comparative Analysis: NC2 vs. VMware Offering

While Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2), VMware on AWS, and VMware Cloud on Azure all offer hybrid cloud solutions for running VMware workloads, each presents distinct characteristics:

Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2):
  • Type: Hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) platform.
  • Underlying Infrastructure: NC2 leverages bare metal instances to run the Nutanix AOS, AHV, and Prism software stack. This approach provides direct access to the underlying hardware.
  • Management Console: Nutanix Prism offers a unified management console for both on-premises and public cloud workloads, streamlining operations.
  • Supported Workloads: NC2 is highly versatile, accommodating various workloads, including virtual machines, containers, and bare metal instances.​
  • Key Advantages: NC2 stands out with its robust flexibility and deep integration with Nutanix's HCI stack. It's an ideal choice for organizations seeking a unified platform to manage workloads across multiple environments.

VMware on AWS:
  • Type: Managed service.
  • Underlying Infrastructure: VMware on AWS operates on AWS infrastructure, providing pre-configured and managed environments for VMware workloads.
  • Management Console: VMware vCenter is the primary management console for VMware on AWS deployments.
  • Supported Workloads: While VMware on AWS supports virtual machines, it is primarily designed for running VMware workloads.
  • Key Advantages: VMware on AWS excels in providing a seamless extension of VMware workloads to the cloud, making it an attractive choice for organizations heavily invested in VMware technologies.

 VMware Cloud on Azure:
  • Type: Managed service.
  • Underlying Infrastructure: VMware Cloud on Azure runs on Azure infrastructure, offering a managed environment for VMware workloads within the Azure ecosystem.
  • Management Console: Similar to VMware on AWS, VMware Cloud on Azure relies on VMware vCenter for management.
  • Supported Workloads: VMware Cloud on Azure primarily focuses on virtual machine workloads.
  • ​Key Advantages: VMware Cloud on Azure is an excellent choice for organizations already entrenched in Azure, looking to leverage Azure's services while maintaining their VMware investments.

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An In-Depth Look at Nutanix Cloud Clusters on Microsoft Azure

7/19/2023

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​As the cloud computing landscape persistently advances, businesses are required to maintain flexibility to keep pace. A growing number of my clients are finding it necessary to administer and operate within multi-cloud environments. Within this context, Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) on Microsoft Azure present an effective solution for hybrid cloud infrastructures, facilitating businesses to streamline operations and maximize resources. In this blog, I will delve into the fundamental features and advantages of Nutanix Cloud Clusters on Microsoft Azure and examine how it can transform your corporate IT strategy. Furthermore, I will compare this with the Azure VMware Solution (AVS) and discuss how to get started on your journey with Nutanix Cloud Clusters.

What is Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) on Microsoft Azure?

​Nutanix Cloud Clusters on Microsoft Azure, or NC2, is a solution co-developed that facilitates seamless integration and management of private, public, and distributed cloud environments. It offers a unified infrastructure that allows businesses to move workloads between on-premises Nutanix clusters and Azure as per their convenience and requirements, providing true hybridity and mobility.

Key Features of Nutanix Cloud Clusters on Microsoft Azure

  • Seamless Mobility: NC2 enables effortless lift-and-shift capabilities. You can migrate running applications from on-premises infrastructure to Azure without any application retooling or re-platforming. It allows for near-instantaneous mobility of workloads.
  • Unified Management: With NC2, managing on-premises and Azure environments is simplified through a single console, Prism. You can manage applications across private and public clouds through the Prism interface, removing the complexities of multiple platform management.
  • Cost Efficiency: The NC2 solution allows for hourly and pay-as-you-go billing, providing cost optimization for your cloud expenditure. Furthermore, you can halt clusters during off-peak hours to conserve resources and cost.
  • Enterprise-grade Security: NC2 on Azure delivers security by design. The solution aligns with Azure’s standard security model, allowing for integrated and automated security solutions that protect your infrastructure from potential threats.

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