Fusion-io Optimizes Virtualization with Flexible Flash Solutions to Accelerate VDI, Virtual Machines and Hybrid Flash Appliances

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- [VMware Partner Exchange trade show booth 409] – Fusion-io FIO today announced comprehensive updates to its full portfolio of flash-fueled virtualization solutions based on Fusion ioMemory. In addition to this week's announcement of the general availability of Fusion ioVDI software for virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) acceleration, Fusion-io has also introduced updates to the Fusion ioTurbine virtualization caching software, a new VMware Reference Architecture for the Fusion ioControl hybrid flash array, and certification support for the VMware Virtual SAN.

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"Flash and virtualization technologies complement each other to maximize datacenter efficiency, performance, and cost savings," said Lee Caswell, Fusion-io vice president, Virtualization Products Group. "By relieving the stress that virtualization places on conventional disk performance as users increase virtual server density, flash memory extends the performance of desktops and boosts the value of existing shared storage resources."

Fusion-io customers have reported performance gains of nearly 20x with flash-optimized acceleration for data-intensive virtualization workloads. With a full portfolio of server and desktop virtualization acceleration solutions, Fusion-io offers flash solutions that maximize the efficiency of virtualization with flash that fits across a wide variety of existing datacenter architectures. 

This week's general availability introduction of Fusion ioVDI, the industry's first desktop-aware VDI solution, finally makes it possible to support persistent virtual desktops while maximizing performance and minimizing both capital and operating expenses. Fusion ioVDI software leverages Fusion ioMemory flash to deliver seamless, reliable, and cost-effective virtual desktop performance with consistent low latency response times for even data-intensive application workloads.

A new VMware-validated VDI Reference Architecture with VMware Horizon View documents how companies implementing VDI can lower storage costs per desktop while delivering the predictable user experience necessary for VDI success with the Fusion ioControl hybrid flash appliance. With the unique, software-defined ability to assign performance according to application priorities, ioControl simplifies performance management while ensuring that the right applications get the right performance at the right time. The new Reference Architecture provides guidelines on maximizing consistent performance and reducing VDI implementation risks with ioControl Hybrid Storage, Cisco UCS and VMware Horizon View.

To maximize server-side flash economics within SAN-enabled datacenters, a newly released update for Fusion ioTurbine caching software now provides tighter integration with vCenter as well as new operating system support for vSphere 5.5, RHEL 6.5 and SLES 11. Fusion ioTurbine offloads SANs by up to 96 percent with support for hypervisor and guest caching, dynamic reallocation of cache memory during vMotion, and unified management of caching across virtual and physical environments. To evaluate actual application workloads to assess the benefits of caching in their unique datacenter environments, IT professionals can download the ioTurbine Profiler software after a quick registration. Enterprises can also receive complimentary performance evaluation consultations through the Fusion-io Fast Flash program.

"Companies of all sizes have adopted virtualization to make better use of IT resources and achieve economic savings," said David Floyer, Wikibon Chief Technology Officer. "However, virtualization brings an IO 'tax' that can adversely affect performance and user experience, especially with latency sensitive workloads such as database and VDI. Fusion-io provides a rich variety of storage products and software that easily integrate into the datacenter, enabling databases, virtual servers, VDI, and high performance applications to deliver cost-effective performance in virtual environments."

In addition, Fusion ioMemory flash products are now VMware-certified as optimized solutions for powerful flash performance for the VMware Virtual SAN converged virtual infrastructure. Currently in public testing, VMware Virtual SAN is a new software-defined storage solution that extends the hypervisor to pool CPUs, flash memory and locally attached disks to provide a converged compute and storage infrastructure. Trusted by thousands of enterprises around the world, the unique architecture of Fusion-io flash memory maximizes performance in VMware Virtual SAN deployments.

"We are pleased to work with Fusion-io to provide our customers with solutions that enable simplicity and provide cost-effective performance," said Sanjay Katyal, vice president, VMware Global Strategic Alliances Organization. "From servers to shared flash appliances, Fusion-io provides performance for virtualized environments to accelerate business success with VMware solutions."

Fusion-io is exhibiting in booth 409 during the VMware Partner Exchange Summit (PEX) at the Moscone Center in San Francisco from February 10 – 13, 2014. Visit Fusion-io at PEX or on our website solutions pages to learn more about transforming virtualization with flash-optimized performance.

ABOUT FUSION-IO
Fusion-io delivers the world's data faster. Our Fusion ioMemory platform and software defined storage solutions accelerate virtualization, databases, cloud computing, big data and performance applications. From e-commerce retailers to the world's social media leaders and Fortune Global 500 companies, our customers are improving the performance and efficiency of their data centers with Fusion-io technology to accelerate the critical applications of the information economy.

NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements concerning the potential benefits of the Fusion ioVDI and ioTurbine software. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions regarding future events and business performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained, anticipated, or implied in any forward-looking statement, including, but not limited to, the risk that users of Fusion-io's products may not realize the expected benefits, and such other risks set forth in the registration statements and reports that Fusion-io files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.fusionio.com. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events.  Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Fusion-io undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason after the date of this press release.

Fusion-io, ioVDI, ioTurbine and the Fusion-io logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Fusion-io, Inc. in the United States and other countries.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Fusion-io