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    Scale Computing Partners with Google to Create Hybrid HCI Platform

    As a provider of a hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) platform based on x86 servers, Scale Computing has been at the forefront of modernizing IT infrastructure. This week, Scale Computing announced it has extended its alliance with Google to employ a nested virtual machine running on the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) that effectively turns a public cloud into a natural extension of its HCI platform.

    Jason Collier, cofounder of Scale Computing, says the company envisions IT organizations using HC3 Cloud Unity to automate disaster recovery. In the event of, for example, a hurricane, an IT organization would work with Scale Computing to spin out any additional virtual machines needed to run workloads deployed on a local instance of the Scale HC3 platform. All the software-defined networking needed to set up that capability will have already been pre-configured by Scale Computing, says Collier.

    “In effect, GCP becomes just another node on our network,” says Collier.

    In addition to disaster recovery scenarios, Collier says Scale Computing expects IT organizations to use this capability to lift and shift on-premises workloads into GCP.

    Collier says the nested virtual machine capability provided by Google is critical because it allows an instance of Scale Computing’s HCI software to run in a minimal footprint in GCP. It’s only when the customer needs to run workloads on GCP that HC3 Cloud Unity will start provisioning additional virtual machines as required.

    Collier says HC3 Cloud Unity is really the first instance of a true hybrid cloud where the public cloud is a seamless extension of a local compute platform. Because Scale HC3 combines compute and storage in a single platform, the company’s HCI software running on GCP is able to seamlessly transfer workload because the same platform is now running on both sides of a network connection, says Collier.

    While there’s no shortage of instances of multiple clouds, true hybrid cloud computing still eludes the IT industry. But with each passing day, it’s clear that hybrid clouds are now moving closer to becoming a new IT reality.

    Mike Vizard
    Mike Vizard
    Michael Vizard is a seasoned IT journalist, with nearly 30 years of experience writing and editing about enterprise IT issues. He is a contributor to publications including Programmableweb, IT Business Edge, CIOinsight and UBM Tech. He formerly was editorial director for Ziff-Davis Enterprise, where he launched the company’s custom content division, and has also served as editor in chief for CRN and InfoWorld. He also has held editorial positions at PC Week, Computerworld and Digital Review.

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