Enterprise data center architecture is in the midst of the most dramatic change in decades. Hyperscale data centers have pioneered the software-defined data center (SDDC) on industry-standard hardware. Enterprise data center operators recognize the value of this approach, but few have implemented it at the network and storage layers. A software-defined data center extends the value provided by server virtualization by eliminating the remaining resource silos, increasing utilization and agility, and giving the flexibility to dynamically choose the best location and infrastructure for each workload.

Early adopters are now deploying key elements of the software-defined data center in large production environments. These products are expected to move into mainstream use by 2017. In this slideshow, Bill Stevenson, executive chairman for Sanbolic, discusses the move toward hyperconverged infrastructure and the core components of the 2017 data center.