UShareSoft, provider of the UForge cloud software automation and marketplace platform, today announced one of the industry's first off-the-shelf hybrid cloud offerings, Plug2watt. Developed together with Cisco France, Plug2watt is a ready-to-run solution that works with French national cloud provider, Cloudwatt.
UShareSoft and Cisco worked together to develop a customized version of UForge that leverages the platform's hybrid functionality. Pre-integrated into FlexPod, this version enables quick and easy implementation of a hybrid cloud. Customers can flexibly migrate, create and maintain application images for their local private cloud, or remotely on their service provider's cloud. This allows enterprise customers to quickly and easily benefit from IT functionality on demand, either locally or remotely. With Plug2watt, customers can efficiently and securely implement a hybrid cloud, while allowing multiple users to create and manage application images.
Plug2watt includes open-source tools for the configuration and management of local resources, and works with SuSE Cloud, OpenStack and CloudStack.
Plug2watt adds private cloud functionality to Cloudwatt's public cloud, enabling customers to benefit from a "plug and play" hybrid cloud solution.
Plug2watt is based on the FlexPod infrastructure, including NetApp storage and Cisco servers. APX, a systems integrator and partner of UShareSoft, Cisco, NetApp and Cloudwatt, is responsible for commercialization and implementation in France. A broad range of FlexPod configurations allows APX to offer hybrid cloud implementations that range from entry level up to high end.
"2013 was a very successful year for UShareSoft, culminating in the announcement that Zynga is now using UForge to automate image creation and deployment. We're excited to kick off 2014 with such a strong partnership in place," said Alban Richard, CEO, UShareSoft. "Plug2watt is a major milestone for cloud providers entering the hybrid cloud space for their enterprise customers. It offers a ready-to-use solution that also allows customers to keep full control and governance of their software and applications."
"This is an excellent example of collaboration between major cloud players to offer all French companies fast and easy access to hybrid cloud," said Patrick Starck, CEO, Cloudwatt.
"We are very pleased to make it easier for companies to use the French national cloud through this important partnership," said Robert Vassoyan, CEO, Cisco France. "This highly integrated solution is quick and easy to implement and is fully in line with Cisco's strategy of providing solutions that offer customers choice and the ability to evolve between public, private and hybrid clouds."
"We are very excited about this innovative partnership which showcases how FlexPod integrates with our customers' existing infrastructures, while providing access to remote applications on public clouds," said Olivier Picard, Sales Director, NetApp France. "Plug2watt is an ideal example of what NetApp and Cisco offer through the FlexPod converged, certified infrastructure: smart, simple data management for public, private and hybrid clouds that aims to optimize costs and provide simplified access to applications."
"Through the Plug2watt project, we are demonstrating our DNA as a cloud builder: integration of unified compute, storage and networking technologies; innovation in IaaS and SaaS provisioning; and the industrialization of delivery and support," said Bruno Lampe, CEO, APX. "Plug2watt is now a fully operational platform for companies wishing to enjoy all the benefits of private and public clouds while staying fully secure."