The phrase Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) was coined by VMware’s CTO, Dr. Steve Herrod. Todays DCs are typically built across silos of Networking, servers and storage which pretty much limits the ability of IT to respond to changing business needs. The SDDC addresses this limitations by moving the network, server and storage as a software service. This approach sets the Data center ready to meet the dynamic business needs like increasing the application workloads.
A software-defined data center (SDDC) is a data storage facility in which all elements of the infrastructure — networking, storage, CPU and security – are virtualized and delivered as a service. Deployment, provisioning, configuration and operation of the entire infrastructure is abstracted from hardware and implemented through software. This is in contrast to traditional data centers where the infrastructure is typically defined by hardware and devices.
SDDC has 3 major building blocks as below –
- Server virtualization –
- Computer/Server virtualization, which is a software implementation of a computer.
- Network Virtualization –
- Software-defined networking (SDN), which includes network virtualization, is the process of merging hardware and software resources and networking functionality into a software-based virtual network.
- Storage virtualization –
- Software-defined storage (SDS), which includes storage virtualization, suggests a service interface to provision capacity and SLAs (Service Level Agreements) for storage, including performance and durability.
Apart from these 3 major building blocks, we have a Management and Automation layer which enables an administrator to provision, control, and manage all software-defined data center components.
At times, VDC i.e. Virtual Data Center may also be interchangeable used for SDDC concept. By virtualizing a data center, all of the resources of the system – including computing, storage, and networking – can be “abstracted” and represented in a software form
One of the key aspects to getting SDDC right is ensuring the L4-7 application delivery fabric is up to the job. That means making sure application are delivered reliably, quickly and securely. Now there is a paradigm shift for IT Business houses – Unlike in the past, vendor differentiation is shifting toward software – including management, automation and orchestration. In the nutshell , it would be apposite to say that SDDC is the ideal architecture for private, public, and hybrid clouds. VMware initiated this framework and industry analysts recognized it, SDDC extends the virtualization concepts— abstraction, pooling and automation — to all data center resources and services.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am here to share my knowledge and experience in the field of networking with the goal being – “The more you share, the more you learn.”
I am a biotechnologist by qualification and a Network Enthusiast by interest. I developed interest in networking being in the company of a passionate Network Professional, my husband.
I am a strong believer of the fact that “learning is a constant process of discovering yourself.”
– Rashmi Bhardwaj (Author/Editor)
