Avnet Technology Solutions, the solutions distribution leader and an operating group of Avnet, Inc. announced it has been certified as a Cisco UCS B-Series Authorized Configurator (UBAC) for the U.S. and Canada. Avnet is the first distributor in the U.S. and Canada to achieve this certification. This certification enables Avnet to configure, assemble and test pre-built base Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers, helping solution providers, value-added resellers (VARs) and independent software vendors (ISVs) cost-effectively accelerate the delivery of data center solutions. Avnet was selected for this certification based on its successful demonstration of superior processes, team of dedicated engineers and exclusive SolutionsPath Demo Center.
“Channel partners need to provide custom data center solutions to meet the unique needs of their customers, but configuring and integrating these solutions can be time and resource intensive,” said Darren Adams, general manager and vice president, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas, Cisco Solutions Group. “Based on Avnet’s decades of proven integration expertise, we will be the first distributor in the U.S. and Canada to provide partners with built-to-order data center solutions featuring Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers. Our services, coupled with onsite inventory of Cisco products, will help partners deliver data center solutions tailored to their customers’ business challenges quickly and cost-effectively, without the need for our channel partners to invest in developing their own complex integration capabilities.”
As a Cisco UBAC distributor, Avnet will provide channel partners with high-value integration services. These services include configuring Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers with the addition of processors, memory, hard drives and cards; adding custom assembled blades to Cisco UCS B-Series chassis; and assembling and testing Cisco UCS blade servers, chassis, fabric extenders, fabric interconnects and Cisco UCS Manager. Avnet can also provide further integration services with products from EMC, NetApp, Hitachi and VMware to create holistic data center solutions for channel partners. Additionally, partners will benefit from shorter lead times for their custom solutions based on the access to Avnet’s onsite inventory of Cisco data center products and certified integration processes.
“Cisco recognizes that data center customers require highly-specialized solutions to meet their business needs,” said Julie Hens, vice president of North American distribution at Cisco. “Avnet has proven not only that they are experts in helping channel partners target the data center market, but also that they have invested in developing the integration and technical capabilities needed to configure and integrate solutions based on Cisco UCS B-Series Blade Servers. As a U.S. and Canadian Cisco UCS B-Series Authorized Configurator, Avnet will help our channel partners deliver solutions to their customers faster and with increased flexibility.”
Avnet’s solutions architects will work with channel partners to provide them with hardware integration, software configuration, packaging and logistics, and maintenance services. These services include custom cabling and racking; application uploading, configuration and testing; virtualization partitioning; operating system installation; custom image loads; and database installation. Avnet’s integration services allow channel partners to focus their resources on their core business strategies, while relying on Avnet’s world-class supply chain services to complete the sales process. Avnet will integrate these solutions utilizing its Global Solutions Center in Chandler, Arizona.
Avnet was also certified as a Cisco Unified Computing System C-Series Authorized Configurator (UCAC) distributor in the U.S. and Canada in July 2010.
