DARZ offers a new infrastructure solution called Docker & Container as a Service (CaaS). This cloud service is based on NetApp storage systems and represents a response to the core challenge facing all companies in light of the digital transformation: to provide faster and more cost-effective web and cloud-based applications. This is only possible with infrastructures that allow for the greatest possible agility. CaaS contributes to the successful digitization of various business areas by enabling fast and easy provision of production, test and development environments.
Container technologies offer the acceleration needed by combining applications with all of their accessories into transportable packages. Thus, containers offer decisive speed and cost advantages compared to traditional server virtualization, but still leave several important operational questions unanswered. For example, containers are not designed to store data for longer periods of time. Orchestration, data exchange, load balancing and monitoring also currently pose challenges.
Challenge solved: agility and stability combined
To close these gaps, DARZ has developed technical enhancements together with NetApp and evoila, with which the concept of the Data Fabric has been expanded and can now be fully utilized together with all of its advantages and without the application deficits mentioned earlier. In the case of DARZ, the Data Fabric now includes CaaS.
For the first time ever, it is now possible to use a plug-in to integrate NetApp storage systems into the container service for long-term, secure data storage. The simultaneous usability of the data between the housing, the private cloud / IaaS, the public cloud and CaaS is even guaranteed.
As part of its consulting know-how, evoila, a provider of consulting services, supports DARZ’s offering with its own software solution for user-specific reporting and billing. The orchestration, scaling and availability monitoring of the container lifecycle is ensured by the open source platform Cloud Foundry. Customers who want to use CaaS for their applications will also benefit not only from evoila’s valuable consulting services, but also its specific expertise in the area of containers, dockers and Cloud Foundry. This allows for fast and clean application development.
CaaS therefore includes everything companies need to optimize and accelerate their application development – in a single solution and based on DARZ’s highly secure, highly available infrastructure.
“The rapid provision of new applications and software features is no longer a nice-to-have for Internet startups or the big players of the digital age. When it comes to software development, speed of innovation is critical to the competitiveness of any enterprise,” says Horst Thieme, Cloud Business Development Emerging Solutions & Innovation EMEA, at NetApp Deutschland GmbH.
“We are happy to contribute the crucial component to this solution with our open source expertise on Cloud Foundry that packs containerization into an organizational and auditable framework model,” adds Johannes Hiemer, Managing Director of evoila GmbH.
“Our CaaS offering is a critical step towards greater cost-efficiency and speed, and gives our customers competitive advantages by gaining innovative power in the age of the digital transformation. We are establishing ourselves here in a very young and innovative technology segment and proving once again that we are able to achieve more by practicing innovative partnership,” says Lars Göbel, Head of Sales and IT Services at DARZ.
About NetApp
Leading companies from around the world rely on NetApp software, systems, and services to manage and store their data. Our customers appreciate our teamwork, our expertise and our commitment to their success. Further information is available at www.netapp.de.
About evoila
evoila is an IT service company based in Mainz with a focus on new cloud technologies and DevOps. Starting with consulting, analysis, transformation and operation, evoila also offers a wide range of technology training and workshops and develops tools and solutions that simplify the handling of new technologies and maximize the benefits of using them. evoila is a Silver Member of the Cloud Foundry Foundation, has strong expertise in the area of OpenStack and VMware, and works together with global technology providers on many projects.
