Schneider Electric Announces APC NetShelter Racks and Micro Data Centers Achieve Cisco Certification

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced today at EDGE Congress that APC NetShelter® SX with Shock Packaging has achieved Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) Pre-rack and Ship Certification, expanding certification from one standard size to covering the entire product line.

The NetShelter SX product line includes 13 preconfigured SKUs with Shock Packaging and thousands of customization options with configure and engineer-to-order factory processes such as the Micro Data Center Xpress SX 24U and 42U pre-integrated with all of the APC physical infrastructure. All of these products are now certified to ship as a pre-integrated package with Cisco UCS servers globally.

"This certification is crucial for our customers because it provides the assurance that our products are certified for shipments with potentially millions of dollars of equipment inside," said Dave Johnson, EVP, IT Division, Schneider Electric. "Schneider Electric is dedicated to our alliance with Cisco to ensure that we jointly provide our customers with the highest quality converged solutions that are the building blocks of the edge."

Cisco UCS is a leader in converged infrastructure and is the foundation for NetApp FlexPod, Dell|EMC VBLOCK, IBM VersaStack, Pure Storage FlashStack, and Microsoft Azure Stack along with Cisco's Hyperconverged solution HyperFlex. With the certification, all of these converged infrastructures can ship in APC NetShelter SX racks with Shock Packaging.

Multiple Benefits for IT Channel Partners and Systems Integrators
For IT channel partners, a combined Micro Data Center solution from APC saves both valuable integration floor space and time by not having to unbox, install, and configure during the integration process.

"Tech Data is excited to see this expanded certification on the APC NetShelter SX products because we know from experience that the testing and packaging meet the highest quality standards," said Maghen Hannigan, Director of Converged and Data Center Solutions, Tech Data. "This now gives us the ability to create a true end-to-end solution that saves our channel partners deployment time and money, while heightening the value we provide around converged data center solutions." 

APC Products Surpass International Safe Transit Association 3E Tests
APC's NetShelter SX with Shock Packaging underwent stringent testing procedures beyond the standard International Safe Transit Association 3E tests. To earn the Cisco certification, Schneider Electric invested heavily in testing and analysis to measure the forces placed on the equipment and the NetShelter's ability to dampen them, ensuring reliable shipment.

"APC by Schneider was the perfect company to partner with in the Micro Data Center solutions space," said Dan Hanson, Senior Director, UCS Product Management, Cisco. "Through our Alliance, we are strengthening our commitment to delivering world-class Edge and IOT solutions that offer tremendous flexibility, resiliency, and deploy faster than ever."

A Wide Range of Options for a Wide Range of Customer Needs
The NetShelter SX family of products, the world's most versatile server rack enclosure with over 1 million units sold, comes in a wide variety of heights, widths, and depths for a wide range of customer needs. For example, for off-site colocation deployments, IT managers may want to maximize their footprint with taller racks, at edge locations they may require a rack that can fit in a closet or underneath a desk, while on premise IT managers may prefer wider cabinets for easier access and maintenance. The certification also covers customization of NetShelter SX racks with Shock Packaging so customers and partners can venture outside the catalog, such as integrating their necessary APC accessories or customizing racks in signature colors, while maintaining peace of mind knowing the whole family of products is certified.

APC now offers more options for pre-integrating a Cisco UCS in APC rack infrastructure and shipping it, providing an end-to-end solution for partners and a plug and play experience for end users, without voiding the UCS warranty. Reusable Shock Packaging meets the industry shipping standard ISTA 3E, protecting cabinets equipped with up to 2,000 pounds of IT equipment for reliable load, transport, unload, and deployment.

For the ability to manage these many environments, Cisco and Schneider Electric provide the EcoStruxure™ IT platform with Cisco UCS manager integration, which can simplify data management and provide visibility of the power infrastructure across the two platforms through a single pane of glass.

Check out the APC alliances page to learn more about how APC and Cisco are working together to create solutions that power advanced data center technologies. For more information on the NetShelter SX line of products, please visit our web page.

About EcoStruxure™
EcoStruxure is Schneider Electric's open, interoperable, IoT-enabled system architecture and platform. EcoStruxure delivers enhanced value around safety, reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and connectivity for customers. EcoStruxure leverages advancements in IoT, mobility, sensing, cloud, analytics, and cybersecurity to deliver Innovation at Every Level. This includes Connected Products, Edge Control, and Apps, Analytics & Services. EcoStruxure has been deployed in 480,000+ sites, with the support of 20,000+ system integrators and developers, connecting over 1.6 million assets under management through 40+ digital services. 

About EDGE Congress 
Schneider Electric is the founding partner for EDGE Congress, the BroadGroup's brand-new series of innovative and interactive global events focused on edge computing's transformative impact on technology, business, and society. With strong market drivers and demand for more distributed IT architecture to support emerging technologies, the shift to edge represents one of the most profound opportunities to modernize today's legacy infrastructure and data center ecosystem. The defining industry players will meet in Austin, TX, October 24-25, 2018, for the inaugural event.

About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is leading the Digital Transformation of Energy Management and Automation in Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. With global presence in over 100 countries, Schneider is the undisputable leader in Power Management – Medium Voltage, Low Voltage and Secure Power, and in Automation Systems. We provide integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software. In our global Ecosystem, we collaborate with the largest Partner, Integrator and Developer Community on our Open Platform to deliver real-time control and operational efficiency. We believe that great people and partners make Schneider a great company and that our commitment to Innovation, Diversity and Sustainability ensures that Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment. schneider-electric.com

About Cisco
Cisco is the worldwide technology leader that has been making the Internet work since 1984. Our people, products, and partners help society securely connect and seize tomorrow's digital opportunity today. Discover more at newsroom.cisco.com and follow us on Twitter at @Cisco.

https://www.schneider-electric.com/en/work/campaign/life-is-on/life-is-on.jsp

www.schneider-electric.com/ecostruxure

Related resources:

• NetShelter SX web page 
• Schneider Electric Cisco Alliance web page
• Cisco Technology Marketplace – NetShelter SX Certification listing 
• NetShelter SX Cisco Certified for Pre-integration and Shipment of Cisco UCS brochure 

Hashtags:  #EcoStruxure  #EdgeComputing  #LifeIsOn

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SOURCE Schneider Electric