Cyxtera expands data center colocation portfolio with new on-demand connectivity offerings

Cyxtera Technologies has released a new software-powered data center architecture that aims to bring on-demand provisioning to a broad range of colocation services.

Here's everything you need to know about the new platform:

Cyxtera Extensible Data Center (CXD) Platform combines a network and services provisioning engine with an intra-data center software-defined network fabric that allows colocation customers to provision services on demand or via a web console.

Customers can run distributed environments within and across data centers without dependency on contiguous floor space and can take advantage of any CXD-powered service from a single network cross-connect. Service and management connectivity is protected by Cyxtera's AppGate SDP.

Key features of CXD include:

• Unified Services Port: enables access to multiple data center services over a single physical port
• Network Exchange: provides automated provisioning to select network service providers
• On-demand access to Cyxtera cybersecurity and threat analytics services
• High-availability, secure network fabric, backed by 99.999% availability SLA

In addition, the company also announced its initial CXD-powered solutions, including CXD Compute Nodes, an on-demand hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) solution; and CXD IP Connect, redundant internet connectivity.

Customers would leverage these services to extend existing colocation environments within or across data centers.

Key benefits of CXD Compute Nodes include:

• Provisions and automates HCI at the speed associated with public cloud but with private cloud security and control
• Simplifies and optimizes capacity management
• Eliminates onsite data center staffing needs
• Enables rapid deployment of additional computing power
• Reduces management complexity and cost with automated lifecycle management

CXD IP Connect, a blended Internet bandwidth service, enables customers to provision connectivity aggregated from multiple IP service providers.

With fixed and burstable options and 24/7 monitoring, IP Connect also helps customers to respond quickly to changes in demand and accommodate for future growth.

President and general manager of Data Center Services for Cyxtera, Randy Rowland, comments: "We're used to point-and-click provisioning for everything from virtual machines in the cloud to SaaS solutions, yet the data center industry still works with a screwdriver in one hand and a cable crimper in the other.

"It can take months to deploy a single application, from provisioning circuits to building out infrastructure in a colocation cage.

"CXD brings 'speed of cloud' power and provisioning to an entire range of data center services with an extensible software-powered architecture that will rapidly integrate Cyxtera-powered services and those of our network and service provider ecosystem.