Features
How Hybrid HCI Simplifies Video Surveillance Infrastructure

Specifying and installing large-scale video surveillance systems can be a daunting task. The last few years or so we have heard more about Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI), and more recently, Hybrid Hyperconverged Infrastructure (hHCI) has also come into play. Traditional HCI has many benefits, but with that comes extensive training, multiple software components and a hefty price tag which can be out of reach for many customers in the security industry.

What is Hybrid HCI?

Hybrid Hyperconverged Infrastructure takes traditional HCI and allows connection to an external SAN storage. This provides ultimate flexibility options for future expansion as you can expand the networking and compute separate from to the storage. Separate servers, storage networks and storage arrays are replaced with a single hybrid hyperconverged solution to create an easily scalable system with a smaller footprint.

What’s the difference between traditional HCI
 and Hybrid HCI?

Traditional HCI combines storage, compute, and virtualization in each unit (node). The storage across the nodes is added to a redundant storage pool which provides resiliency of node failures. With a hybrid hyperconverged infrastructure, you no longer have to choose between a SAN or an HCI appliance, you can have them both. This way, the capacity of existing hyperconverged nodes can be expanded online by connecting to an external SAN, without needing to shut down the clustered array of nodes, adding more storage or purchasing more nodes.

How does Hybrid HCI make things simple?

Simplify product monitoring by reducing the number of points of reference. BCD International’s REVOLV Hybrid HCI (the only hybrid HCI on the market) achieves this by reducing the number of graphical user interfaces, or GUI’s, you interact with on a daily basis while monitoring the system. For example, BCD has recently developed the Harmonize Conductor iDRAC plug-in, which integrates with the core Genetec Security Center platform. This enables visibility of any faults from the storage solution within the Genetec GUI. This also gives the added advantage of only having one GUI for the operator to monitor, maintain, and react to when critical server infrastructure issues may arise. Overall, the advantages are less install time, less training and lesser chance of an operator missing an issue.

BCD International also recently released its Harmonize Conductor VMware plug-in for Genetec’s Security Center. This custom integration simplifies the user experience by introducing virtual machine monitoring within the Security Center platform. Many surveillance partners are not VMware certified and could be concerned about potential training required. Although the installation engineers will need to work within VMware, BCD has automated a significant amount of the VMware functionality behind the software, so you don’t need to be a certified VMware engineer to install and maintain the products. The amount of time spent on the VMware side can be learned within half a day’s training. Plus, step-by-step guides are sent out covering this process with every order. BCD also has certified engineers and support team ready to assist.

In the words of Albert Einstein, “Genius is making complex ideas simple, not making simple ideas complex.”

To learn more about BCD International and Hybrid HCI, contact revolv@bcdinc.com or visit bcdinc.com/revolv