6fusion Launches New Cloud Platform Version

Infrastructure-as-a-service provider 6fusion has launched the UC6 3.0 beta, which brings a multitude of new features for services providers, including the ability to build and control cloud workloads running either in the 6fusion iNode Network or in the customer’s private cloud. Here’s an update on the 6fusion efforts.

The full list of notable new features in UC6 3.0, directly from 6fusion’s blog:

• Building, controlling and maintaining cloud workloads running on 6fusion’s iNode Network or privately within the customer’s own data center
• Integration of the light weight UC6 Profiler agent, released in 2009, into the UC6 Console dashboard, giving service providers the capability to perform deep pre-migration analysis
• Capability for data center operators and customers to launch new 6fusion Infrastructure Nodes anywhere in the world from a centralized NOC
• Instantly ‘unplug’ workloads from the cloud and redirect them elsewhere
• True metered utility powered by 6fusion’s patent-pending Workload Allocation Cube algorithm
• Integrated granular charge back capability for enterprise resource segments
• A rich set of integration capabilities to allow external programs to take advantage of the highly modular design of UC6.

6fusion’s business is built around providing the IT channel with a software platform to turn virtualized servers, network, and storage into a billable utility that’s available to external users. The blog entry indicates that UC6 3.0 is hypervisor-independent, potentially avoiding cloud vendor lock-in issues.

UC6 3.0 beta is currently only available to existing 6fusion partners and customers, but a general public release is scheduled for later this year.

There are two ways in which UC6 can be deployed, the company says:

• Inside customer’s private data center, using 6fusion Enterprise Infrastructure Node (iNode).
• Across third-party data centers around the world, using the 6fusion iNode Network.

Working the Market

6fusion CEO John Cowan has been studying the managed services market for quite some time. Over the past couple of years, MSPmentor has met him at such conferences as the N-able Partner Summit, Ingram Micro Seismic Partner Conference and the HP Americas Partner Conference.

During the recent HP event, we heard whispers that 6fusion was kicking around potential partner ideas with Hewlett-Packard.

Additional reporting by Joe Panettieri. Sign up for MSPmentor’s weekly Enewsletter, Webcasts and Resource Center. And follow us via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; and Twitter. Plus, check out more MSP voices at www.MSPtweet.com.