Deploying new servers is a routine task in data centers. Whether it is tied to server refreshes, net new compute initiatives or to an expansion of existing compute capacity, adding new servers can be a time consuming activity for IT personnel.  This server deployment process has historically been very manual, with manysolutionsrequiring:

• Multiple tools or scripts
• Repeated human interaction by the server team throughout the deployment process
• Coordination of activities across server, networking and storage administrators for every server deployed.

All of these add to complexity, increase time to production, increase costs, and unavoidably increase the potential of human error.

What is needed is a dependable, repeatable process that automates and streamlines server deployment activities. This lets IT staff to devote their time to more value added activities which improves operations and productivity, yielding a much better TCO picture. Automated, fast, efficient, scalable management and infrastructure -this is where Cisco UCS and UCS Manager excel.

The efficiency of Cisco UCS server deployment is tied to UCS Manager. Cisco took a unique approach to computing and focused on the common  point of interaction, the fabric. Servers don't operate in isolation. They are part of a total environment that at the minimum encompasses servers, networking, management and storage -a Fabric Based Infrastructure .  Cisco's comprehensive and efficient architecture is the key to why customers worldwide are rapidly adopting UCS.

This detailed paper (below) does a side by side "time to deploy" evaluation of the Cisco UCS B200 M3 and the HP BL460c Gen8. The strength of UCS and UCS Manager for automation is clear in the ease of use and lack of complexity.
Below is a new time lapse side-by-side video - B200 M3 is 77% Faster Blade Deployment vs. HP BL460c Gen8.This new video (July 2013) illustrates the Business Advantage of the Cisco UCS Unified Compute, Unified Fabric and Unified Management -Cisco's Unified Data Center. Comparing this video to the one we did for the B200 M2 is 47% Faster Blade Deployment vs. HP BL460c G7 (May 2011), Cisco UCS Manager has shaved a full minute off the deployment time for two blade servers and still only takes 14 steps to set up the automated process. HP's time to deploy increased dramatically and is still very serial nature with lots of manual inputs.

https://youtu.be/bSSQfNt7SFk

For information on how UCS and UCS Manager integrates with other major systems management tools follow this link UCS Manager Ecosystem Partners and for interoperability see the UCS Interoperability page.