Lenovo Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) has announced it will be the first to market with VMware’s software solution for the edge running on the resilient ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Servers.

The new solution will be delivered directly to customer edge sites with the VMware software solution pre-loaded on a pair of ruggedised and security enhanced ThinkSystem SE350.

In addition, Lenovo also announced the enhancement of Lenovo Open Cloud Automation management software to automate the planning, deployment and ongoing management of data centre cloud deployments all the way to edge sites. Organisations can now plan their data centre cloud and edge infrastructure solutions using the same management software.

Hybrid work is the next reality, accelerating the need for edge to cloud solutions and Lenovo is working to build smarter infrastructure solutions so customers can successfully navigate this hybrid workplace.

“For better business continuity, improved applications and user experiences, hybrid cloud models are being deployed both in the cloud and at the edge. The new solution announced today supports this hybrid model,” says Charles Ferland, vice-president and GM: edge computing and communication service providers at Lenovo ISG.

“It can save up to half of the servers normally needed and takes full advantage of the built-in networking features of the ThinkSystem SE350 to further remove any other networking elements at the edge sites.”

Lenovo will be the first-to-market with VMware and its forthcoming software solution for the edge running on Lenovo’s ThinkSystem SE350, which will simplify networking with built-in switching and wireless connectivity, eliminating the need for external network devices at the edge and allowing for smoother and more seamless operation.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Lenovo as customers are taking their innovation from the data centre to the public cloud to the edge,” says Muneyb Minhazuddin, vice-president: edge computing at VMware.

The new solution is ideal for remote sites that need to be able to process data closer to its creation and closer to users, including retail stores, manufacturing sites, and schools, to name a few. Because of the ruggedised nature of the ThinkSystem SE350, this solution will be able to sustain extreme temperatures and high levels of shock. In addition, the encrypted hard disks along with motion and tamper detection will be in place to help keep the data and device safe.