Netformx is building on the success of the UCS 1.0 Advisor and will release version 1.5 in May 2012.  It incorporates several new key features requested from the user community. With input from Cisco Sales Engineers (SEs), Cisco UCS product managers, and our large reseller community, the Cisco UCS 1.5 Advisor will improve upon the proven ability of the UCS 1.0 Advisor to configure and order Cisco Unified Computing Solutions (UCS) products while improving performance and provide a better user experience.

The UCS 1.0 Advisor is currently available and provides the following benefits: 

• View different components and their pricing
• Assign required services
• Upload as a ConfigSet in preparation for ordering
• Guide the user without errors to complete a full UCS configuration
• Interface with other DesignXpert advisors that include UCS hardware for expanded designs
• Improve efficiency with step-by-step order workflow for reduced time to order
• Utilize Cisco bundles and templates as building blocks for even greater efficiency
• Use the BOM preview feature to see the final results before uploading to Cisco.com

The UCS 1.5 Advisor will add the following benefits:

• Configure a UCS system and assign blades to individual chassis
• Create a report with bandwidth, storage, and installation data (power, BTU, rack units)
• Improve presentation on the DesignXpert Canvas by showing the chassis separately instead of aggregated
• Provide a new and more comprehensive user guide

The UCS 1.5 Advisor builds on the solid UCS 1.0 Advisor with more time saving features and abilities. It will include all the latest B-Series Blade Servers, Chassis, Fabric Extenders, and Fabric Interconnect products with the ability to configure the smallest to the largest orders.

The user experience will be richer thanks to a new hierarchical view supporting blade slot assignment and distribution. The validation process will ensure the UCS configuration meets all current Cisco requirements to complete an order without errors.

Please check back on this page for the latest news on the UCS Advisor.

Will Netformx UCS 1.5 Advisor complement CCW UCS?
Yes, the UCS 1.5 Advisor and CCW UCS will offer a different experience and will be viewed by Cisco as complementary. Netformx DesignXpert® and the UCS 1.5 Advisor will continue to be a licensed, desktop-based application targeting “advanced” users who want to design complex product configurations or data center solutions including Cisco and other vendor products.  It leverages the rich user experience offered by Netformx DesignXpert® including the ability to design UCS solutions while offline. Prior to September 2011, UCS 1.0 Advisor was the only solution for customers to configure Cisco UCS Blade-Server solutions.

CCW is only available online. The Cisco e-Commerce Workspace enables Cisco partners to go from quote-to-order with B-Series solutions, among other Cisco products.

Will UCS 1.5 Advisor be able to upload config sets directly to CCW?
Netformx is currently working with Cisco on enabling that functionality in Netformx DesignXpert for a release in the near future. When released, it will enable a UCS 1.5 Advisor project to be uploaded directly to CCW.

Will I be able to migrate my current UCS projects to the new UCS 1.5 Advisor?
Yes, users will be able to open any UCS 1.0 project in UCS 1.5 and modify them.

Will there be a UCS Only Edition for the UCS 1.5 Advisor?
Yes, a standalone UCS Only Edition featuring the UCS 1.5 Advisor is scheduled to be available to Cisco partners with the GA release of UCS 1.5.