Pure Storage and Cisco Systems have unveiled a new FlashStack Cisco Validated Design (CVD) that combines compute, storage, networking, and software into a production-ready AI factory powered by NVIDIA technology.
The joint solution, part of the Cisco Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA, is designed to help enterprises scale from experimental AI initiatives to fully operational deployments. It provides a standardized, high-performance infrastructure optimized for retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agentic AI workloads, and domain-specific large language models (LLMs).
At its core, the system integrates Pure Storage’s FlashBlade//S architecture with Cisco UCS C845a servers and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software. This combination enables rapid, low-latency data access, persistent Kubernetes orchestration through Portworx, and efficient multi-GPU workload management. Together, these technologies create a robust foundation for AI-driven enterprises to accelerate model development, streamline data operations, and ensure end-to-end security and observability.
The new FlashStack CVD represents a significant milestone in unifying data infrastructure and AI computing, allowing organizations to deploy complex AI environments with consistency, scalability, and operational simplicity.
The new FlashStack solution will be available globally in Q1 2026, offering enterprises a unified blueprint for scalable, efficient AI operations.
KEY QUOTES:
“Too often, enterprises focus on GPUs and compute power, but without reliable data, the model never reaches its potential. Our collaboration with Cisco and NVIDIA removes those data barriers, giving customers the performance, simplicity, and efficiency they need to operationalize AI.”
Maciej Kranz, GM, Enterprise, Pure Storage
“With this new FlashStack CVD, we’re not just validating hardware — we’re orchestrating all the elements of RAG into an AI-ready infrastructure, removing complexity and reducing risk so customers can focus on turning data into insights that drive strategic outcomes.”
Jeremy Foster, SVP & GM, Cisco Compute
