Hyperconverged Infrastructure
What is Hyperconverged Infrastructure?
Combine storage, compute, and networking into a single system with hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI). This simplified solution uses software and x86 servers to replace expensive, purpose-built hardware. With hyperconverged infrastructure, you’ll decrease data center complexity and increase scalability.
Traditional three-tier architecture is expensive to build, complex to operate, and difficult to scale. Don't wait for IT infrastructure to support your application demands. Adopt HCI without losing control, increasing costs, or compromising security.
Hyperconverged Infrastructure Explained
Why Should You Evolve to HCI?
Learn more about hyperconverged infrastructure, the benefits of making the switch, and how to get started.
Watch the Video (2:22)
Top Use Cases for Hyperconverged Infrastructure
Uncover the biggest HCI trends, top use cases, and most deployed workloads of 2019.
Read the Report
How Does Hyperconverged Infrastructure Work?
- All critical data center functions run on a tightly integrated software layer, as opposed to purpose-built hardware.
- Three software components make up a hyperconverged platform: storage virtualization, compute virtualization, and management.
- The virtualization software abstracts and pools the underlying resources, then dynamically allocates them to applications running in VMs or containers.
- Configuration is based on policies aligned with the applications, eliminating the need for complicated constructs like LUNs and volumes.
- Advanced management features further reduce manual tasks and help automate entire operations.
What is the Difference Between Hyperconverged and Converged?
Hyperconverged and converged IT infrastructures both integrate the four components of a data center. While hyperconverged systems accomplish this through software, making it hardware-agnostic, converged solutions rely on hardware. A converged infrastructure data center uses many of the same products as traditional IT, just with a simplified architecture and easier management.
Benefits of Hyperconvergence vs. Traditional, Three-Tier Architecture
Simpler Operations
Eliminate manual processes and the need for siloed operational expertise on your team. Now, a single, converged IT team can monitor and manage compute and storage resources, freeing up precious staff time.
Lower Costs
Reduce your CAPEX by using a scale-up/scale-out architecture that requires only industry-standard x86 servers, not expensive, purpose-built networking. Then simply add capacity as needed with no disruptions.
Greater Agility
Be more responsive to rapidly changing business needs. Set up hardware in a few hours; spin up workloads in minutes. Accelerate the performance of business-critical applications like relational databases.
Evaluating Hyperconverged Infrastructure? Three Things to Consider
Why hyperconverged infrastructure?
When you eliminate traditional IT silos and manage everything from a single tool, the result is lower OPEX and CAPEX associated with running your IT infrastructure. And with hyperconverged infrastructure, you don’t have to sacrifice security, flexibility, or scalability. Learn why VMware hyperconverged infrastructure has the most HCI customers in production worldwide in this infographic.
How will it integrate with your existing environment?
To deliver most value and ultimately a path to the complete software‐defined data center (SDDC), a hyperconverged infrastructure solution shouldn’t be tied to a specific hardware platform. VMware HCI allows you the maximum choice and flexibility, with the freedom to choose your preferred platform, fully integrate with your existing infrastructure, and protect and optimize existing investments.
Can the solution efficiently and cost-effectively grow when, where, and how you need it?
Data center scaling can be a costly, complicated process. VMware hyperconverged infrastructure is designed for simplicity and scalability so that you can be more responsive to rapidly changing business needs. Only VMware has the complete set of offerings for a fully software-defined data center in production today. This means the agility to deploy applications, standardize IT across environments, and future-proof your IT for public clouds.
The Most Trusted Hyperconverged Infrastructure Solution
vSphere
The industry-leading virtualization platform that provides a common operating environment across hybrid cloud.
vSAN
The only vSphere-embedded, flash-optimized storage for virtual machines and containers that reduces TCO by as much as 50%.
vCenter Server
A centralized platform that gives you visibility, efficient management at scale, and extensibility—all from a single console.
Gartner Magic Quadrant for Hyperconverged Infrastructure
vSAN is the Leading Software for HCI
Seamlessly evolve to a modern data center with VMware, the #1 choice for hyperconverged infrastructure. VMware vSAN is the only vSphere-native storage software for private and public cloud deployments. Ensure a consistent operating experience plus all-flash performance and unlock a key building block of a complete digital foundation.
See why VMware is once again positioned as a Leader in the latest Gartner Magic Quadrant for Hyperconverged Infrastructure.
Benefits of Hyperconverged Infrastructure Powered by vSAN
Simple Evolution to Full Stack HCI
- Stay native to your hypervisor and leading clouds
- Use existing virtualization tools
- Protect and optimize current investments
Broadest Flexibility
- Get certified solutions with your preferred vendor
- Enjoy day one support for the latest technologies
- Unify resources under policy-based management
Multi-Cloud Capabilities
- Ensure consistent operations from edge to core to cloud
- Gain intrinsic security for data at rest and in flight
- Choose from hundreds of public cloud providers
“Using vSAN for hyperconverged infrastructure really has made an improvement. We’re using vSAN because of its reliability; it’s stable and lives depend on it. VMware systems are designed to just keep running…it’s an unstoppable system.”
– Tom Lynott, Director of Software Architecture
Watch the Video (2:22)
“The big benefit of [VMware HCI] is being able to just on-the-fly pick up any amount of hardware, any type of server system that we would need, and put them into production without having to worry about high licensing costs.”
– Mark Fournier, Systems Architect
Watch the Video (2:46)
“There is a certainty, an assurance that everything works. Also, we feel we’re at the forefront of technology. There are additional features coming online every month.”
– Sam Akroyd, Technical Services Manager
Watch the Video (3:06)
Get Started with Hyperconverged Infrastructure
Request Your Free HCI Assessment
Ready to get started on the simplest path toward hyperconverged infrastructure and hybrid cloud? Start by evaluating the readiness of your current environment for HCI with a free, online assessment.
More About Hyperconverged Infrastructure
VMware received the highest score in the strategy category and is named a Leader by Forrester Research.
Find out why almost two-thirds of organizations who adopt HCI have adopted VMware vSAN, according to 451 Research.
Check out the infographic to see why more organizations are making the switch to address today’s IT challenges.
Learn more about the only vSphere-native, flash-optimized storage for private and public cloud deployments.
Join the Conversation
Follow us on Twitter @vmwarevsan and @VxRail, and learn more about HCI and vSAN on the Virtual Blocks blog.