Best Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) Solutions for VMware Cloud

The NetApp Virtual Storage Console (VSC) for VMware vSphere functions as a plug-in for vCenter Server, seamlessly integrating with VMware environments to enable comprehensive lifecycle management of virtual machines that use NetApp storage systems. By providing a management interface within the vCenter console, VSC allows administrators to execute various tasks aimed at improving both server and storage efficiency. Notable features include the ability to provision and clone datastores, fine-tune ESXi host configurations in line with NetApp’s best practices, and monitor storage performance and health metrics. Furthermore, VSC encompasses the VASA Provider, which facilitates the management of VMware Virtual Volumes (vVols), and the Storage Replication Adapter (SRA) that connects with VMware Site Recovery Manager, thereby enhancing data protection and disaster recovery efforts. This comprehensive toolset empowers IT teams to streamline their workflows and optimize resource utilization across their virtualized environments.

The HPE SimpliVity 380 provides IT organizations with the flexibility and cost-effectiveness associated with cloud solutions while maintaining the governance and control of on-premises systems. It serves as a robust hyperconverged solution tailored to enhance the efficiency and resilience of modern data centers. This innovative solution streamlines IT operations by integrating infrastructure and sophisticated data services for virtualized environments into a single platform. Built on HPE ProLiant DL380 servers, the HPE SimpliVity 380 is a compact and scalable 2U rack-mounted unit that unifies server, storage, and storage networking functionalities. By offering a comprehensive suite of advanced features, SimpliVity solutions significantly boost the operational efficiency, management, protection, and performance of all virtualized workloads, doing so with far less expense and complexity than traditional infrastructure setups. Moreover, organizations can leverage this technology to adapt quickly to changing business needs, thereby enhancing their overall competitive edge in the marketplace.

StoneFly delivers robust, flexible, and reliable IT infrastructure solutions that ensure seamless availability. Paired with our innovative and patented StoneFusion operating system, we are equipped to handle your data-centric applications and processes anytime and anywhere. You can easily set up backup, replication, disaster recovery, and scale out storage options for block, file, and object formats in both private and public cloud environments. In addition, we provide comprehensive support for virtual and container hosting, among other services. StoneFly also specializes in cloud data migration for various data types, including emails, archives, documents, SharePoint, and both physical and virtual storage solutions. Our all-in-one backup and disaster recovery systems can operate as either a standalone appliance or a cloud-based solution. Furthermore, our hyperconverged options enable the restoration of physical machines as virtual machines directly on the StoneFly disaster recovery appliance, facilitating rapid recovery in critical situations. With an emphasis on efficiency and reliability, StoneFly is committed to meeting the evolving demands of modern IT infrastructure.

Tailored for straightforward deployment and effective management, the Lenovo ThinkAgile HX integrates Nutanix software with Lenovo's top-rated, high-performance hardware. Specifically, the ThinkAgile HX1021 certified node is crafted as an Edge solution, featuring appropriately scaled compute and storage within a compact 1U height, half-width, and short-depth design, catering to the demands of users in remote environments. This streamlined construction empowers innovative computing capabilities right at the source of data generation in various settings such as retail, manufacturing sites, gas stations, dining establishments, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. With the introduction of advanced second-generation Intel processors, the ThinkAgile HX collection now delivers enhanced performance, making it ideal for a wide range of virtualized tasks, including Remote Office Branch Office, file and print management, email services, analytics, and in-memory databases. Lenovo systems have consistently achieved the highest number of performance world records and have maintained an unrivaled reputation for reliability over the past six years. With such robust capabilities, businesses can confidently rely on Lenovo's solutions to meet their evolving technological needs.

Maxta's Hyperconvergence software empowers IT departments to select their own servers and hypervisors, allowing for independent scaling of storage and the ability to run diverse workloads on a single cluster. Unlike traditional hyperconverged appliances, Maxta eliminates vendor lock-in, as well as refresh and upgrade taxes, providing flexibility to utilize existing servers, purchase pre-configured options, or a mix of both. While appliances may carry concealed expenses, Maxta ensures that you never have to pay for software again when updating your hardware. Many storage and hyperconverged solutions are restricted to managing policies at the LUN, volume, or cluster level, whereas Maxta enables simultaneous operation of multiple applications on the same cluster without compromising on either performance or availability. In contrast to appliance-based solutions that require you to buy new software licenses upon hardware refresh or that expand storage only through additional appliances, Maxta allows you to retain ownership of your software indefinitely and expand storage effortlessly by adding drives to your existing servers. This not only enhances cost-efficiency but also streamlines resource management in your IT environment.

A scalable, seamless, and simplified cloud foundation enhances business agility and ensures operational consistency. By leveraging a turnkey integrated software-defined data center infrastructure, organizations can expedite business outcomes and enhance flexibility. The agile, automated, and readily available hybrid cloud infrastructure guarantees consistent operations while reducing the total cost of ownership. Businesses can run applications in any environment and easily adjust to meet increasing data demands. Advanced automation facilitates the rapid deployment of hybrid cloud solutions, alleviating the burden on IT teams and boosting efficiency. This includes automated management of the day 0-2 lifecycle for both software and hardware. An integrated SDDC solution, powered by VMware Cloud Foundation, supports all virtualized and containerized applications, ensuring a uniform infrastructure across data centers and public clouds. This true hybrid cloud infrastructure allows applications to run anywhere without the need for rearchitecting, offering the flexibility of deploying workloads on either hyperconverged infrastructure or SAN systems. Ultimately, this creates a robust ecosystem that empowers businesses to innovate and respond to market changes more effectively.

The rapid increase in both the variety and number of applications, coupled with a surge in data generation and transmission within enterprise data centers, has strained the limits of contemporary IT infrastructure significantly. Conventional “scale-up” methods, which integrate infrastructure services directly into top-of-rack switches and network security devices, are increasingly inadequate, leading to unavoidable challenges in performance, agility, and scalability for numerous organizations. In response to this pressing need, Pensando Systems was established with the conviction that innovative solutions must exist to tackle these intricate challenges. Our team has adopted a foundational approach to develop a platform that empowers enterprises to achieve cloud-like speed, robust security, and streamlined operations across their entire infrastructure, all while ensuring unparalleled scale and performance. This commitment to excellence positions us as a leader in transforming enterprise IT environments.

Our latest multi-cloud solution features VMware Cloud Foundation-Subscription, which includes Tanzu Standard and introduces a flexible, term-based licensing model for on-premises implementations. This offering caters to both traditional enterprise applications and modern solutions, delivering a comprehensive suite of highly secure software-defined services encompassing compute, storage, networking, security, Kubernetes, and cloud management. By enabling consistent infrastructure and operations across both private and public clouds, businesses can enhance their agility and adaptability. Organizations can experience reduced capital and operational expenditures, alongside a lower total cost of ownership, thanks to standardized operations and an extensive variety of deployment alternatives. This solution allows for the efficient running of workloads at scale without sacrifices, ensuring a uniform infrastructure that supports both legacy enterprise applications and contemporary containerized systems. Additionally, it facilitates the seamless provisioning of dynamic infrastructure sourced from a pool of virtualized resources, whether on-premises, at the edge, or in the cloud, thereby optimizing overall resource utilization.

Engineered for the expansive 5G landscape, hyperscale networking software spans from the data center to the core, edge, and multi-cloud environments, providing exceptional scalability and rapid convergence. Its integrated monitoring and analytics engine enhances network visibility and delivers real-time intelligence, supplemented by predictive analytics and actionable insights for informed decision-making. You can deploy ACE on your current infrastructure from any location, resulting in reduced operational costs through quicker onboarding processes and enhanced reliability. Complying fully with open standards, this software enables network operators to seamlessly integrate with third-party automation and orchestration tools. The ACE platform features a three-layer architecture that is adaptable and scalable, facilitating connections among enterprise data centers and service or cloud provider infrastructures. As the first independent network operating system designed for internet-scale use, it boasts a scale-out route reflector with unmatched convergence times. This platform equips your network with actionable intelligence in real time and provides the adaptability needed to meet future demands. With its innovative design, ACE ensures that your network remains capable of evolving alongside technological advancements.