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Hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) combines compute, storage and virtualisation in one cluster of standard servers, managed from a single console. Instead of separate servers, a storage network and a SAN array, each server (node) adds its own processors, memory and drives to a shared pool.
Fortuna Data supplies HCI on Lenovo ThinkAgile systems for Nutanix, Microsoft Azure Local and VMware vSAN, and helps UK organisations choose and size the right platform.
New to hypervisors? Read: What is a hypervisor?
| 3-tier | HCI | |
|---|---|---|
| Components | Separate servers, storage network and SAN array | One cluster of servers with storage inside |
| Management | Separate tools for servers, network and storage | One console |
| Growing | Upgrade servers and storage separately | Add nodes |
| Flexibility | Scale compute and storage independently | Compute and storage grow together |
| Best for | Very large or specialised storage needs | Virtualised workloads, branch offices, simpler management |
Read more: What is 3-tier architecture? and SAN storage
Tell us about your servers, storage and virtual machines, and a specialist will recommend the right platform and cluster size.
Compare all three: Lenovo ThinkAgile
Hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) combines compute, storage and virtualisation in one cluster of standard servers, managed from a single console.
A SAN is a separate storage array shared by servers over a storage network. HCI puts the storage inside the servers and pools it across the cluster, so no separate array is needed.
Converged infrastructure packages separate servers, storage and networking into one pre-tested system. Hyper-converged infrastructure goes further and runs storage as software on the servers themselves.
No. HCI keeps copies of data on more than one node to survive failures, but you still need separate backups to recover from deletion, corruption or ransomware.
It mainly depends on the software you want to run: Nutanix, Microsoft Azure Local or VMware vSAN. See Lenovo ThinkAgile or contact us for advice.
It depends on the platform, number of nodes, hardware and licences. Contact us with your requirements and we will provide a quote.
Tell us what you run today and what you want to change. We will recommend the right HCI platform and give you a clear UK quote.
Prefer email? Write to solutions@data-storage.uk
