Frequently Asked Questions
Hyperconverged infrastructure combines compute, storage and virtualization to create a simple, easy-to-deploy, scale-out software-defined storage solution for enterprises and service providers.
HCI provides flexibility to closely align the IT spend with dynamic business demands. Start with exactly what you need and scale to keep pace with business growth, without the need for committing massive capital upfront. It simplifies the data center complexity by reducing the IT footprint and eliminating the need for skilled resources to manage legacy infrastructure.
HCI provides the fastest way to production with its integrated approach of combining compute and storage and unifying the management. HCI provides the simplest, low-risk path to hybrid cloud for faster time to market and pay-as-you-go economics.
The simplicity of management, provisioning, and maintenance along with lower initial entry cost and dynamic expansion are the key benefits of HCI. HCI systems lend themselves to software optimization of the hardware, which will reduce CAPEX and drive greater value on each unit of investment. Customers can now realign IT resources more on innovation and strategic business value and less on keeping the lights on. Hypeconverged Infrastructure increases operational flexibility and reduces cost. The simplicity of deployment, ongoing operation, ease of management, and maintenance will reduce planned downtime and enhance productivity.
HCI Solutions are ideal for general purpose virtual servers, databases, cloud deployment, VDI, Test/Dev, big data, ROBO, and containerized workloads. Additionally, HCI systems are a good fit for Service Providers. In this environment, the smaller building block and linear scale-out lends itself to easier cost projections as service provider's ramp and refresh their subscribers and business.
HCI cluster can start from 2-4 nodes and grow in the linear increments of one node providing greater granularity in IT spend. HCI clusters can scale big to consolidate enterprise apps and reduce IT footprint.
HCI can be purchased as an integrated appliance or just as software and deployed on commodity nodes. Both approaches have pros and cons to suit varying IT needs. While integrated appliance provides pre-integration, optimization, and single support, HCI nodes allow you to pick the best of breed hardware and HCI software.
HCI cluster eliminates single-point-of-failure from truly distributed storage deployment model. It is designed to ensure business continuity in the event of a machine or human error. It provides protection against host, VM, rack, or even site failure. Native and optimized data protection and business continuity solution are available to meet the aggressive uptime requirement of business applications.
Customers have the flexibility to procure HCI solutions upfront on CapEx, aaS subscription or on consumption-based pricing that best meets business objectives.
For integrated HCI appliances, customers receive single point support for hardware, software, and virtualization. Customer service and support for the bring-your-own HCI model are usually split among hardware and software vendors creating a multi-pronged approach.
