Hyper-converged infrastructure explained

Hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) is a software-defined IT infrastructure that virtualizes all of the elements of conventional "hardware-defined" systems. HCI includes, at a minimum, virtualized computing (a hypervisor), software-defined storage, and virtualized networking (software-defined networking).[1] [2] HCI typically runs on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) servers.

The primary difference between converged infrastructure and hyperconverged infrastructure is that in HCI both the storage area network and the underlying storage abstractions are implemented virtually in software (at or via the hypervisor) rather than physically in hardware.[1] Because software-defined elements are implemented in the context of the hypervisor, management of all resources can be federated (shared) across all instances of a hyper-converged infrastructure.

Design

Hyperconvergence evolves away from discrete, software-defined systems that are connected and packaged together toward a purely software-defined environment where all functional elements run on commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) servers, with the convergence of elements enabled by a hypervisor.[3] [4] HCI systems are usually made up of server systems equipped with direct-attached storage.[5] HCI includes the ability to pool like systems together.[6] [7] All physical data-center resources reside on a single administrative platform for both hardware and software layers.[8] Consolidation of all functional elements at the hypervisor level, together with federated identity management, was promoted to improve data-center inefficiencies and reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) for data centers.[9] [10] [11]

The potential impact of the hyper-converged infrastructure is that companies will no longer need to rely on different compute and storage systems, though it is still too early to prove that it can replace storage arrays in all market segments.[12] It is likely to further simplify management and increase resource-utilization rates where it does apply.[13] [14] [15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20190703165625/https://www.networkworld.com/article/3207567/what-is-hyperconvergence.html backup
  2. Web site: Hyper-Converged Architecture . 2022-07-04 . SUSE Defines . en-US.
  3. Web site: Datacentre knowledge . 2015-12-10 . Why Hyperconverged Infrastructure is so Hot . 8 February 2016 . Yevgeniy . Sverdlik.
  4. Web site: Virtualization review . Hyperconvergence: Hype and Promise . 2015-08-28 . 8 February 2016 . Jon William . Toigo.
  5. Web site: Containers, hyperconvergence and disaggregation are hot . Network World . 8 February 2016 . Jim . Duffy. 11 January 2016 .
  6. Web site: GCN . Lenovo to launch hyperconverged infrastructure line . 8 February 2016 . Troy K. . Schneider . 2015-11-04 . 2021-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210416211431/https://gcn.com/articles/2015/11/04/lenovo-nutanix.aspx . dead .
  7. Web site: Plan Now for the Future of Converged Infrastructure . . 6 February 2015 . 8 February 2016 . George J. . Weiss.
  8. Web site: Evaluating Data Protection for Hyperconverged Infrastructure . Infostor . 2 February 2016 . 8 February 2016.
  9. Web site: Search it channel . Selling hyper-converged architecture: A channel primer . TechTarget . 8 February 2016 . John . Moore.
  10. Web site: Converged Infrastructure Moves from Infant to Adolescent . . 10 December 2012 . 8 February 2016 . David . Vellante.
  11. Web site: Nutanix: Why Cloud Was Never Really Flexible, Until Hyperconvergence . https://web.archive.org/web/20150613053412/http://www.forbes.com/sites/adrianbridgwater/2015/06/10/nutanix-why-cloud-was-never-really-flexible-until-hyperconvergence/#2715e4857a0b6333321567ab . dead . June 13, 2015 . . 10 June 2015 . 8 February 2016 . Adrian . Bridgwater.
  12. Web site: Hyper-converged infrastructure forcing new thinking for networks . . 8 February 2016 . Patrick Hubbard.
  13. Web site: IT Turns to Hyperconvergence, But Is It Right for All Occasions? . 8 February 2016 . Arthur. 4 November 2015 .
  14. Web site: Why hyperconvergence and robots are the CIO's innovation starting blocks . 8 February 2016 . Chloe Green . 26 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160826124714/http://www.information-age.com/it-management/strategy-and-innovation/123460680/why-hyperconvergence-and-robots-are-cios-innovation-starting-blocks . dead .
  15. Web site: IBM Sees Flash, Hyper-convergence Among Top 2016 Storage Trends . https://archive.today/20160921004047/http://www.eweek.com/storage/slideshows/ibm-sees-flash-hyper-convergence-among-top-2016-storage-trends.html . dead . September 21, 2016 . . 8 February 2016 . Darryl K. Taft .

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