The Nutanix Cloud Platform is software-defined storage that runs on x86-based servers and in public clouds to create hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) and hybrid cloud storage. Multiple nodes (a minimum of three are usually required) are connected via Ethernet into a cluster, aggregating storage resources into a virtual pool and sharing them with virtual machines supported by an embedded hypervisor. The hypervisor is usually either Nutanix’s own AHV – based on open-source KVM – or VMware ESXi.
Nutanix was among the early HCI vendors. It originally sold the Nutanix Cloud Platform exclusively on its branded appliances, but now makes its software available on several vendors’ servers. Nutanix still sells its original NX platform under its brand on SuperMicro servers.
Nutanix provides a standardized, agile infrastructure for supporting a wide range of use cases including VDI, server virtualization, databases, and hybrid cloud. HCI competitors include Dell VxRail, VMware vSAN Ready Nodes, HPE SimpliVity, and Microsoft Azure Stack HCI. However, VMware and Nutanix have emerged as the dominant HCI software vendors, and both partner with leading server players.
Nutanix now positions itself as a multicloud vendor, using HCI as the foundation for running applications and data onpremises and in public clouds. Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) that allow the Nutanix platform to run in AWS and Microsoft Azure public clouds are a big piece of its hybrid cloud strategy.
The main HCI products are included in the Futurum Group Research Hyperconverged comparison matrix and associated Product Briefs, Product Analyses and Evaluation Guide.
Nutanix Cloud Platform Product Review Includes:
- Overview
- Highlights
- Usage
- Architecture Deployment
- EvaluScale Product Review Methodology
- Evaluator Group’s Opinion
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