VMware vSAN (short for “virtual SAN”) is a software-defined storage product that’s integrated into vSphere. vSAN was designed as a storage solution for VMware environments, not as a storage product, per se. It reduces the complexity typically involved with external storage systems and storage networking by allowing administrators to provision and manage storage assets through policies set for each VM.
As a software-defined storage (SDS) solution, vSAN can be deployed on any appropriate server platform (Intel x86 or AMD) using commodity storage devices. vSAN is sold as a software-only product for use in VMware environments, but is also integrated into hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) appliances from several OEMs, including Dell EMC’s VxRail and Dell EMC’s VxRack System 1000 with SDDC. VMware also licenses vSAN to multiple OEM server vendors for deployment as a “Ready Node” HCI appliance solution (see Evaluator Group Product Briefs on Dell EMC VxRail and vSAN Ready Nodes).
VMware vSAN Product Analysis Includes: