Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• Erasure coding vs. RAID: Pros and cons for hyper-convergence

  Hyper-converged systems, like any other, require data protection. We describe using RAID and erasure coding for hyper-convergence to help you pick the best option for your HCI.  Continue Reading

• HCI management layer vs. native hypervisor management

  See why inherent differences between hyper-converged and native hypervisor management tools tend to make one better suited for managing virtualized HCI resources than the other.  Continue Reading

• Essential hyper-converged backup, data protection questions to ask

  Procure a hyper-converged infrastructure, and you'll need to protect the data residing in that environment. Ask and answer these questions to determine the best HCI backup approach for your organization.  Continue Reading

• HCI hardware or hyper-converged software: Which is better for me?

  Appliance-based hyper-convergence integrates software with hardware, while software-only HCI enables you to use the hardware of your choice. Each type has pluses and minuses.  Continue Reading

• Why is composable infrastructure important and what are its uses?

  The ideal function of composability is to make IT infrastructure more flexible, manageable and scalable than ever. It isn't for everyone, however; at least, not yet.  Continue Reading

• What is HPE SimpliVity hyper-converged with Composable Fabric?

  SimpliVity with Composable Fabric incorporates HPE's software-defined networking technology for implementing, managing and automating a fully connected and composable mesh fabric.  Continue Reading

• Is HCI but a stop on the road to composable architecture?

  Find out if composable infrastructure is the next step in the evolution of HCI, if it is a completely different type of IT infrastructure or if the truth is somewhere in between.  Continue Reading

• Why might you choose to forgo flash in hyper-converged storage?

  Find out why and for what use cases and application workloads 100% solid-state flash may not be the best storage choice for hyper-converged infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• Which Windows Server deployment features work best with HCI?

  There are features in Windows Server 2016 that are specific to hyper-converged infrastructure, but many of the more basic functions also can be used to customize and improve HCI.  Continue Reading

• How does composable infrastructure fit in the data center?

  A programmable infrastructure offers data center admins even greater flexibility, lower costs and faster modification than converged and hyper-converged infrastructures.  Continue Reading

• Do the benefits of hyper-convergence outweigh the drawbacks?

  Much has been said about the inability to scale storage separately from other resources in a hyper-converged system, but are there any advantages to treating storage in this way?  Continue Reading

• Why is the hyper-converged infrastructure definition so varied?

  The definition of hyper-converged infrastructure has evolved as the technology has grown. But the phrase still means different things depending on who you talk to.  Continue Reading

• How can I decide between converged and hyper-converged infrastructures?

  Is a converged or hyper-converged deployment the best option for you? While both infrastructures are similar, there are key differences in use cases and deployment.  Continue Reading

• Is Storage Spaces Direct a viable alternative to hyper-convergence?

  Windows Storage Spaces Direct can act like a hyper-converged system, but it's more do-it-yourself hyper-convergence, and may not offer all that you need in an HCI product.  Continue Reading

• How will the hyper-converged data center affect storage admin roles?

  Despite easier provisioning and policy-based management, the unique knowledge held by storage administrators remains essential in the age of hyper-convergence.  Continue Reading