The term hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) has become an industry buzzword applied to a number of different computing technologies. The misuse of the term has confused many IT professionals looking at hyperconverged infrastructure solutions. This document will answer the question "What is hyperconverged infrastructure?" and why it might be the right IT solution for you.
The Role of Virtualization Before Converged Infrastructure and HCI
Before HCI and converged infrastructure, virtualized infrastructure was organized into what we now call a 3-2-1 architecture (see image below). This consists of virtual machines (VMs) running on 3 or more clustered host servers connected by 2 network switches and backed by 1 or more shared storage appliances (SAN/NAS).
When virtualization first arrived in the market, the physical server model dominated IT infrastructure. As a software solution, virtualization requires the existing physical servers and shared storage technologies like SAN and NAS to survive and thrive.
The 3-2-1 architecture was the result of combining these existing hardware components into clusters. Unfortunately, these hardware components were never designed for virtualization and were typically from different vendors.
The Evolution to Converged Infrastructure
To tackle the complexity of the 3-2-1 architecture, the idea of converged infrastructure was to combine some of the different component layers into a single “system” and SKU, most often combining servers and storage. Sold as one solution, the hardware and software components were pre-tested together to avoid incompatibility issues and speed up deployment time.
The next stage in converged infrastructure was combining and integrating the different components into a single appliance. It wasn’t difficult to add more compute resources to a storage appliance to run virtual machines, which is what some vendor solutions offered.
The problem with converged infrastructure solutions is that they generally mimic the same storage architectures as the 3-2-1. These clustered, converged storage and compute solutions relied on virtual storage appliances (VSAs) running as VMs to manage storage similarly to shared SAN and NAS controllers.
What Is Hyperconverged Infrastructure?
When the term ‘hyperconverged’ was coined, it meant a converged infrastructure solution that natively included the hypervisor for virtualization. This is an important distinction between HCI and traditional because it has specific implications for the architecture design for greater storage efficiency and simplicity.
Hyperconverged Infrastructure vs Traditional IT Infrastructure: Key Differences
When evaluating IT infrastructure options, organizations should compare traditional infrastructure with hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) to determine the best fit for their needs. Traditional infrastructure relies on separate components for compute, storage, and networking, requiring complex integration and management. In contrast, HCI consolidates these elements into a single, unified system, simplifying deployment and management while enhancing scalability and cost efficiency. The table below highlights the key differences between these approaches.
| Traditional IT Infrastructure | Hyperconverged Infrastructure | |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Separate components for compute, storage, and networking, each managed independently | Integrated architecture combining compute, storage, and networking in a single system |
| Management | Requires managing multiple systems and vendors with siloed operations | Unified management console for all components, reducing complexity |
| Scalability | Difficult and expensive | Linear and cost-efficient |
| Deployment Time | Requires separate setup and integration of compute, storage, and networking components | Pre-integrated solutions can be deployed and operational quickly |
| Hardware Utilization | Resources may be underutilized due to isolated hardware components | Pooled resources ensure efficient utilization across the cluster |
| Cost Efficiency | High total cost of ownership (TCO) due to separate hardware, software, and management tools | Lower TCO; consolidated infrastructure reduces capital and operational expenses |
| High Availability | Achieved through complex configurations, often requiring additional hardware and software | Built in; redundancy and failover are inherent in the architecture |
| Disaster Recovery | Requires separate tools and configurations for backup and replication | Native features like snapshots, replication, and recovery built into the platform |
| Resource Management | Fixed resource allocation leads to inefficiencies and limited flexibility | Resources are dynamically allocated and optimized across workloads |
| Workload Flexibility | Designed for specific workloads, leading to potential inefficiencies when demands change | Adapts easily to different workloads, from virtual desktops to database applications |
Understanding the Core Components of Hyperconverged Infrastructure
Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) transforms traditional IT infrastructure by integrating compute, storage, and networking into a unified system, significantly simplifying operations and enhancing efficiency. Each of these core components plays a critical role in delivering the performance and scalability that define HCI.
This holistic approach not only simplifies IT operations but also offers a scalable, resilient, and efficient solution to meet the demands of modern businesses.
How Hyperconverged Infrastructure Works: Key Concepts and Mechanisms
Although some software-only solutions call themselves HCI technology, true hyperconverged solutions offer additional benefits. A combined solution of software and hardware can be more thoroughly tested to avoid instability, while single-vendor support provides seamless coverage.
An HCI appliance can include OS, server compute resources, hyperconverged storage, preferably the hypervisor, and often disaster recovery and backup features. HCI is sometimes referred to as a “data center in a box” because, after the initial cabling and minimal networking configuration, it has all the features and functionality of the traditional 3-2-1 virtualization architecture.
By consolidating applications and infrastructure on a single, unified platform, like Scale Computing Platform, administrators can simultaneously run legacy and modern applications on the same infrastructure, eliminating the need to manage the complexity of separate hardware and software components to support individual point solutions.
This integration relies on innovative mechanisms that simplify operations, enhance scalability, and ensure reliability. Understanding how HCI works provides insight into its transformative capabilities.
SC//Platform avoids opening the system to outside parties. First, the hypervisor and management tools are included in SC//HyperCore and locked behind the software and a built-in firewall. Second, and more critical, the entire virtualization layer is completely embedded into the system itself. There is no “controller” VM or VSA needed to access or manage clusters.
Simply put, Scale Computing has created a true hyperconverged solution. SC//HyperCore does not rely on third-party software, high resource overhead, a running VM to “serve” storage, or an easily accessible (and exploitable) file system to store and manage the system and data. This all has the added benefit of closing security threats from additional products, management tools, and protocols.
Advantages of Hyperconverged Infrastructure
Although some software-only solutions call themselves HCI, appliance-based HCI hardware solutions offer additional benefits. An HCI appliance can include server compute resources, storage, preferably the hypervisor, and often disaster recovery and backup features. HCI is sometimes referred to as a “data center in a box” because, after the initial cabling and minimal networking configuration, it has all the features and functionality of traditional infrastructure.
There are a variety of benefits of hyperconvergence including:
- Easier to support, update, patch, and manage, resulting in cost savings in both time and training from IT resources and budget
- Eliminates inefficient storage protocols, files systems, and VSAs by utilizing a native hypervisor and embedding the storage directly within it
- Increases efficiency and performance by designing the hypervisor and storage to directly interact
- Improves management efficiency by having the hypervisor included natively in the solution
Real-World Examples of Hyperconverged Infrastructure
Scale Computing has been instrumental in providing hyperconverged infrastructure solutions tailored to the needs of both small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and large enterprises.
Classic Hotels & Resorts
This hospitality group, operating luxury properties across Arizona and California, sought to enhance their IT infrastructure to ensure continuous availability and high performance of their applications and data. By implementing Scale Computing's hyperconverged systems, Classic Hotels & Resorts achieved greater efficiency and simplified virtualization management, which is crucial in the hospitality industry where downtime is not an option.
Credit Valley Conservation
Facing limited staff and budget, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) needed a scalable, cost-effective IT solution to support its mission of preserving the watershed while processing high volumes of sensor data. Scale Computing's all-in-one platform enabled CVC to build a robust infrastructure within an accelerated eight-month timeline, optimizing data processing, ensuring resilience, and significantly reducing power consumption. CVC achieved a streamlined, cost-efficient IT environment that supports both real-time environmental monitoring and internal operations, allowing them to effectively adapt to climate change challenges.
Royal Farms
A well-known convenience and fuel retail chain, Royal Farms aimed to modernize its in-store IT infrastructure to improve efficiency and scalability across its locations. By leveraging Scale Computing’s edge computing solutions, Royal Farms reduced deployment times and enhanced in-store operations, leading to better customer experiences and streamlined store management.
Genting Casinos
Operating multiple casino sites across the UK, Genting Casinos required a robust and scalable IT infrastructure to meet the demands of their distributed enterprise. Implementing Scale Computing's hyperconverged solutions allowed them to achieve high availability, simplify management, and reduce costs, ensuring seamless operations across all locations.
Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) in Edge Computing
Traditional systems are overkill for edge deployments, being too complex and costly. HCI allows technology to operate within a smaller hardware design, while edge computing is the processing of data outside the traditional data center, typically on the edge of a network. When combined with HCI and edge computing, emerging use cases such as AI/ML, Computer Vision, and IoT benefit from drastically reduced latency, as edge computing enables the data and processing to reside on the edge of the device’s network and allows for new data to be stored, processed and later uploaded to the cloud.
HCI can reduce the complexity associated with edge computing beyond its deployment advantages by providing provisioning, monitoring, management, and on-demand scaling capabilities. Management and monitoring tools, like Scale Computing Fleet Manager, are available to easily extend the benefits of modern HCI out to thousands of sites while enjoying cloud-like infrastructure levels of convenience.
Conclusion: Why HCI is the Future of IT Infrastructure
Hyperconverged infrastructure is not only a buzzword. It is a revolutionary way of thinking about IT infrastructure that reduces IT investments in money and staffing. Although it may be difficult to determine whether a solution is truly hyperconverged, just converged, or some other pretender, it is worth investigating HCI solutions to ensure your organization can benefit from modern IT infrastructure.
As the IT industry evolves, HCI is the logical step in on-premises and cloud-integrated virtualization infrastructure. Standing still with more traditional virtualization solutions like the 3-2-1 architecture may cost organizations far more in capital, staffing, and training than switching over to the simplicity and savings of an HCI solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between converged and hyperconverged infrastructure?
Converged infrastructure integrates compute, storage, and networking as separate components managed collectively, while hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) unifies these components into a single, software-defined solution for greater simplicity and flexibility.
What are the main benefits of hyperconverged infrastructure?
HCI offers simplified management, scalability, cost efficiency, high availability, and built-in data protection, reducing operational complexity and improving resource utilization.
What are some examples of HCI use cases?
HCI is ideal for virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), disaster recovery, edge computing, database management, and organizations with IT environments requiring scalable and resilient solutions.
Who should consider hyperconverged infrastructure?
Organizations of all sizes seeking simplified IT operations, scalable infrastructure, and cost-effective solutions for virtualized or distributed environments should consider HCI.