Building a vSAN Cluster

If you are considering vSAN, you can choose from more than one configuration solution for deploying a vSAN cluster.

Depending on your requirement, you can deploy vSAN in one of the following ways.

vSAN ReadyNode

The vSAN ReadyNode is a preconfigured solution of the vSAN software provided by VMware partners, such as Cisco, Dell, Fujitsu, IBM, and Supermicro. This solution includes validated server configuration in a tested, certified hardware form factor for vSAN deployment that is recommended by the server OEM and VMware. For information about the vSAN ReadyNode solution for a specific partner, visit the VMware Partner website.

User-Defined vSAN Cluster

You can build a vSAN cluster by selecting individual software and hardware components, such as drivers, firmware, and storage I/O controllers that are listed in the vSAN Compatibility Guide (VCG) website at http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php. You can choose any servers, storage I/O controllers, capacity and flash cache devices, memory, any number of cores you must have per CPU, that are certified and listed on the VCG website. Review the compatibility information on the VCG website before choosing software and hardware components, drivers, firmware, and storage I/O controllers that vSAN supports. When designing a vSAN cluster, use only devices, firmware, and drivers that are listed on the VCG website. Using software and hardware versions that are not listed in the VCG might cause cluster failure or unexpected data loss. For information about designing a vSAN cluster, see Designing and Sizing a vSAN Cluster.