Computing, storage, and networking. These three components are a necessity in any business – but aren’t easy to manage with a siloed approach. This is a common problem within legacy infrastructure, however, two key solutions evolved to solve this problem: converged and hyperconverged infrastructure. Let’s explore these important concepts.
What is Converged Infrastructure?
Convergence is a term used to describe datacenter management that integrates traditional hardware components. Converged infrastructure (CI) integrates storage arrays, servers, network switches, and virtualization into a single, consolidated system.
For many businesses, the convenience and efficiency of a pre-packaged CI make it appealing. The system is already designed and integrated by the CI vendor, so there’s no need to buy components separately. The pre-integrated hardware and software create a unified system, reducing complexity and compatibility issues.
What is Hyperconvergenced Infrastructure?
Hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) combines computing, networking, and storage resources into a single and streamlined datacenter architecture.
It’s a virtualized solution that converges traditional datacenter hardware components into a single virtualized appliance, with a software layer controlling it.
As a 100% software solution, it’s straightforward to deploy, manage, and requires no complex IT skills. This makes it highly popular for businesses looking for an effective and easy-to-deploy solution.
Is ‘Hyperconverged Infrastructure’ Any Different to ‘Hyperconvergence’?
Hyperconverged infrastructure, or HCI, is a widely used industry term. It’s the same concept as hyperconvergence, and the terms are interchangeable.
The Differences Between Converged Infrastructure (CI) and Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI)
CI is mainly hardware-based, while HCI is software-based. Here are the key differences explained:
Converged Infrastructure: A mainly hardware-based approach that combines resources into a single, physical appliance. Hardware and management software is pre-packaged and integrated by the vendor. It’s designed to simplify deployment for businesses.
Hyperconverged Infrastructure: A 100% software-based approach. It uses software that’s straightforward to scale as needed. All of its components are integrated, but it’s easy to add to and customize the software without any additional IT support.
| Converged Infrastructure (CI) | Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) | |
| Definition | Combines computing, storage, and networking hardware components into a prepackaged solution. | Integrates computing, storage, and networking into a software-based architecture. |
| Architecture | Components can vary, so they might need to be managed separately. It can be difficult to customize prepackaged CI. | Components are integrated. And the software-defined approach means it’s easy to scale up or down as needed. |
| Management | Each component requires its own management tool. There is sometimes a management platform. | It’s unified through a single management interface. |
| Cost | The use of multiple components can create higher initial costs. | Easy-to-deploy software means lower costs. And it’s less costly to scale, too. |
| Deployment | It can be more complex to deploy due to differing components from multiple vendors. | Some HCI software can be up and running within a day. Its software-based approach makes it straightforward to deploy. |
Converged Infrastructure vs Legacy Infrastructure
Legacy infrastructure, like a multi-tiered datacenter, involves configuring and connecting components. For example, storage networks, storage arrays, and servers. Managing these components requires a specialized IT team, which drives up costs, increases complexity, and can even slow down business operations.
In contrast, converged infrastructure consolidates every component into a prepackaged solution. It integrates hardware components, from any choice of vendor, to make deployment easier. The CI vendor manages everything for you, so you spend less time designing and managing it.
Hyperconverged Infrastructure vs Legacy Infrastructure
A multi-tiered datacenter has lots of complexity and requires specialized IT skills to manage. HCI enables a software-based, vendor-agnostic, and light touch-IT alternative to the legacy infrastructure approach.
HCI is deployed remotely, allowing in-house IT teams with minimal training to manage it. Additionally, HCI vendors often provide extra IT support as part of their offering, so there are always experts on hand. It’s simple to customize your HCI software, compared to traditional hardware-based architecture, and HCI is designed by nature to be flexible and scalable.
Converged and Hyperconverged Infrastructure: Which Should You Pick?
CI uses the same technology as traditional systems but is packaged for easier consumption and deployment. In contrast, HCI offers an entirely different approach.
So, if you’re looking to move away from the complexity of legacy infrastructure, HCI is a more forward-thinking choice.
It can help your business simplify management, optimize processes, and preserve flexibility throughout your IT infrastructure. Many companies discover that it also provides the benefits of a cloud solution, without the associated costs and heavy dependence on complex network architecture, while offering greater flexibility than traditional CI.
The Other Two Factors You Should Consider: Deployment and Cost
Deployment of Converged vs Hyperconverged Infrastructure
CI is designed with integrated components, simplifying the process for your business. However, there’s still lots of work to be done when deploying the solution. Your chosen CI vendor must deploy and configure multiple hardware elements from different vendors, creating lots of moving parts in the process.
Alternatively, HCI simplifies implementation and deployment by using straightforward software installation. In some cases, HCI can be up and running within a day, and the process is managed remotely. This is a significant competitive differentiator of HCI for businesses looking to get up and running, fast.
Cost of Converged vs Hyperconverged Infrastructure
CI typically involves a higher initial cost because of integration. Components are combined into a single system, which requires upfront costs for the vendor hardware and any software, too.
It’s important to remember that CI is a more affordable alternative to legacy systems, like traditional datacenter architecture, as it’s a prepackaged and integrated solution. This makes it efficient and simple to manage over time, and if unmodified, can reduce the total cost of ownership long-term. For some businesses, this makes the initial upfront cost worth it.
However, HCI involves lower costs overall. This is because the software-based, integrated approach eliminates the need for separate components. Additionally, it makes for predictable future costs if you need to scale. It’s easy to add onto your software as your business grows, helping not only streamline IT operations but also your budget.
Most HCI software is subscription-based. This flexible pricing strategy ensures you only pay for what your business needs, based on key components like capacity tier, number of licenses, subscription length, and additional features.
Navigate the Move Away from Traditional Architecture
CI and HCI software are great alternatives to traditional datacenter architecture. Embracing these solutions can enable your IT environment to remain cost-effective, flexible, and secure. Learn more about HCI in ‘What is Hyperconverged Infrastructure – A Beginner’s Guide’.
