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Modern Storage Without the SAN Tax: Nutanix + Arista for Next-Gen Data Centers

Cut costs, simplify operations, and escape vendor lock-in with hyperconverged infrastructure and high-speed Ethernet fabrics.

Ethernet for Storage Networking

Why Are Enterprises Leaving Fibre Channel Behind?

  • Fibre Channel is costly and rigid: Proprietary hardware like HBAs, specialized switches, and unique optics drive huge costs for even small environments.
  • Dual networks double your costs: Running both Ethernet and Fibre Channel means twice the switches, cabling, and power.
  • Complex operations waste time: FC Zoning, WWN tracking, and manual configuration create fragile systems and long troubleshooting times.
  • Talent shortages raise risks: Fewer engineers specialize in FC every year, leaving businesses dependent on rare skillsets.
  • Poor visibility fuels finger-pointing: Unlike modern Ethernet fabrics, FC is a "black box", making it hard to diagnose performance issues.
Attribute Fibre Channel SAN Ethernet Fabric
Hardware Cost High, proprietary Lower, commodity-based
Skills Required Niche and declining Broad IT skillset
Management Manual and complex Automated, software-driven
Scalability Forklift upgrades Scale-out growth
Protocol Support Legacy only NVMe-oF, RoCE, modern

Why Nutanix is Replacing Legacy SANs?

  • Hyperconvergence collapses silos: Nutanix combines compute, storage, and virtualization into one platform, eliminating the SAN entirely.
  • One-click simplicity: Nutanix Prism replaces multiple management tools with a single UI for everything from storage to virtualization.
  • Scale without disruption: Start small and expand node by node without forklift upgrades or outages.
  • Freedom from VMware chaos: Nutanix AHV lets you escape Broadcom uncertainty and high licensing costs.
  • Enterprise workloads thrive: Nutanix reliably runs VMs, databases, VDI, analytics, and modern cloud-native apps.

What Makes Ethernet the Fabric of the Future?

  • High speeds meet modern workloads: While many Fibre Channel SANs are stuck at 16 or 32Gbps, Ethernet easily scales to 25G, 100G, 400G, and beyond.
  • Unified traffic, lower costs: Ethernet carries everything — storage, VM traffic, user traffic — eliminating the expense of separate networks.
  • Ready for NVMe-oF and RoCE: Ethernet is the native transport for next-gen storage protocols, future-proofing your architecture.
  • Competition keeps prices low: Ethernet is driven by open standards and fierce vendor competition, unlike the closed FC ecosystem.

Why Arista is the Ideal Network for Nutanix?

  • Deep buffers stop traffic storms: Arista’s switches absorb microbursts common in hyperconverged environments, preventing dropped packets and slowdowns.
  • Lossless Ethernet is non-negotiable: Technologies like PFC and ECN in Arista switches ensure storage traffic isn’t lost due to congestion.
  • CloudVision bridges the gap: With CloudVision, Arista gives full visibility into Nutanix traffic flows, mapping virtual machines to physical ports for fast troubleshooting.
  • Seamless scale to 400G and beyond: Arista offers a clear upgrade path as demands grow.

 

Dramatic TCO Savings

Slash costs across the board by replacing expensive Fibre Channel SANs and hypervisor licensing with Nutanix HCI and a unified Ethernet fabric. Lower hardware costs, fewer cables, and simplified management mean you keep more of your IT budget for innovation.

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Effortless Scale Without Disruption

Grow your storage and compute on your terms. Nutanix and Arista make it easy to add capacity node by node, with no forklift upgrades or downtime. Scale performance and storage seamlessly to keep pace with business growth

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Future-Proof & Vendor Neutral

Escape lock-in and plan for tomorrow. Modern Ethernet fabrics support high speeds (25/100/400G+), next-gen storage protocols like NVMe-oF and RoCE, and open standards — so your data center evolves without proprietary constraints.

Explore NVMe-oF | RoCEv2 | NVMe/TCP

High Performance without Bottlenecks

Keep critical apps fast and reliable. Arista’s deep buffers and lossless Ethernet prevent dropped packets during bursty traffic, ensuring consistent performance for Nutanix storage, VMs, and demanding workloads like databases and VDI.

 

Key Switch Features for Storage

Simplified Unified Management

Managing Nutanix and the network doesn’t have to mean juggling separate tools. Arista CloudVision integrates with Nutanix Prism, giving you a single, unified view from VMs down to physical switch ports. Automate network changes as VMs move, simplify troubleshooting, and reduce manual work across your entire infrastructure.

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Full Visibility & Control

Troubleshoot faster and stay proactive. Arista’s CloudVision ties physical network telemetry to Nutanix’s virtual environment, helping you pinpoint issues instantly, optimize traffic flows, and keep users happy.

 

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Business Benefits that Cannot Be Ignored

Slash your TCO

 
 

 

Replace expensive SAN hardware and VMware licensing with commodity Ethernet and Nutanix’s integrated AHV hypervisor.

 

Reduce Risk

Skills Gaps, Broadcom, Obsolescence
 

 

Protect your business from rising operational risks and vendor volatility by adopting a modern storage fabric that minimizes reliance on niche Fibre Channel skills, avoids Broadcom-related licensing uncertainty, and eliminates legacy architectures prone to obsolescence. Gain flexibility and confidence in your long-term infrastructure roadmap.

 

Simplify Operations

Consolidate & Improve Visibility
 

 

Manage everything, compute, storage, and networking, from unified tools. Improving efficiency and agility while reducing complexity and cost.

 

Why Intelligent Visibility for Your Storage Network Transformation?

Migrating your mission-critical storage infrastructure from Fibre Channel to Ethernet is a significant undertaking, demanding more than just technical know-how—it requires specialized expertise in navigating intricate dependencies and ensuring business continuity. At Intelligent Visibility, mastering this specific complexity is our core strength.

We don't just modernize networks; we deliver seamless, future-ready storage fabric transitions with tangible, outcome-focused results.

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Guide: NVMe over Fabrics (NVMe-oF)

Maximize your storage performance with NVMe-oF on Ethernet. This page dissects NVMe/TCP (easy deployment, standard networks) versus NVMe/RoCE (ultra-low latency RDMA, needs lossless DCB), helping you choose the optimal transport by detailing trade-offs, hardware, and network requirements.

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Guide: Selecting Switches for Storage Networking

When storage traffic meets standard Ethernet, performance suffers. Learn what makes a switch storage-ready — from deep buffers to DCB — and how to build a high-performance, lossless Ethernet SAN for protocols like NVMe-oF and iSCSI.

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Guide: FC to Ethernet Migration Strategies

Explore proven strategies for migrating enterprise storage from Fibre Channel to Ethernet, including host-, array-, and appliance-based approaches. Learn how to minimize downtime, preserve data integrity, and align with modern protocols like iSCSI and NVMe-oF.

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roce vs iwarp

Guide: RoCE vs iWarp Explained

Curious whether RoCE or iWARP is right for your storage fabric? This guide demystifies RDMA technology and explores how each protocol impacts latency, deployment complexity, and NVMe-oF readiness—so you can choose with confidence.

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roce vs iwarp

Guide: iSCSI's Role

A practical guide to iSCSI in modern storage networks. Learn how iSCSI works, where it fits in Fibre Channel migrations, and when to choose it over NVMe/TCP.

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storage nics

Guide: Selecting a NIC for Ethernet Storage

Understand how NIC selection impacts Ethernet storage performance. This guide compares standard NICs, TOE NICs, RDMA (RoCE/iWARP), and DPUs—helping you pick the right solution for protocols like iSCSI, NVMe/TCP, and NVMe-oF.

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fibre channel vs Ethernet

Guide: FC vs Ethernet - TCO & Performance

Explore how Fibre Channel compares to modern Ethernet storage in 2025. This in-depth guide breaks down performance, TCO, scalability, and manageability across protocols like iSCSI, NVMe/TCP, and NVMe/RDMA—helping you choose the right SAN strategy for your future.

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Download: FC vs Ethernet - Migration Planning Guide

Download our Fibre Channel to Ethernet Migration planning and self-assessment guide.

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fibre channel vs Ethernet

Guide: Why Deep Buffers Matter for HCI

Explore why deep-buffered switches are essential for hyperconverged infrastructure. Learn how they prevent network microbursts and keep Nutanix environments performing at peak speed.

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fibre channel vs Ethernet

Guide: Nutanix Prism + Arista CloudVision

Explore how Nutanix Prism and Arista CloudVision work together to deliver unified observability across your data center. Gain end-to-end visibility, eliminate finger-pointing, and resolve issues faster with a single integrated view from VMs to the physical network.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I replace my Fibre Channel SAN with Ethernet for storage networking?

Fibre Channel networks are costly, complex, and increasingly obsolete. Modern Ethernet fabrics deliver higher speeds (25/100/400G+), support advanced protocols like NVMe-oF, and eliminate the need for separate SAN infrastructure. This simplifies operations, reduces costs, and better aligns with modern applications’ east-west traffic patterns.

How does Nutanix help reduce dependency on VMware and Broadcom?

Nutanix offers its own enterprise-grade hypervisor (AHV) at no additional cost, allowing organizations to migrate away from VMware licensing and ecosystem uncertainty. This helps reduce costs, eliminate vendor lock-in, and simplify infrastructure management through a unified platform.

Are Ethernet networks reliable enough for critical storage traffic?

Yes. Modern Ethernet fabrics, especially with technologies like RoCEv2, Priority Flow Control (PFC), and deep-buffer switches from vendors like Arista, can deliver the same—or better—lossless performance and low latency as Fibre Channel SANs, making them perfectly suitable for mission-critical storage workloads.

How does moving to Nutanix + Arista lower my total cost of ownership (TCO)?

The combined solution reduces both CapEx and OpEx. You eliminate expensive Fibre Channel hardware, simplify your network to a single fabric, reduce licensing costs by moving away from VMware, and cut operational expenses by managing everything through unified tools like Nutanix Prism and Arista CloudVision.

How does Arista CloudVision help with managing a Nutanix environment?

Arista CloudVision provides real-time visibility and telemetry across the entire network. It integrates with Nutanix Prism to correlate network and application performance, simplify troubleshooting, and automatically adjust network configurations as virtual machines move across the environment.