Infrastructure Assessment
Document existing environment and size HCI cluster based on actual workload characteristics.
Compute Modernization
Replace Three-Tier Infrastructure with Hyperconverged Architecture
Legacy three-tier infrastructure creates operational friction that compounds over time. Hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) collapses compute, storage, and networking into software-defined nodes managed through a single platform.
IVI delivers HCI modernization engagements that address the complete scope: infrastructure assessment, HCI platform design, network integration, workload migration, and operational model for steady state.
HCI modernization with network engineering depth for optimal storage performance.
The Challenge
Legacy three-tier infrastructure creates operational friction
Three-tier infrastructure worked when workloads were static and data centers were the operational center. But this model creates real operational friction in modern environments.
Three-Tier Infrastructure Limitations
Legacy three-tier environments create operational complexity that compounds over time.
Procurement complexity across three vendors
Operational silos between server, storage, and network teams
Complex troubleshooting when performance problems cross infrastructure tiers
Architecture that doesn't map to cloud operating models
HCI Modernization Approach
IVI brings both HCI delivery expertise and network engineering depth to compute modernization.
Network-Optimized Design
Purpose-built Arista network fabric designed specifically for HCI storage traffic patterns.
Complete Migration
Execute workload migration with validation and legacy infrastructure decommission.
Engagement Process
Six-phase approach from assessment through legacy decommission.
1
Assessment & Sizing
Document existing environment and produce HCI sizing model based on actual workload requirements.
2
Architecture Design
Design HCI platform and supporting Arista network fabric for optimal storage performance.
3
Migration & Validation
Deploy infrastructure, migrate workloads, and decommission legacy systems with complete documentation.
What You Get
Complete HCI modernization with network optimization and operational documentation.
HCI Platform Design
Complete architecture design with cluster sizing, fault domain analysis, and performance validation.
Network Fabric Deployment
Arista-based switching fabric designed and validated for HCI storage traffic requirements.
Migration Execution
Workload migration with per-workload validation and legacy infrastructure decommission documentation.
Operational Outcomes
- Single operational interface replacing three-vendor management complexity
- Network infrastructure validated for HCI storage performance requirements
- Platform foundation for hybrid cloud extension (Nutanix NC2, VMware Cloud Foundation)
- Simplified backup and replication architecture
- Reduced infrastructure management complexity
Ideal Fit
- VMware on legacy three-tier compute with aging hardware approaching end-of-life
- Planning cloud extension and need infrastructure that maps to cloud operations
- Storage infrastructure is a bottleneck or operational burden
- Want to reduce three-vendor operational complexity
- Planning datacenter consolidation with workload migration to single HCI platform
Platform Selection
Nutanix vs VMware vSAN: choosing the right HCI platform
Both are mature, capable HCI platforms. The right choice depends on your existing environment and operational requirements.
VMware vSAN (Cloud Foundation)
Natural extension for organizations with significant VMware investments and skilled VMware administrators.
Best Fit
Existing VMware licensing investments, VMware-skilled operations teams, integration with VMware Cloud on AWS.
Nutanix AHV
Worth serious consideration for organizations re-evaluating hypervisor platforms or wanting to reduce VMware licensing dependency.
Best Fit
Reducing VMware licensing costs, simplified management interface, hybrid cloud with Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2).
Why IVI
Network engineering depth differentiates our HCI practice
Most HCI deployments are led by compute-focused teams whose network knowledge stops at basic uplink requirements. The network fabric directly affects storage performance and cluster resilience.
Network-Optimized HCI Design
We design and deploy the network as part of every HCI engagement, not as an afterthought.
Storage Traffic Optimization
Dedicated storage VLANs, jumbo frames, QoS configuration, and redundant uplinks designed specifically for HCI requirements.
Arista Integration
Purpose-built Arista-based network fabric significantly improves HCI storage performance and resiliency.
Performance Validation
Network performance validated against HCI storage benchmarks before production migration.
Complete Scope Delivery
End-to-end HCI modernization from assessment through legacy decommission.
Workload-Based Sizing
HCI cluster sizing based on actual workload characteristics, not raw capacity estimates.
Migration Expertise
Complex storage dependencies, snapshots, replication handled with rollback capability throughout migration.
Operational Integration
Aegis onboarding for co-managed operations where applicable.
Related Resources
Related Resources
Review related solution pages, supporting materials, and additional resources that help explain where this solution fits and how it can be applied.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about HCI modernization and platform selection.
Nutanix or VMware vSAN — which platform do you recommend?
Both are mature, capable HCI platforms. The right answer depends on your existing environment: if you have significant VMware licensing investments and skilled VMware administrators, vSAN (now part of VMware Cloud Foundation) is a natural extension. If you're re-evaluating your hypervisor platform or want to reduce VMware licensing dependency, Nutanix AHV is worth serious consideration. We evaluate both against your specific workloads and operational requirements.
We have a significant amount of data on existing SAN arrays. How long does data migration take?
Migration timeline depends on data volume, network throughput, and how much downtime each workload can tolerate. For large datasets, we design live migration approaches that move data while VMs continue running. We produce a migration timeline during the assessment phase based on your specific data volumes and the throughput available in your environment.
We're also running containers alongside VMs. How does HCI handle Kubernetes workloads?
Both Nutanix (with Kubernetes management built into Prism) and VMware (Tanzu) provide integrated Kubernetes management on HCI. We design the Kubernetes infrastructure on HCI as part of the compute modernization engagement, including persistent storage provisioning and network integration with the Arista fabric.
Can we extend our HCI environment to AWS or Azure?
Yes. Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) extends Nutanix clusters to AWS and Azure using bare metal cloud instances. VMware Cloud Foundation integrates with VMware Cloud on AWS. IVI's cloud networking practice supports the connectivity architecture for these hybrid cloud extensions — including Direct Connect, ExpressRoute, and Arista-based cloud networking.
What network requirements does HCI have that traditional three-tier infrastructure doesn't?
HCI platforms require dedicated storage VLANs for inter-node storage traffic, jumbo frame support, specific QoS configuration to protect storage traffic under load, and redundant 10GbE or higher uplinks per node. These requirements demand deliberate network design and validation — not just basic connectivity.
How do you handle legacy infrastructure with complex snapshot and replication configurations?
We design the migration approach specifically around these constraints during the assessment phase. For environments with complex storage dependencies, we maintain rollback capability throughout the migration process and design live migration approaches where possible to minimize disruption to existing backup and replication workflows.