Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI)
Combine compute + storage in one platform for simplified operations, linear scaling, and predictable costs. Perfect for virtualized workloads, edge deployments, and private cloud foundations.
At a Glance
HCI combines compute + storage (and optional virtualization/networking) inside the same nodes, managed as one pool. Grow by adding nodes.
Performance
NVMe-first storage near the CPU delivers low latency and fast rebuilds for demanding workloads
Resilience
Data replicated across nodes ensures workloads stay online during maintenance or node failures
Scale-out
Add nodes linearly for CPU/RAM/IOPS/capacity without complex storage redesigns
Operational Simplicity
One platform to deploy, patch, observe, and recover with fewer moving parts
Predictable Costs
Clear per-node spending on dedicated HCI-ready servers with transparent growth paths
What is this page?
HCI (Hyperconverged Infrastructure) collapses compute and storage into the same servers, managed as a single pool. Instead of separate compute hosts, SAN arrays, and fabrics, HCI packs everything into each server. Cluster a few servers and the software treats them like one big platform.
You deploy applications (often VMs) and set storage policies (e.g., replication factor). The cluster balances data and keeps copies so maintenance or a node failure doesn’t take you down.
Business outcomes: Faster performance with NVMe storage, fewer moving parts to manage, simpler operations, predictable monthly costs, and a clean scale-out path as demand grows.
TL;DR - HCI Implementation
- Start with 3-5 nodes for enterprise, 2-3 for edge/ROBO
- Use NVMe for storage tier, 25GbE+ for cluster networking
- Plan 3x storage replication + 20% headroom for operations
- Replicate critical VMs across fault domains
- Test VM mobility and cluster healing before production
- Consider compute-to-storage ratio based on workload type
What is HCI?
Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) combines compute, storage, and networking in software-defined clusters running on standard servers. It eliminates traditional SAN complexity while providing enterprise features like replication, snapshots, and live migration through a unified management platform.
HCI Expertise
200+ HCI Clusters
Deployed across industries
Enterprise Storage
NVMe + distributed file systems
Edge Deployment
2-node to 20+ node clusters
24/7 Support
HCI architecture specialists
Pick your HCI deployment size
Choose the right cluster size based on workload requirements and fault tolerance needs.
2-3 Nodes
Best For
Edge/ROBO, branch offices
Fault Tolerance
1 node failure
Scaling Path
Add storage nodes
3-5 Nodes
Best For
Enterprise workloads, VDI
Fault Tolerance
1-2 node failures
Scaling Path
Linear scale-out
5+ Nodes
Best For
High performance, erasure coding
Fault Tolerance
Multiple failures
Scaling Path
Dedicated compute/storage
Why organizations choose HCI
HCI addresses common infrastructure pain points while providing a foundation for modern virtualized workloads:
Typical workloads
- Virtualized servers: Enterprise applications, web services, databases
- VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure): Remote work, secure desktops, session scaling
- Private cloud foundations: Self-service provisioning, multi-tenancy
- Edge/ROBO: Branch offices, remote sites, local survivability
- Dev/test labs: Rapid provisioning, snapshot-based workflows
- Moderate databases & analytics: Business intelligence, reporting systems
Real-world scenarios
- Branch rollouts (ROBO): Deploy 2–3 node clusters per site with central policies but local uptime during WAN outages
- Rapid VDI expansion: Add nodes for more user sessions without SAN redesign or complex storage provisioning
- M&A consolidation: Land acquired workloads in a single, uniform HCI fabric with consistent policies
- DR modernization: Replace tape-based backups with snapshot/backup replication to a secondary site
- Datacenter refresh: Migrate from aging three-tier infrastructure to a modern, software-defined platform
Common pain points HCI addresses
- Sprawl/under-utilization: Consolidate onto a shared, policy-driven pool
- Complex storage arrays: Replace with software-defined storage and built-in data services
- License/ops overhead: Fewer boxes and specialized skill silos to manage
- Disaster recovery complexity: Snapshots & replication with repeatable runbooks
- Branch IT fragility: Small clusters with local survivability and central management
What are the key architectural patterns?
Most HCI deployments follow predictable patterns based on workload requirements and site constraints.
Edge (2–3 nodes)
Pattern: RF2, balanced nodes, 25–40 GbE, private replication VLANs
Good for: Branch offices, retail locations, small remote sites
- Minimal footprint with local survivability
- Fast local recoveries during WAN outages
- Easy third-node add for quorum
Balanced Enterprise (3–5 nodes)
Pattern: RF3 or EC at ≥5 nodes; NVMe + SSD tiers; 25–100 GbE
Good for: Mixed enterprise VMs, moderate databases, VDI pools
- Predictable performance with room to grow
- Smooth scaling and safe patch windows
- Balanced cost and resilience
Performance (5+ nodes)
Pattern: EC (e.g., 4+2), all-NVMe, 2×100 GbE; dedicated replication lanes
Good for: Low-latency databases, streaming, analytics
- Maximum IOPS and minimal latency
- Efficient capacity utilization
- Fast rebuilds and data protection
Who benefits most from HCI
Retail & Branch Operations
- ROBO deployments with local survivability
- POS systems and inventory management
Healthcare
- EHR systems and patient data protection
- Medical imaging and PACS workflows
Finance & Fintech
- Core banking and trading systems
- Compliance and audit trail requirements
Manufacturing & OT
- Industrial control systems and MES
- Edge computing for production lines
Education
- VDI for computer labs and remote learning
- Student information systems
Media & Analytics
- Content management and rendering
- Real-time analytics and streaming
B2C vs. B2B considerations
B2C Focus
Bursty front ends and campaigns requiring scale-out capacity and quick rollouts
B2B Focus
SLAs, integrations, and change control with predictable operations
B2C Focus
Bursty front ends and campaigns requiring scale-out capacity and quick rollouts
B2B Focus
SLAs, integrations, and change control with predictable operations
SMB vs. Enterprise needs
SMB Priority
Simplicity, right-sized first cluster with clear upgrade path
Enterprise Priority
Multi-site DR, compliance, upgrade domains and steady change windows
SMB Priority
Simplicity, right-sized first cluster with clear upgrade path
Enterprise Priority
Multi-site DR, compliance, upgrade domains and steady change windows
Worldstream’s HCI-ready servers are built in the Netherlands with predictable performance, transparent pricing, and local engineering support—perfect for regulated environments and mission-critical deployments.
HCI vs. Traditional Infrastructure
Compare approaches to understand which fits your requirements best.
Hyperconverged (HCI)
For teams wanting simplified operations, predictable scaling, and performance consistency with fewer moving parts.
Data locality planning for optimal performance
Linear scale-out (CPU/RAM/storage/bandwidth) per node
Quorum requirements (odd node counts or witness services)<br />
NVMe performance with low latency and fast rebuilds
Platform + hypervisor licensing scales with nodes<br />
Resilience by design with data replication/erasure coding
Network design needs for replication traffic<br />
Simplified operations: fewer appliances, one control surface
Platform operations skills still required<br />
Predictable costs on dedicated nodes
Traditional Three-Tier
For large enterprises with existing SAN investments and specialized storage teams.
Complex multi-vendor management and integration<br />
Mature ecosystem with proven enterprise features
Storage bottlenecks and fabric dependencies<br />
Granular capacity scaling (compute vs. storage)
Higher operational overhead with specialized silos<br />
Deep expertise and support available
Multiple failure domains to monitor and maintain<br />
Established backup and DR workflows
Public Cloud
For applications with highly variable traffic or global distribution requirements.
Variable performance with shared resources and limited control over underlying infrastructure<br />
Elastic scaling based on demand
Costs can spiral unpredictably with usage<br />
Managed services reduce operational overhead
Vendor lock-in with proprietary services<br />
Global distribution and availability zones
Data sovereignty and compliance challenges<br />
Pay-per-use pricing model
How to choose the right HCI setup
Use these practical questions to size and configure your HCI cluster correctly.
Node profiles: What’s your workload mix?
- Compute-heavy: More cores/clocks with modest NVMe set for CPU-intensive VMs and VDI
- Storage-heavy: More NVMe/SSD with fewer cores for data-intensive applications
- Balanced: Safe default for mixed workloads with even CPU/RAM/storage ratios
Data protection: Replication or erasure coding?
- Replication Factor (RF2/RF3): Simple and fast with 2–3× overhead, best for smaller clusters
- Erasure Coding (4+2, 6+2): Better usable capacity at 5+ nodes but requires more CPU for encoding
- Failure domains: Consider rack/row/site awareness for multi-room or multi-site clustersNetworking: How much east-west traffic?
Networking: How much east-west traffic?
- Bandwidth planning: East-west traffic drives performance. Plan 25/40/100 GbE uplinks based on VM density
- Network segmentation: Use private networking for replication and management traffic
- Bonding: LACP for redundancy and increased bandwidth between nodes
Performance tiers: All-NVMe or hybrid?
- All-NVMe: Maximum performance for low latency, write-heavy applications
- NVMe + SSD tiers: Cost-efficient for mixed workloads with hot data on NVMe
- Capacity planning: Size for rebuild time, not just capacity needs
Resilience & DR: Local vs. multi-site?
- Local resilience: RF2/RF3 within cluster for node failures and maintenance
- Stretched clusters: Metro HA within latency budget (typically <5ms)
- DR replication: Async replication between distant sites with tested recovery procedures
Day-2 operations: How will you manage growth?
- Monitoring: Track p95 latency, IOPS/throughput, rebuild time, and capacity headroom
- Capacity planning: Plan node additions at ~70–75% utilization
- Maintenance: Use upgrade domains for rolling updates without downtime
Rule of thumb: Start with 3 balanced nodes using RF3, 25 GbE networking, and NVMe + SSD tiers. This provides a solid foundation that scales cleanly as requirements grow.
Operations, Performance & Risk Management
Costs, Performance & Scaling
- Predictable costs: Per-node pricing with clear growth steps at ~75% utilization
- Performance optimization: NVMe for hot data, size for rebuild time, 25–100 GbE for east-west traffic
- Monitoring KPIs: p95 latency, IOPS/throughput, queue depth, rebuild timers
- Scaling strategy: Start small (2–3 nodes), scale vertically (denser) or horizontally (more nodes)
Backup and Recovery
- Snapshot management: Regular snapshots with tested rollback procedures
- Backup replication: Off-site copies with clear RPO/RTO targets
- DR testing: Quarterly failover exercises and recovery validation
- Data protection: RF2/RF3 or erasure coding with failure domain awareness
Security and Compliance
- Perimeter security: TLS everywhere, DDoS protection, optional WAF
- Network security: Private networking, RBAC/MFA, access control
- Data protection: Encryption at rest and in transit, secure key management
- Audit compliance: Logging, monitoring, and compliance frameworks as needed
Capacity & Growth Management
- Workload modeling: vCPU per VM, memory density, concurrency patterns
- Data modeling: Usable vs. raw capacity with RF/EC overhead
- Performance targets: p95 latency and IOPS/throughput per tier
- Scale planning: Add nodes vs. upgrade to denser profiles
Risks & Mitigations
- Operational complexity: Assign platform owners, maintain runbooks, plan change windows
- Data placement: Use locality policies for hot paths, avoid noisy cross-node I/O
- Supply chain/security: Image/firmware signing, dependency scanning, RBAC & least privilege
- Capacity planning: Monitor trends, forecast at 70-75% utilization, test scaling procedures
Worldstream Advantage: Our HCI-ready servers are deployed in Dutch data centers with predictable performance, transparent pricing, and local engineering support—ideal for regulated environments and mission-critical applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
HCI collapses compute and storage into the same servers, managed as a single pool. Unlike three-tier with separate compute hosts, SAN arrays, and fabrics, HCI requires fewer boxes to patch and offers simpler scale-out.