Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Azure Stack VS VMware vSAN

Compare Azure Stack VS VMware vSAN and see what are their differences

Azure Stack logo Azure Stack

Microsoft Azure Stack is an extension of Azure that brings the innovation of cloud computing to build and deploy hybrid applications anywhere.

VMware vSAN logo VMware vSAN

VMware vSAN is radically simple, enterprise-class software-defined storage powering VMware hyper-converged infrastructure. 
  • Azure Stack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-12
  • VMware vSAN Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-28

Azure Stack features and specs

  • Hybrid Cloud Capabilities
    Azure Stack allows for a seamless hybrid cloud experience, enabling organizations to use Azure services both on-premises and in the cloud, which promotes flexibility and scalability in IT infrastructure.
  • Consistent Development Environment
    Developers can use the same tools, APIs, and processes used in the Azure public cloud, providing a consistent and efficient development experience across environments.
  • Data Sovereignty
    Organizations can keep sensitive data on-premises, complying with regional data sovereignty laws and regulations while still leveraging Azure services.
  • Edge Computing
    Azure Stack can process and analyze data locally, close to the source, which is beneficial for scenarios that require low latency, such as IoT and real-time analytics.
  • Customizable Hardware
    Azure Stack can be deployed on hardware options from several OEM partners, offering flexibility in terms of hardware choices to meet specific organizational needs.

Possible disadvantages of Azure Stack

  • Initial Cost
    Implementing Azure Stack can be expensive due to the need for specific hardware, licensing fees, and the potential complexity of integration with existing systems.
  • Management Complexity
    Managing an Azure Stack environment can be complex, requiring skilled personnel and additional resources to maintain and support the hybrid cloud infrastructure.
  • Limited Service Availability
    Not all Azure services available in the public cloud are supported on Azure Stack, which may restrict certain functionalities and require careful planning and architecture design.
  • Updates and Maintenance
    Azure Stack requires regular updates and maintenance to keep it aligned with the Azure cloud and to ensure security, which can add to operational overhead.
  • Scalability Constraints
    Although Azure Stack offers scalability, it is still bound by on-premises infrastructure limits, which may constrain growth compared to the scalability offered by the full Azure public cloud.

VMware vSAN features and specs

  • Cost Efficiency
    By pooling together the storage resources available on existing servers, it eliminates the need for expensive, dedicated storage arrays.
  • Scalability
    vSAN enables easy scalability by adding more drives or nodes without disruptive downtimes, meeting the dynamic needs of modern businesses.
  • Performance
    Integrates closely with VMware's vSphere ecosystem to deliver optimized performance tailored to enterprise workloads.
  • Simplified Management
    Managed through VMware's vCenter, it offers a unified console for easier monitoring, provisioning, and maintenance.
  • High Availability
    Ensures data redundancy and availability through its robust architecture, minimizing risks of data loss.
  • Integration
    Tightly integrates with the VMware ecosystem, which includes vSphere, NSX, and other VMware products, providing a comprehensive suite for data center management.

Possible disadvantages of VMware vSAN

  • Initial Setup Complexity
    The initial setup can be complicated and may require specific knowledge and expertise in VMware environments.
  • Licensing Costs
    While it reduces hardware costs, vSAN licensing fees can be high, especially for enterprise-grade features.
  • Resource Intensive
    Can be resource-intensive, affecting the overall performance of the servers it runs on, especially in resource-constrained environments.
  • Compatibility
    May have hardware compatibility issues, requiring careful selection of compatible components.
  • Learning Curve
    There is a significant learning curve involved, especially for administrators who are not already familiar with VMware products.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    As a proprietary solution, it can create vendor lock-in, making future migrations or integrations with non-VMware products challenging.

Analysis of VMware vSAN

Overall verdict

  • Overall, VMware vSAN is considered a good solution for organizations already using VMware infrastructure or those looking for a highly available and scalable storage system. Its ease of use and solid integration make it a compelling choice for modern data centers.

Why this product is good

  • VMware vSAN is a well-regarded software-defined storage solution that integrates directly with VMware's vSphere, allowing for simplified management of storage resources. It offers features like high availability, scalability, and cloud native storage capabilities, which are beneficial for IT environments that require robust storage solutions. Additionally, vSAN's seamless integration into the VMware ecosystem means reduced complexity and improved disaster recovery options.

Recommended for

  • Organizations using VMware vSphere and looking to extend capabilities with a storage solution.
  • Enterprises needing scalable and flexible storage options.
  • IT environments requiring high availability and efficient resource management.
  • Businesses seeking storage solutions that support hybrid or multi-cloud strategies.

Azure Stack videos

Azure Stack - An extension of Azure | Azure Friday

More videos:

  • Review - Azure Stack HCI 20H2 with Cosmos Darwin
  • Review - Dell EMC Solutions for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI Deep Dive

VMware vSAN videos

VMware VSAN Review (Real User: Marcus Puckett)

More videos:

  • Review - VMware VSAN Review (Real User: Matt Baltz)
  • Review - VMware VSAN Review (Real User: Ben Gent)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Azure Stack and VMware vSAN)
Cloud Computing
23 23%
77% 77
Cloud Storage
20 20%
80% 80
Object Storage
41 41%
59% 59
Storage
12 12%
88% 88

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Azure Stack seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Azure Stack mentions (3)

  • Oxide: The Cloud Computer
    Oracle, AWS & Azure all have "Cloud at Customer" offerings. And these offerings have existed for years. https://www.oracle.com/cloud/cloud-at-customer/ https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/azure-stack https://aws.amazon.com/outposts/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Some old propaganda from the Windows 7 Retail Release.
    Azure runs a specialised version of Windows server called Azure Stack. You can get info on the versions Microsoft released to the public here https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/overview/azure-stack/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Did they just invent on-prem hosting?
    Azure Stack - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/overview/azure-stack/. Source: over 3 years ago

VMware vSAN mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of VMware vSAN yet. Tracking of VMware vSAN recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Azure Stack and VMware vSAN, you can also consider the following products

Azure Storage Explorer - Easily manage your Azure storage accounts in the cloud, from Windows, macOS, or Linux, using Azure Storage Explorer.

Nutanix - Nutanix is a virtualized datacenter platform that provides disruptive datacenter infrastructure solutions for implementing enterprise-class.

AWS Storage Gateway - AWS Storage Gateway is a service connecting an on-premises software appliance with cloud-based storage.

Datrium - Get primary storage and backup, disaster recovery orchestration, encryption, and mobility in a single powerful platform. Liberate IT from complexity.

Zadara Storage - Enterprise Storage-as-a-Service Solutions (STaaS). On premises or in the cloud. Fully-managed 24/7. Pay only for what you use. Leading companies worldwide trust Zadara Data Storage. Proud to be the best cloud storage option

StorPool - StorPool is designed from the ground up to provide cloud builders, shared hosting providers and MSPs with the most resource efficient storage software on the market.