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Architecture Guide—VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1 on VxRail
Executive summary Architecture overview Workload domain architecture VxRail virtual network architecture Network Virtualization NSX WLD Design Enabling VCF with Tanzu Features on workload domains Physical network design considerations Storage options
Storage options
vSAN
vSAN HCI Mesh
FC storage
Multi-site design considerations Operations management architecture Lifecycle management Cloud management architecture

Storage options

Home > Integrated Products > VxRail > Guides > Architecture Guide—VMware Cloud Foundation 5.1 on VxRail > Storage options

Storage options

  • VCF on VxRail has flexible storage options that include vSAN and Fibre Channel storage as principal storage options for a VI WLD. The Management WLD primary VxRail cluster still requires vSAN storage as its principal storage. iSCSI, NFS storage, vVols, and vSAN HCI Mesh can be used as supplemental storage for both the Management and VI WLDs.

    As of VCF 5.1, VMware vSAN ESA supports both Management and VI Workload Domain clusters (vSAN ESA requires vLCM). vSAN ESA is designed as a single-tier architecture built on NVMe platforms. VCF stretched clusters are not supported with vLCM enabled, which makes ESA stretch clusters unavailable. The following table shows the different storage options available:

    Table 15.  Storage options

    Storage option

    Mgmt WLD VxRail cluster

    VI WLD VxRail cluster

    non-vLCM

    vLCM

    vSAN OSA

    Principal Storage

    Principal Storage

    Yes

    Yes

    vSAN ESA (Stretch Cluster Not Supported)

    Principal Storage

    Principal Storage

    No

    Yes

    vSAN OSA - Cross Cluster Shared Storage (Day-2)

    Supplemental Storage

    Supplemental / Principal for Dynamic nodes only

    Yes

    Yes

    vSAN ESA - Cross Cluster Shared Storage (Day-2)

    Supplemental Storage

    Supplemental / Principal for Dynamic nodes only

    No

    Yes

    FC Storage (VMFS)

    Supplemental Storage

    Supplemental / Principal for Dynamic nodes only

    Yes

    Yes

    iSCSI Storage

    Supplemental Storage

    Supplemental Storage

    Yes

    Yes

    NFS Storage

    Supplemental Storage

    Supplemental Storage

    Yes

    Yes

    NVMe over TCP

    Supplemental Storage

    Supplemental Storage

    Yes

    Yes

    NVMe over FC

    Supplemental Storage

    Supplemental Storage

    Yes

    Yes

    PowerFlex

    Supplemental Storage

    Supplemental Storage

    Yes

    Yes

    vVols

    Supplemental Storage

    Supplemental Storage

    Yes

    Yes

    Notes:

    • In a consolidated architecture, a second or additional VxRail cluster in the Management WLD would have the same support as a VI WLD VxRail cluster.
    • Use of Supplemental storage for Consolidated Architecture is supported, and follows the same guidelines as Management WLD VxRail Cluster.