VMware vSAN is a software-defined storage solution that allows for the creation of shared storage pools across multiple hosts. It enables the creation of highly available and scalable storage solutions for virtual machines that are running on vSphere environments.
vSAN is a hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) solution which means it allows the combination of compute, storage and networking in a single cluster. This allows for better use of resources and eliminates the need for additional storage hardware.
vSAN creates a virtual storage area network (SAN) that can be managed through vCenter and it can be used to store virtual machines, virtual disks, snapshots, and other data. It also supports different types of storage tiers, such as flash and spinning disk, which allows for the creation of more efficient storage solutions.
One of the key features of vSAN is its ability to perform storage operations, such as provisioning, cloning, and snapshots, at the virtual machine level. This allows for more granular control over storage resources and eliminates the need for traditional storage provisioning methods.
vSAN also supports many data services such as deduplication, compression, and erasure coding which can improve storage efficiency, performance and also helps to reduce data footprint.
vSAN also supports policy-based management that allows administrators to specify storage requirements for individual virtual machines, such as performance, capacity, and availability. This allows for the creation of custom storage solutions that meet the specific needs of different applications and workloads.
In summary, VMware vSAN is a powerful software-defined storage solution that provides a wide range of features and capabilities for managing and scaling storage resources in virtualized environments. It allows for the creation of highly available and efficient storage solutions that can be easily integrated into vSphere environments.