Today Microsoft announced the new Azure Stack HCI. It will be a new host operating system in the Microsoft hybrid portfolio and will be focused on being the best virtualization host. It’s a member of the Azure Stack family and separate from Windows Server.
Here are five things you should know about the new Azure Stack HCI.
1. It delivers hyper-converged infrastructure with hybrid capabilities built in
Azure Stack HCI features a world-class hyper-converged infrastructure stack and includes Hyper-V for virtualization, Storage Spaces Direct for software-defined storage, and Azure-inspired software–defined networking. It has the HCI industry performance record, achieving 13.7M IOPS with Intel® Optane™ DC persistent memory!
Azure Stack HCI integrates with Azure so you can natively monitor, secure, and backup to the cloud. Azure is already used by 95 percent of Fortune 500 companies across the globe and has been used by enterprise customers for over 30 years.
2. It features a new product experience, delivered as an Azure service
Azure Stack HCI will now be delivered as an Azure service with an up-to-date subscription for software and support.
This means that you’ll get new features faster than before with Windows Server and included with your subscription. Plus, updates will be one-click and non-disruptive.
And it has a new pricing model that scales down for edge!
3. Use Azure Stack HCI to run key virtual applications and workloads
Use Azure Stack HCI instead of traditional server infrastructure and leverage HCI for popular workloads.
Modernize and secure your data center – Eliminate legacy SAN storage to reduce your data center footprint and TCO.
Industry-best performance for SQL Server databases – Get millions of storage IOPS or database transactions and accelerate Azure Data Services and big data clusters at the edge.
Virtual desktops with edge-local access – Run desktops on-premises for low latency and data sovereignty and run Windows Virtual Desktop for effortless session management.
4. It scales down to the edge for price and supports true two-node HCI
Azure Stack HCI has very low entry price for per-location cost, compared to competing solutions. This is important for companies that have many locations and need to put a small footprint of resilient servers into each location.
It also features innovative nested resiliency and cloud quorum technologies that make these small two-node solutions possible. Plus, it leverages switchless back-to-back networking, eliminating the need for a switch to connect the nodes.
Azure Stack HCI offers a true-node solution that doesn’t require a third node for quorum. You can simply use an inexpensive USB drive as a witness or even use Cloud Witness within Azure Services.
5. DataON has integrated solutions and support with DataON MUST
DataON is one of the first and few Microsoft partners to offer fully integrated solutions for the new Azure Stack HCI. Integrated solutions provide a complete and turnkey experience that DataON is already renowned for. These multi-node solutions consist of premium-level Windows Server-certified hardware components and pre-installation of Azure Stack HCI. They’re jointly supported by DataON and Microsoft for over five years, with ongoing testing and validation from DataON and Microsoft. And they’re orderable from both DataON and Microsoft.
DataON provides additional support for Azure Stack HCI with our exclusive DataON MUST extension for Windows Admin Center. It provides real-time monitoring with alerts that frees system admins from continually monitoring their data center. Other features include a centralized dashboard, enhanced disk mapping, alert services, and call home service.
Go to our Azure Stack HCI webpage for more information about the new Azure Stack HCI.
If you’re looking to modernize your data center or add ROBO, edge or IoT deployments to your infrastructure, DataON can help you with an Azure Stack HCI solution.
Contact us for a detailed consultation with our sales team and we can help turn your IT challenge into a success.