Name: Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI)
Brand: Nutanix
Rating: 4.3 (200 reviews)

Technology Consultant, ASEAN at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees

May 10, 2015

Reduces complexity but does not use RAID and there is no RAID Controller.

Nutanix is hyper-converged infrastructure, which is currently a major concern in the world of IT. New players are appearing in hyper-converged infrastructure like Simplivity, VMware EVO: Rail, EMC ScaleIO, and so forth.

Waht is Hyper-Converged?

Hyper-Converged is the solution to combine Computer (Server), Storage and Networks in one solution or in one hardware. This solution will reduce complexity of the management and also the price. So like in Nutanix, the 2 U Server, in which there are four independent servers (nodes), who each have 2 Socket CPU, RAM, 2x10GbE, 2x1GbE, 6 Disks. Bringing the total in 2U Server (Series NX-3450) there are 80 CPU Cores, 2TB RAM (assuming 512GB per node), 8x10GbE and 16TB SATA Row, Row 3.2TB SSD.

Storage in Nutanix (Converged Storage), reduces the complexity of the storage layer, because it does not need LUN, Volume, Zoning, etc as when we configure FC Storage. Storage in Nutanix is NFS, NFS is the benefit of reducing the overhead of the disk groups and LUNs.

Nutanix Architecture

Inside there is a term Nutanix nodes and blocks.Block is a 2U rack mount chassis in which there are four nodes.Hardware Nutanix is OEM Super Micro or Dell.

In each of these nodes are Nutanix Controller VM (CVM). CVM is a storage appliance or controllers which use VMware Direct Path for direct access to the LSI Disk Controller. This is what allows the CVM to control the disks directly without passing through the hypervisor (ESXi or Hyper-V or KVM). Nutanix does not use RAID and no RAID Controller therein. Nutanix Distributed Files System (NDFS) algorithm is owned (proprietary) by Nutanix system for distributing files or replicating data to each Node. NDFS is a similar technology as used by Googles Files System, Facebook and other Web-Scale Technology.

Hypervisor is installed in the SATA DOM (Disk on Motherboard) module. So there is a flash chip in the motherboard 64GB per node (read article unboxing Nutanix). CVM is a VM running on the hypervisor, which has the configuration of 8 vCPUs and 16-24GB RAM.CVM has two vNICs that one vNIC to connect to the production network and one vNIC to connect to a private vSwitch. Private vSwitch VMkernel adapters have and currently do not have physical network adapter (Punic). Private network used for communication from the host to the CVM for mounting NFS datastore of Nutanix Storage Cluster.CVM uses public vNIX for communication between the CVM in other nodes and also for monitoring cluster plus replicate data.

The figure below is a diagram per Node:

And the image below is a diagram per Cluster Nutanix:

And some of the questions often asked are:

What happens when CVM failure in one node? Autopathing will redirect IO to the CVM in other nodes in the same cluster.
What happens when a disk failure on one node?Nutanix Storage Cluster will "sustain" the current single disk failure, and the system will redistribute data through Cluster.When the rebuild or redistribution is complete it will Cluster Healthy back.This process is very fast (ms).
What happens when one node failure?The process is almost the same as point 2, the data will redistribute within the Cluster.Only this process Nutanix uses MapReduce to speed up the process.If we have three nodes in one cluster, then only allowed one node failure.Therefore, at least 3 nodes required to form 1 Nutanix Cluster.

Management Console

Management Console in Nutanix is PRISM.PRISM is a web interface as shown below.

The first time we log in, then the initial menu as shown above.Visible top left is the ESXi hypervisor is installed, if you use Microsoft Windows, the look is Hyper-V.Then also seen versions of ESXi, below is the total storage capacity, a total of VMs (VMs 230), total node (5) and total blocks (2).In the middle column visible performance monitoring IOPS, bandwidth, CPU and Memory.And the rightmost column is the Events and Alerts.

Top left corner there is a drop down menu (Home), then I moved to the Storage menu Diagram View.It will appear as shown below.

Now we move to the VM menu, which will give us the details of the VM is running in the cluster.Seen there total VM, total CPU and Memory.Then there is also a report by IOPS, Latency IO, Memory Usage and CPU Usage.

Then we move to the VM Table, it is seen in detail per-VM, as shown below. If we look at the information that there is, then I think this function together with VMware vCenter Ops, which did not exist just Forecast Analysis. Here we can search the VM and then perform analysis per-VM performance based on CPU, Memory, IOPS, Latency, or Network.

And now we move to the Storage menu Diagram.Seen all information relating to such Usage Storage, IOPS, bandwidth IO, IO Latency. And in the top right corner, there are two menus of "Container" and "Storage Pool".

Storage Pool, is the union of all disks that exist in all Nodes.Container is as Datastore. We can make some Container in 1 Storage Pool.As with traditional storage, we can make some LUNs in 1 Disk Group.

Interestingly here is Nutanix without RAID but using NDFS, no volume or LUNs. For example, we will create one Container, then I click menu in the top right corner Container, the menu will appear below.

Interestingly, we we would like to mount the new container to multiple hosts / nodes, we just need to do the check as shown below.Imagine if we use the SAN, must do Zoning first, then setting WWN ID to each of the hosts, and so on.

And we can compress or dedup the container that we have made, and only one click then completed as shown below. Interesting is it not it?

And no less, that is build-in replication. We can do replication N-Way means can perform replication to 3rd place (A-> B-> C) upto 6th place (A-> B-> C-> D-> E-> F). Which greatly facilitates that we can do per-VM based and fixed per block-level replication. Imagine in traditional storage, replication must be done LUN to LUN.So if there are 50-VM per LUN, then total all 50 VM will be replicated to the LUN in the DR Site.Replication in Nutanix, can be integrated with VMware SRM.

Likewise reviews Nutanix, although not as complete but could be an additional complete our knowledge. And we will come back to a Nutanix detailed discussion at a later time.

Thanks to Nutanix for allowing me to "box-test" Nutanix lab in Singapore.
I would like to thank the team for greater Nutanix Reviews their help in providing the access to Reviews their lab and willingness to answer questions during our process.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

it_user234780

Virtualization Architect, Office of the CTO at API Systems, Inc.

May 7, 2015

Download

I am now able to quickly configure a Cluster in minutes but if you do the design without appropriate cooling you will have stability issues.

Pros and Cons

"Switching to Nutanix flipped the value proposition around, and suddenly one technical person qualified in Nutanix was all that was needed."

What is most valuable?

Ease of administration
Monitoring and alerting features through Prism Web UI
Acceleration of non-persistent VDI through the shadow clone feature
Localization of I/O makes boot and login storms a thing of the past

How has it helped my organization?

Rather than spend valuable consulting days setting up a SAN and carving out LUNs, setting up the hosts, etc., I am now able to quickly configure a Nutanix Cluster in minutes. I use the majority of my consulting time fine tuning the VDI and SBC deployment’s performance and policies which is the most valuable to the client.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using Nutanix VCP NOS for two years.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

On one particular deployment, I found two issues with hardware; a bad disk drive, and a bad motherboard. Luckily, Nutanix support contacted me because they received the alerts at the same time I did and we were able to triage and replace the defective hardware prior to the roll-out.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Something to consider when designing Rackspace for Nutanix blocks, and other SuperMicro server hardware, is that you are effectively adding four computer nodes into a 2U space. When you stack multiple blocks together in a rack, the density of heat is considerable when compared to typical server hardware in the very same amount of space. If you do the design without appropriate cooling, yes, you will have issues with stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Quite the opposite, really, this is the first time when scalability is not an issue. Adding another Nutanix node to a Cluster adds storage, memory and compute very easily. Nutanix scales very linearly, like some other converged solutions. Because it scales so linearly, it is important to choose your Nutanix model wisely so that you scale appropriately for the workload you are throwing at it.

How are customer service and technical support?

Customer service is fantastic.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Prior to Nutanix, we, like everyone else, pieced together our solution using HP Proliant servers, and NetApp SAN storage. Between ordering, qualifying, unboxing, setup and configuration, the amount of time required to get the client up and running was huge. We had to have experts on shared storage and networking; a lot of time was spent doing tasks that didn’t directly translate into value for our clients. Switching to Nutanix flipped the value proposition around, and suddenly one technical person qualified in Nutanix was all that was needed. Our time to deployment was much faster, and both ours and our client’s costs went down.

How was the initial setup?

Setup is very straightforward. Once racked and cabled, all I need is an IPv6 capable machine with a web browser. The Nutanix wizard guides me through the setup and configuration of the cluster in minutes.

What about the implementation team?

I am the consultant providing the services.

What other advice do I have?

If you decide to deploy Nutanix in your organization, choose the team wisely. We were fortunate to have our own CTO, Mark Knouse, be awarded the NTC title. As Nutanix aggressively adds new features and ways to buy into the platform, and the Nutanix community grows, having a trusted team with NTCs that works directly with Nutanix with ensure your deployment is a success.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Premier Partner with Nutanix.

Buyer's Guide

Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI)

March 2026

Free Report: Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI). Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

884,976 professionals have used our research since 2012.

it_user232989

System Engineer II at a computer software company with 501-1,000 employees

Apr 29, 2015

Download

While the performance is quite good, the initial setup and ongoing administration needed a little more development/maturing.

Pros and Cons

"I valued the high performance I/O and the high availability (HA)."

"This was a POC and due to the high cost of the solution we did not end up deploying the technology."

What is most valuable?

I valued the high performance I/O and the high availability (HA).

What needs improvement?

This was a POC and due to the high cost of the solution we did not end up deploying the technology. Also the initial setup, and ongoing administration have room for improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I used the Nutanix products in a Proof-of-Concept (POC) that we did for addressing performance issues for a Splunk installation. One of the issues was trying to get high I/O performance using VMware guests. Nutanix provided us with a possible solution for our needs. As a result, I was only exposed to the solution for about two to three months during the POC.

What was my experience with deployment of the solution?

With the assistance of a Nutanix resource, we had very little issues with the deployment of the hardware. Our biggest technical hurdle was the networking requirements in order to provide adequate bandwidth for the product.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We did not encounter any stability issues.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We did not encounter an issues with scalability.

How are customer service and technical support?

Customer Service:

I was very pleased with the level of customer service and support provided during the POC.

Technical Support:

The Nutanix resources provided to us were very knowledgeable about the product.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

This was a POC to look for a solution, but we did not have an equivalent solution in place.

How was the initial setup?

The setup was complex and required Nutanix to provide a resource to assist with it. The networking requirements, storage/file system layout and rack space layout added to the level of complexity.

What about the implementation team?

Nutanix provided a vendor team to assist with all facets of the POC implementation.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

As this was a POC there was no cost involved.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

No other products were being reviewed at the time of this POC but we chose not to implement it.

What other advice do I have?

This solution has many advantages, but comes with a cost in dollars and complexity, so make sure you are thorough in your requirements, and that this product meets and exceeds all your short term and long term needs, including your budget.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

Thein-Lin

System Engineer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees

Oct 16, 2024

Download

Fault tolerance enhances user experience with great support

Pros and Cons

"Regarding Nutanix AOS, fault tolerance is great."

"Nutanix marketing strategy needs improvement, particularly in Myanmar."

What is our primary use case?

The primary use case for Nutanix Acropolis AOS is as a platform with storage options for customers who are in need of such solutions.

What is most valuable?

Regarding Nutanix AOS, fault tolerance is great. Nutanix makes managing repositories easier once customers are trained.

What needs improvement?

Nutanix marketing strategy needs improvement, particularly in Myanmar. There needs to be more events and initiatives to familiarize customers with Nutanix.

For how long have I used the solution?

I am familiar with Nutanix Acropolis AOS, having used it with some enterprise setups, but it's not clear for how long.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support by Nutanix is rated highly. It's mentioned that support is fast when customers encounter trouble.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

What other advice do I have?

Further emphasis on Nutanix marketing is recommended, including holding events in Myanmar.

I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Other

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner

reviewer1234917

AVP-Datacenter Practice at a computer software company with 201-500 employees

Apr 17, 2022

Download

Scalable solution with user-friendly controls and management

Pros and Cons

"Acropolis AOS is scalable to nodes and the cloud."

"Deployment could be more user-friendly - currently, it requires certain skills with the network and nodes."

What is most valuable?

The console and managing are user-friendly.

What needs improvement?

Deployment could be more user-friendly - currently, it requires certain skills with the network and nodes. In the next release, capacity planning and reporting should be included.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for around four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This solution's stability is fine.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Acropolis AOS is scalable to nodes and the cloud.

How are customer service and support?

Nutanix's technical support is ok but could be improved - sometimes cases get passed around, and it takes some time to get a solution.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward, with deployment taking an hour and a half.

What other advice do I have?

I would advise anyone considering implementing Acropolis AOS to configure their network properly because if it isn't, it's very difficult to apply the solution. I would rate this solution eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Implementer

reviewer1225755

Enterprise Account Manager at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Jan 25, 2022

Download

The best solution for infrastructure on cloud, hybrid, or on-premise

Pros and Cons

"The most valuable features are easy cloud administration and management."

"An area for improvement would be the cyber security features."

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features are easy cloud administration and management. Acropolis also has a very good response time with our database applications.

What needs improvement?

An area for improvement would be the cyber security features.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for seven years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Acropolis' stability is good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is good.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support responds to issues in a short time.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy, and deployment takes around a week.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We renew our license on a yearly basis and have no costs in addition to the standard fee.

What other advice do I have?

Nutanix is the best solution for infrastructure on cloud, hybrid, or on-premise. I would rate this solution as ten out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

reviewer952848

System Administrator at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Jan 5, 2022

Download

Cost-effective solution for those wanting a complete infrastructure

Pros and Cons

"We have had good feedback from our customers about this solution."

"Areas for improvement would be the memory setting and the CPU setting reserve features, which are not available on Acropolis. I also feel that the DR solution, the reporting, and the component that is combined with the Nutanix OSP need to be improved."

What is our primary use case?

My primary use case for this solution

How has it helped my organization?

We have had good feedback from our customers about this solution.

What needs improvement?

Areas for improvement would be the memory setting and the CPU setting reserve features, which are not available on Acropolis. I also feel that the DR solution, the reporting, and the component that is combined with the Nutanix OSP need to be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with this product for a year and a half.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I find this solution to be stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability of this solution is fine.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is good.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I previously used VMware, but we switched to Acropolis as it is more cost-effective.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was simple.

What other advice do I have?

Acropolis is a good choice for those who want to go with a complete infrastructure. I would give this solution a score of eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

reviewer917832

Senior Director at a tech vendor with 201-500 employees

Nov 21, 2021

Download

Multiple hypervisor compatibility, simple upgrades, and reliable

Pros and Cons

"One of the main features of the solution is that it works on many hypervisors. It is a big advantage. Additionally, the solution is compatible with VMware and Hyper-V, and the management interface, which is called Prism, is very intuitive and user-friendly."

"One disadvantage of Nutanix Acropolis AOS is it doesn't support external storage. Connecting external SAN storage to Nutanix, it's not supported."

What is most valuable?

One of the main features of the solution is that it works on many hypervisors. It is a big advantage. Additionally, the solution is compatible with VMware and Hyper-V, and the management interface, which is called Prism, is very intuitive and user-friendly.

The solution upgrades very easily with the one-click upgrade feature. There are no hassles, it can upgrade the firmware and all the software. The management is very easy.

What needs improvement?

One disadvantage of Nutanix Acropolis AOS is it doesn't support external storage. Connecting external SAN storage to Nutanix, it's not supported.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Nutanix Acropolis AOS for approximately three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Nutanix Acropolis AOS is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability has been good, it is easy to scale.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support has been good.

How was the initial setup?

The solution is easy to install.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price of the solution could improve. Nutanix has recently changed its pricing model from perpetual to subscription. They have identified there are challenges with the pricing model.

The technical support we have as part of the package we purchased.

What other advice do I have?

If that a customer wants hypervisors flexibility, simplicity, scalability, and a price advantage over VMware, Nutanix is a good choice that they should consider.

I rate Nutanix Acropolis AOS an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.