Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) Reviews

The use case for Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) includes using Nutanix Files for storage. We migrated from a legacy NFS system to Nutanix NFS, which we use to store business-critical files. Additionally, we perform backups with snapshot storage at remote sites. We also use Nutanix Volumes for scaled-out volumes and backups. We plan to integrate Nutanix Object Storage for internal backups and storage solutions. I have recommended using Nutanix Lens for data growth pattern analysis and data visibility.

The features I like the most about Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) include the direct availability of NFS and iSCSI storage protocols. This setup removes dependability on a server running on virtualization, offering us direct access to these protocols. This feature enhances monitoring, growth pattern analysis, and manageability, all from a single console. Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) provides stability and self-healing with no problems to report, establishing a reliable storage solution.

I suggest more flexibility and resiliency for object storage, supporting more protocols. The licensing terms are restrictive, as they go by terabyte cost. It would be beneficial to reduce costs and offer flexibility to encourage more usage of raw storage. Including a more granular snapshot restoration process would greatly improve usability, allowing us to restore deleted files rather than the entire share.

I have been using Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) since 2019, which amounts to about four or five years now.

The stability of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) is commendable. The solution offers self-healing, and I have not encountered any problems with stability so far.

Scalability is fine with Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS); it allows compatibility and building on top of existing infrastructure. The scale-out capability works well, enabling us to run both legacy and advanced hardware seamlessly.

Technical support is adequate, but it is challenging to reach a subject matter expert quickly. As a technical person, I find it difficult to get direct answers from SMEs instead of going through initial support levels. This process can delay resolution.

Previously, I used solutions such as Citrix, VMware, and Hyper-V. I chose Nutanix for its flexibility, intelligence, and straightforward management, which suits my day-to-day work much better.

The initial setup was not difficult, but having some prior reading makes understanding easier. Nutanix provides good knowledge resources, making it tech-user-friendly, although not necessarily easy.

I recommend that Nutanix include file storage features in the pro license or Prism Pro, reducing the cost per terabyte. This would encourage more usage, make the product more accessible, and optimize the idle storage present in clusters.

In my previous experience, I evaluated solutions from Citrix, VMware, and Hyper-V.

I rate Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) a ten out of ten. The solution is excellent for stability, scalability, and valuable features, although improvements in licensing flexibility and more granular snapshot restoration would enhance it further.

My total experience for data-intensive workloads, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning in a hybrid cloud environment, is over eight years. I have worked six to seven years on hybrid hypervisors and the hybrid cloud, delivering multiple projects in the cloud, including virtualization platforms.

Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) is software-defined storage that consolidates file, object, and block storage into a single platform. It is a very beneficial solution with advanced features. The platform runs natively on the Nutanix AHV or external environment and simplifies storage management while delivering performance, scalability, redundancy, and resiliency.

Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) offers data protection and availability features, including built-in replication, snapshot, erasure coding, and RF2, RF3 for data resilience, along with integration with Nutanix data protection and disaster recovery solutions.

One of the best features of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) is the ability to deliver file, object, and block storage from a single unified storage platform, along with native integration into the Nutanix Prism for centralized and simplified management. This eliminates the need for separate storage, simplifying administration and allowing seamless scalability. The software-defined nature of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) enables flexible deployment on-premises, at the edge, or in the cloud, making it ideal for hybrid environments.

The cybersecurity features are used for protecting unstructured data against threats such as ransomware.

I have five years experience with Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS), and I have been working with it for five to six years.

When using Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) for five years, the TCO can reduce by 30 to 40 percent. Using Nutanix for four years, the return on investment would be one crore in savings compared to the traditional data center TCO. When using a traditional 3-tier data center, the TCO for one crore over five years may apply. Nutanix provides a TCO ROI calculator on its website, which helps customers estimate cost savings compared to traditional infrastructure.

Data Lens uses SaaS (software as a service) and is one of the best features of the Nutanix Cloud platform. It is used for file analytics and governance, particularly for unstructured data stored in Nutanix files or objects.

Hyperconvergence plays a role in assessing whether the solution has reduced total cost of ownership. In TCO, Nutanix could reduce costs by 30 to 60 percent, depending on the use cases and scale. I find it to be cost-effective.

In my organization, we manage the servers using Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS). We previously used traditional servers for the production servers. We migrated to Nutanix, with all the VMs hosted in the Nutanix environment. It a shared storage, which is effective with the cost, reducing expenses in this process.

It offers better high availability and performance due to the combination of SSD and HDD disks. When compared to systems using only HDD disks, the performance improvements are notable. Additionally, the RAM and ROM specifications are significantly higher. As a result, we can efficiently run several virtual machines (VMs) across the environment.

Regarding cybersecurity features, we configure several security policies to trigger alerts via mail to the respective team during threats or malware attacks, resolving issues as soon as possible. In the traditional environment, this would require manual settings; in Nutanix, it's mostly automated, and we can reference documented known issues on the Nutanix portal.

Nutanix has improved my organization by reducing manual maintenance and costs related to previously using Cisco blades and Dell EMC external storage. I previously worked with some environments using Cisco blade servers, and we connected external storage, like Dell storage. At that time, the annual maintenance costs and maintenance for the servers and storage boxes were significantly higher compared to Nutanix. When we made the switch to the Nutanix environment, we invested more initially, but it is a long-term investment. Over time, it has proven to be beneficial in terms of performance and availability, especially due to its redundancy features.

In my previous hyper-converged environment, we experienced data loss whenever a node failed. However, after migrating to Nutanix, we have not lost a single piece of data. This is because it offers high availability, and we can set redundancy measures to ensure safe copies are stored within the environment, making retrieval easy. Additionally, we have observed a significant improvement in VM performance compared to the previous setup.

Currently, I am managing a six-node cluster with Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) and have saved 50% of the cost compared to the old environment. 

Since migrating to Nutanix, we have not lost any data despite node failures due to its high availability and redundancy factor.

Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS)'s best feature is that everything is inbuilt and tested in the environment once before reaching the customer. If you experience an issue, the vendor SLA is minimal compared to other products. 

The main feature is that we are using shared storage without needing any external storage box. 

One area where Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) has room for improvement is in rollback capabilities. If I update, I cannot roll back to a lower version, which I feel is a major drawback.

I have been using Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) for three years.

It is stable. I would rate it a ten out of ten for stability.

It is scalable. I would rate it a ten out of ten for scalability.

When comparing Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) with other products or vendors on the market, Nutanix has a minimal SLA for support, typically receiving a call within half an hour for P1 priority issues, with hardware failures resolved within three hours. 

Most solutions can be found on the support portal. The knowledge base articles are extremely helpful and well-updated. If I need information on the latest updates, I can check the Lifecycle Manager (LCM), where I can find most of the known issues along with their solutions. Overall, Nutanix's support is superior compared to other products.

Positive

It is currently deployed on-premises. We are in the process of migrating to Azure cloud, but the deployment is not yet complete. As of now, we are using only on-premises infrastructure.

When it comes to deployment, it is quite complex. Most of the deployment tasks require assistance from the vendor. During the migration, my old infrastructure was present in the hypervisor environment, and I needed to move to the new tenant environment. In my previous experience working with VMware, I found that the Nutanix Move software made migration much easier, allowing us to migrate with minimal downtime and more effectively than with VMware. I can compare both software based on my experience.

The configuration of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) took one day with vendor help.

Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) does require maintenance. When we have hardware warranty and licenses for the HA nodes, maintenance is not required, but we can renew the subscription before they expire.

In my organization, we have a team of four people working with Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS).

It is very cost-effective compared to the traditional environment. With new hardware, it's a long-term investment but very effective for us.

It is mid-range in pricing. I consider it a long-term investment. If we look at traditional methods, the costs are higher due to the need to invest in multiple servers, storage systems, and switches. With Nutanix, the number of on-premises devices is reduced, which decreases maintenance costs. While I do invest more upfront in devices, the overall maintenance expenses for on-premises setups tend to increase with more devices. Nutanix allows for a limited number of nodes and a compact setup, which performs better than traditional methods. Therefore, we find the mid-range pricing to be cost-effective for our needs.

I would rate Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) a nine out of ten.

My use cases include storage, system storage, and distributed storage for virtual machines.

What I appreciate most about Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) is the efficiency in terms of storage capacity and reuse.

This efficiency improves my company by offering greater logical capacity per physical tera.

In day-to-day operations, this translates to a lower cost of ownership per tera.

The improvement in response times to business applications by Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) is notable, as it enhances response times.

At this moment, I cannot think of any improvements at the product level, everything is working extremely well.

I would like to see more components, although the analytical component is already included with Lens.

I have been using Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) for eight months.

The stability of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) seems good so far, as the platform's availability is designed for that purpose.

The platform's scalability has not caused any problems; scaling hasn't been required yet, but the scaling functionality is available.

I have not needed to request technical service or customer service.

Positive

I have seen the return on investment when using Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) in lower ownership costs, as we have a traditional storage system where the value per tera is higher.

The experience with Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) prices and licenses is good, there is a good relationship.

I have considered options such as Unity or PowerStore from Dell.

I believe the cybersecurity qualities of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) are an essential component in an organization's cyber resilience strategy to protect data from being compromised, accessed, or deleted due to cyber issues.

Cloud integration is important, not only with other platforms but also with Dell and storage systems that are not Pure Storage.

Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) excels in cost efficiency and value per tera, and it is software-defined storage that can be scaled flexibly.

I rate Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) nine out of ten.

On-premises

Other

We are currently using Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) for Citrix Virtual Desktop. These virtual desktops are used as a jump host.

There are a lot of features in Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS). The file server is very good for the environment because previously we needed to create separate file servers. Now we can make them on Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) only. There are many features like Flow, which is for segmentation. I also have experience in administration.

There are some techniques in Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) that need to be improved. Sometimes, processes get stuck on the console, which requires intervention from the command lines. There are gaps between the GUI and command lines.

I have been using Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) for the last ten years.

For the first time, it was difficult because it was our initial deployment. After that, it has been very easy.

Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) is very stable. During updates or upgrades, it is stable and user-friendly. The upgrade process is simple: just click, click, click, next, next, next, finish.

Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) is very easy to scale. You can simply rack and mount the server or node you want and add it to the cluster anytime.

The customer service is better than VMware and other solutions. They come on the call and start troubleshooting immediately. The quality of support is good.

Neutral

I previously worked with VMware before moving on to Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS). I also have experience with Citrix and Hyper-V.

The initial setup was difficult the first time, but after that, it became very easy.

Just one person is required for the deployment. However, we need information from the network teams about requirements. During our recent deployment, I was in Mumbai, India, while my hardware was in Denver, US. We didn't use a deployment service. Our data center team connected the cables, and I managed the rest remotely.

I heard that VMware is costlier than Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS). Previously, I worked with a Nutanix partner, so I am aware of the pricing.

I would rate Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS) a perfect ten out of ten. You don’t have to do much; you just have to purchase the required hardware, rack it, power it on, connect the network cables, and add it to the cluster. That's it. Nutanix technical support is impressive, as they resolve issues immediately without unnecessary delays. My overall product rating is ten.

On-premises

It serves as a centralized network location accessible to all staff members within our district school district, including technology personnel, teachers, and administrators. We utilize it as a shared file repository, allowing individuals to access necessary files from any computer based on their assigned policies.

When we decided to implement Nutanix, we aimed to address several challenges. Firstly, we were dealing with an outdated NAS server that had been in place long before my tenure at the school district. It was over ten years old and required a hard drive replacement within the first year of my arrival due to failure. Secondly, we sought to minimize our data center's footprint by consolidating our infrastructure. Rather than adding more equipment to accommodate our needs, Nutanix allowed us to streamline services by consolidating them onto our existing virtualization platform.

It has effectively managed our unstructured data, including audio and video files. We've experienced smooth operations without any complaints regarding uploading or downloading videos. While video usage isn't as frequent, we primarily utilize it for downloading videos related to specific incidents for administrators or our police department. We've encountered no issues uploading files of any kind.

Transitioning from VMware to Nutanix has highlighted the overall flexibility of Nutanix's platform. Unlike VMware's three-tier system, Nutanix simplifies the learning curve by streamlining operations. The update process, in particular, has been favorable, with no critical issues encountered.

The resiliency of Nutanix hasn't been thoroughly tested in our environment so far. However, I routinely check fault tolerance settings to ensure they meet our requirements. During the update process, I've observed critical errors occur as hosts restart, but Nutanix's self-healing mechanism handles these issues seamlessly.

The benefit of using Nutanix is evident in several ways. Firstly, we've effectively compressed our storage while significantly expanding our overall storage pool. Previously, our service had a capacity of twenty-five terabytes, but with Nutanix, we've scaled up to a hundred and twenty terabytes physically and approximately fifty terabytes logically. This expansion has been accompanied by noticeable improvements in performance, particularly with reduced latency and IOPS well within the boundaries of our equipment.

All our resources are centralized in a single location for managing and running storage: our data center. We operate three Nutanix nodes within this center, effectively managing everything from one central location. We don't have any other locations outside of our data center running a Nutanix cluster.

Nutanix's capability to eliminate silos within our organization's storage infrastructure was discussed during our recent call with the engineer. Although we haven't explored this feature extensively yet, there's a forthcoming project where we anticipate leveraging it.One thing I'd appreciate is having a desktop application similar to what VMware offered. With VMware, I could download a separate client program onto my computer, allowing me to log in directly rather than accessing the host through a browser.

Currently, the most valuable aspect of our Nutanix implementation is its file storage functionality.

One thing I'd appreciate is having a desktop application similar to what VMware offered. With VMware, I could download a separate client program onto my computer, allowing me to log in directly rather than accessing the host through a browser.

We transitioned from a VMware environment to Nutanix over a year ago, during which we also introduced Unified File Storage capabilities alongside our existing Enterprise Storage solution.

The occurrence of lagging and downtime has been very minimal since we migrated most of our servers. It has been an improvement overall. Any lag that may occur would likely be imperceptible to the average user. Occasionally, I may receive minor warnings in reports, such as a recent anomaly where computation usage nearly reached a hundred percent during midday. However, this did not impact everyday use, and it was only noted upon reviewing the report later in the day.

I can't provide a definitive assessment of scalability as we initially started with a three-node cluster. However, in terms of deploying virtual machines, Nutanix has demonstrated greater efficiency with resources compared to our previous VMware setup. Previously, I often had to allocate significant amounts of RAM and CPU resources to servers. With Nutanix, resource allocation requirements are notably reduced. For instance, where I would typically allocate a four-core CPU and eight gigs of RAM, I can now achieve similar performance with just two cores for the CPU and two gigs of RAM. This efficiency in resource utilization suggests that we have ample runway to deploy more virtual machines as needed.

Before migrating to Nutanix, our infrastructure was based on VMware. Regarding other services, we utilize Unified Storage and operate within the hyper-converged Acropolis hypervisor environment for our virtual machines. This setup allows us to leverage the multi-cloud infrastructure aspect in conjunction with Unified Storage. The integration between Unified Storage and our Acropolis hypervisor environment has been excellent. The reporting functionality is highly readable, and I appreciate how it includes links to knowledge-based articles whenever critical errors occur.

When comparing the security features of Nutanix to VMware, we didn't delve deeply into security with VMware. However, with Nutanix Files, I appreciate the ransomware feature. This feature allows us to add known malicious file names to a list, preventing any uploads of those files into the system. I find this feature valuable, especially considering past incidents like the Log4J malicious code. If any other threats arise in the future, we can easily add them to the list for protection.

Initially, when we purchased the solution, I wasn't involved in the hardware selection process. Instead, a third-party technology firm handled the initial deployment since I lacked full certification or expertise in Nutanix at the time. However, since then, I've obtained the Nutanix Certified Associate certification.

Two individuals were involved in the deployment process, with one acting as an overseer while the other handled the entire implementation. Following the deployment, the latter provided me with an Excel sheet containing all the usernames, and passwords for Nutanix admin users, and an overview of the tasks completed.

The only maintenance task I handle is performing life cycle management updates, which I conduct twice a month. This includes software and firmware maintenance. As for physical maintenance, there haven't been any requirements since the nodes were purchased.

For new users considering Nutanix, my advice would be to first assess your specific goals and needs within your environment. Determine what you're aiming to achieve—is it more efficient virtual machines, a smaller footprint in your data center, or reduced energy consumption. In our case, transitioning from VMware to Nutanix significantly reduced our footprint from a full six-foot rack to just three small servers. This not only reduced space requirements but also improved energy efficiency. Additionally, if you're dealing with outdated hardware, Nutanix could be a viable option to explore. Considering recent changes, such as VMware's shift towards more subscription-based models and potentially less customer-oriented programs, evaluating Nutanix's offerings in alignment with your organization's mission and views may be worthwhile. Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.

On-premises

It is utilized as a storage repository, serving as the file storage. It is also employed for enabling the export of any NFS share for web applications.

The flexibility of Nutanix Unified Storage is evident, particularly in its licensing model. Unlike before, where we had to meticulously calculate license allocations for different storage types, now we can simply purchase a specific amount of storage and utilize it as needed. This means we have the freedom to allocate storage for various purposes, whether it's for object storage, agent storage, or data block groups, without the hassle of rigid licensing constraints.

I'm well acquainted with the resilience offered by Nutanix. When you create a file server using Nutanix Files, the tool automatically sets up a cluster of virtual machines. Each of these virtual machines is a vital component of the file cluster. Should one virtual machine encounter an issue, others within the cluster step in to maintain high availability, ensuring uninterrupted service. It establishes a cluster of object servers, utilizing multiple VMs for resilience.

The Nutanix Data Lens is a product developed by Nutanix, operating in the cloud.  It provides valuable insights into the various types of data stored in my Nutanix Files. Recently, Data Lens introduced a new feature allowing connectivity to Nutanix Objects as well. However, I have been using it to analyze the data within Nutanix Files. It offers numerous dashboards to delve deep into the characteristics of stored data and provides helpful insights for data protection.

The benefits of utilizing Nutanix Unified Storage lie in its performance. With numerous virtual machines supporting critical business applications, any issues with one VM are quickly mitigated by others in the cluster, ensuring consistent performance and resilience. Managing and setting up file servers with Nutanix Files is straightforward and unmatched in simplicity. It doesn't require extensive expertise to handle storage tasks.

Unified Storage enables us to efficiently run and manage storage operations from any location. Currently, we operate from a single site in our production environment. As a healthcare research center under government jurisdiction, our main facility is located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We manage our data center there, and due to the presence of Nutanix, our storage management is consolidated in this single location.

I appreciate its storage licensing model, as it offers flexibility. With this model, you purchase a specific amount of storage and have the freedom to allocate it to different services as needed.

One notable feature is the ability to set hard limits on data consumption. Also, its compatibility with data lakes. This allows for data inspection within the cluster, providing a solution for potential attacks on object storage buckets.

"When creating a SMB share, Nutanix Files is restricted to 100 characters, whereas Windows allows for up to 254 characters."

I have been using it for approximately five years.

I would rate its stability capabilities ten out of ten.

Scalability is a strong aspect of this solution for my company's needs. Currently, we operate our Unified Storage cluster comprising eighteen nodes, supporting government processes. We plan to further expand our Unified Storage cluster. I would rate it nine out of ten.

Technical support has consistently been very helpful, often providing prompt responses to our inquiries. The speed of their response typically depends on the urgency of the case, whether it's classified as critical, normal, or given priority status. I would rate it nine out of ten.

Positive

Previously, we utilized a Windows share with the SMB protocol, for some types of data. We opted for Nutanix because of its streamlined approach to purchasing unified storage, enabling us to modernize our data storage practices. Nutanix offers enhanced performance capabilities, akin to working with Amazon S3 or Microsoft's Azure Blob storage, facilitating ease of use and adaptability for developing new applications aligned with Devops culture.

The initial setup may require some intermediate knowledge, but Nutanix provides thorough documentation which, if followed attentively, leads to smooth implementation.

Recently, I successfully created a new cluster of objects, overcoming initial challenges by delving deep into the documentation. While previously, such tasks were handled by the company providing the Nutanix solution, I now have the confidence and capability to independently deploy and manage clusters. 

For the implementation process, I can manage the process by myself, but certain requirements necessitate involvement from other teams. For instance, I need to collaborate with the security team regarding firewall configurations. Additionally, I must coordinate with the network team to obtain the necessary subnets for creating the cluster. I am also responsible for the maintenance.

While the price may not be the most affordable, I believe it offers good value for the benefits it provides. It offers simplicity and excellent performance. I consider it to offer the best balance of cost and benefits.

Before opting for Nutanix, we considering options like Dell and Cisco solutions for hyper-convergence. Nutanix wins. We have Nutanix Karbon (Kubernettes) and Nutanix Calm (Aplications Orchestrator) in our arsenal, but due to the limited number of collaborators on our team, we haven't yet deployed these solutions in our production environment. Additionally, within the upgrade Prism Central Pro to Ultimate version licensing product, there's a feature called Nutanix Cost Governance. This allows us to manage the costs associated with virtual machines like a public cloud. We can assign specific values to factors such as RAM, storage, and virtual CPUs for each virtual machine, consolidating them into a single cost for internal departments. It enhances visibility and tangibility regarding IT costs, making it easier to manage resources effectively.

If you're migrating from Windows File Server to Nutanix Files, my recommendation is to proceed gradually, involving different departments and prioritizing non-critical tasks initially. Thorough testing and careful planning are essential steps and would help mitigate risks and ensure a smoother transition. Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.

On-premises

Our NetApp storage array, nearing its end of life, prompted us to seek a replacement. We aimed to migrate NFS, CIFS (SMB), and SIP shares to a new platform. Initially, we considered a Windows file server, but the Nutanix Unified Storage file offering proved more appealing. However, setting up Nutanix files required a dedicated server, and we used Robocopy jobs to transfer workloads to the new platform.

Nutanix Unified Storage boasts impressive flexibility. It offers extensive capabilities and built-in continuity, ensuring minimal disruption to workloads during updates. Unlike Windows servers, where applying updates or security patches necessitates rebooting and potential user downtime of five to 30 minutes, Nutanix Files seamlessly handles updates. During an update, user requests are automatically directed to another node while the original node reboots and sequences, ensuring a smooth and transparent experience for users.

Resiliency is about maintaining functionality despite setbacks. During our installation, we had three different file servers built with redundancy. When we tested this by powering down one server completely, users didn't experience any change in file accessibility.

I've seen demos of Data Lens, but it's not currently deployed in our environment. Nutanix United Storage is holding it in development and testing until additional features become available. However, I recognize its potential, particularly for specific notifications like unusual file activity, such as encryption or large-scale downloads. The snapshot technology offers the advantage of swift recovery within hours or minutes, compared to days or weeks with traditional methods.

One of the key advantages of Nutanix Unified Storage is its resilience, which allows us to perform updates without causing disruptions to users. This is crucial for our global organization, as any downtime would affect employees accessing files anywhere from Great Britain to India. With Nutanix, we can perform maintenance without worrying about complaints due to inaccessibility. We initially encountered the benefit of this resilience when we first implemented updates. While it was still in a testing phase and files weren't accessible to the entire company, we grasped the power of seamless updates for our globally distributed teams.

Unifying everything to Nutanix makes great sense. We no longer have to deal with multiple vendors. For us to have different workloads running. At one time, we had three different storage vendors for different application uses.

Three years ago, I was frustrated with the user permission management process for Nutanix files. It necessitated using an MMC plugin for Windows. Thankfully, newer versions, like our current version 4.4, have streamlined this management by unifying and integrating it into the overall solution.

Nutanix Unified Storage helps our organization remove storage silos. It allows us to create diverse file repositories, eliminating the need for separate tiers of storage. Additionally, we can set distinct policies based on the specific storage requirements of each repository.

Nutanix Unified Storage integrates seamlessly with other Nutanix solutions, presenting a unified view through Prism Central's single pane of glass. This centralized console simplifies operations, eliminating the need to navigate across multiple interfaces for information or management tasks.

With the current version of Nutanix Unified Storage, we've implemented a new feature called Data Lens that provides powerful capabilities for reporting file usage and identifying abnormal trends. These trends could include unusual file deletions, large-scale file access events, or potential indicators of cyberattacks like ransomware. Additionally, this data lens can help detect malicious insider activity, such as a disgruntled employee downloading sensitive company information before termination. The real-time alerts generated by this system enable us to swiftly address and mitigate such threats.

The feature request I have is for the consistent improvement of how user account permissions are assigned in Nutanix Unified Storage. While there have been vast improvements over the last three years since I began using it, there's still some additional functionality I'd love to see. I believe their team is working towards those goals, but I understand that not everything can be implemented at once, and progress takes time.

I have been using Nutanix Unified Storage for three years.

I've only experienced one instance of downtime, and even that wasn't caused by Nutanix. It was a network issue. This underscores the stability of Nutanix Unified Storage. I haven't encountered any other problems with it. If any concerns arise, we can always reach out to support for a health check. They typically respond quite promptly.

Nutanix Unified Storage is indeed highly scalable. With just a few clicks, we can deploy another worker VM, and the solution seamlessly scales to meet our growing needs.

Technical support is generally quick to respond to P3 requests. Their standard response time is within eight to twelve hours, although I usually receive responses much sooner than that. The benefit of their global support network is that even if we call from the US at midnight, there's a good chance we'll reach someone in Australia who can help and is happy to do so.

Positive

We were previously using NetApp for our storage needs. However, when we decided to switch to a hyper-converged platform as part of a broader platform change, we needed to move away from NetApp. Finalizing our purchase with Nutanix was an easy decision because it streamlined the process considerably. The fact that Nutanix offered file services was also a significant factor in our choice.

The initial setup was straightforward. While some network and firewall configuration was necessary, the installation wizard clearly outlined the steps. I was able to complete the installation myself within an hour, thanks to the helpful Nutanix documentation.

The migration, however, took several months due to the large amount of data involved and the need to coordinate with other departments and teams. Since the data resided in existing storage, we continued running our Robocopy jobs to maintain synchronization. This meant we had to carefully choose downtime windows compatible with business operations for the cutover, which ultimately extended the migration timeline.

Two people were involved in the full deployment process.

The implementation was completed in-house.

Using Nutanix as a whole, I've seen a significant return on my time investment. I spend significantly less time troubleshooting, configuring, and updating. It's been much easier, and it's allowed me to reclaim my nights and weekends.

Nutanix Unified Storage pricing is reasonable.

We were initially considering VMware as a hyper-converged solution, similar to Hyper-V. However, the licensing costs for VMware were significantly higher than what we found with the Nutanix solution.

I would rate Nutanix Unified Storage a ten out of ten.

I find the security of Nutanix Unified Storage to be on par with industry standards. Additionally, the various security reports and analytics offered by Nutanix help me ensure that we are following best practices and maintaining a secure environment.

For those considering Nutanix Unified Storage for their organization but concerned about the cost, I recommend visiting the Nutanix website to test drive the solution. For specific pricing information, speak with the local reseller to explore available options.

The only maintenance required is for the software updates.

I recommend reading the documentation and taking advantage of the free test drive before migrating your existing storage to this new platform. Be sure to create a migration plan to ensure a smooth transition.

On-premises

Our organization primarily uses Unified Storage for hybrid cloud connectivity, virtual machine deployment, and migrations. We mainly use mixed storage with varying block and object sizes and compare various databases within the unified interface. It's mainly used to share storage to the SMB and enterprise protocols. It's very helpful for my use case.

We use any data type. The structural application code is any type of data storage. We have EC2 and S2 buckets in AWS and also GCP bucket storage. All of our storage is managed from one location, and we have more than 100 users. 

We previously used a traditional file server storage solution, and we had to use a different vendor for every type of work. By migrating to Nutanix storage, we could simplify everything through a single-vendor approach. The fact that Unified Storage is centralized makes it easier for us to consolidate business operations. 

We also appreciate the scalability aspect because we can scale based on the performance procurement of our workload. It unifies all types of storage. Everything has been streamlined and simplified to a single-window approach. This is amazing because we can accomplish whatever we want in terms of operations and migration. We had a three-tier architecture, but now we can stream everything using a single vendor. 

Unified Storage's centralized management features enable us to accomplish whatever we want in terms of operations and migrations. It's easy to manage the environment. Scalability is also a valuable feature. Unified Storage is highly flexible and stable. Scaling up the environment is simple, and we can scale based on our workload, which can be unpredictable. 

Nutanix's SaaS-based data security solution is great. It protects us against ransomware and global data threats. Everything is protected. It also provides cloud-hosted analytics. The Data Lens monitoring services are working well for us. We can view all the analytics from within the centralized management platform, which is convenient for users. The security features are all there. We feel comfortable knowing that we get a high level of detail at the security level. Data Lens' rating is centralized and everything is easy to use. 

The graphical user interface could provide more detail. It would be nice if we could click on the service and get some expanded definitions of them. When hiring new people, it's difficult to teach them how everything works, but if they can access everything, they can teach themselves. 

I have used Unified Storage for a year and a half.

I rate Unified Storage 10 out of 10 for stability. 

I rate Unified Storage nine out of 10 for scalability.

I rate Nutanix support 10 out of 10. 

Positive

Deploying it is straightforward. I wasn't part of the initial deployment, but I know about the integration and migration because I primarily focus on storage. The deployment took about 20 days. We have about 10 people on our team. 

Unified Storage requires some maintenance, but it isn't that difficult. We need to do some patching, but everything is efficient and manageable. The support system around is excellent. If we need to purchase anything, we can get everything quickly from the website. Only three people are responsible for maintenance and administration. 

The Nutanix team handled the deployment. They were very helpful. 

Unified Storage is reasonably priced compared to other platforms. The license is neither costly nor cheap, but it's reasonable. 

We explored Dell VxRail and NetApp's retail solution. Unified Storage offers a higher level of granularity and more control over the security features, and options are available to us.

I rate Nutanix Unified Storage 10 out of 10. I would recommend Unified Storage if you're looking for more security. It's a feature-rich platform that gives you a high degree of granular control over security. 

We use Nutanix Unified Storage for file storage and SMB sharing. My company has around 2,000 to 3,000 users on the platform.

We have massive storage needs and currently have 20 terabytes of storage Nutanix. We are storing around 10 or 11 terabytes of data on NUS. The cost would be huge if we wanted to add another NAS. 

A separate NAS would require us to buy more hardware and add switches. Nutanix allows us to add more storage inside the same cluster. It has significantly reduced our storage nodes by about 50 percent. It has been effective for us in terms of operations, management, and control. 

Nutanix Unified Storage is easy for end users to access. They can use it like any other drive on their systems.  We have mapped it in the user system so they can scan files and store them. They can use it just like an Android drive.

The dashboard could be more customizable

We have had Nutanix Unified Storage for four years.

I rate Nutanix Unified Storage nine out of 10 for stability. 

Nutanix Unified Storage is scalable. 

I rate Nutanix support nine out of 10. If you face any problems, support checks and resolves them immediately. 

Positive

We were using a VMware solution, but it required us to purchase separate storage and integrate it with the hardware. Nutanix is more convenient. 

We have Nutanix Unified Storage deployed on-prem in our data center. The deployment wasn't complex, and it only took two days. After deployment, NUS only requires periodic software updates but no patches. 

We see a 35 to 40 percent ROI on our investment. 

Nutanix Unified Storage isn't expensive. 

I rate Nutanix Unified Storage nine out of 10. I would recommend it to others.

On-premises