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Implementing a vSAN storage architecture

Beginning with VMware vSAN 8, VMware introduced a new storage architecture called Express Storage Architecture (ESA), which is optimized for newer hardware.

The VX Deployer automatically detects if the hosts in the cluster meet the requirements for ESA. If so, ESA is deployed. If the requirements are not met, the VX Deployer deploys VMware Original Storage Architecture (OSA).

To configure vSAN ESA, the hosts in the vSAN cluster must meet the following requirements:

  • You must install vSphere and vCenter 8

  • All servers in the cluster must support vSAN ESA. For Release 2.0.1 of the VX Deployer, the following systems are supported:

    • VX3530-G

    • VX7330-N

    • VX7530 IS

    • VX7575 IS

  • Each server must meet the following specifications:

    • A minimum of 512 GB RAM

    • A minimum of 32 CPU cores

    • A minimum of 2 NICs, each having a minimum of 25 Gbps

    • Between 4 and 24 disks

    • A supported NVMe disk model:

      • SSDPF2KE016T1O. ThinkSystem 2.5" U.2 P5620 1.6TB Mixed Use NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 HS SSD

      • SSDPF2KE032T1O. ThinkSystem 2.5" U.2 P5620 3.2TB Mixed Use NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 HS SSD

      • SSDPF2KE064T1O. ThinkSystem 2.5" U.2 P5620 6.4TB Mixed Use NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 HS SSD

      • MTFDKCB3T2TFS–1BC15ABYY. ThinkSystem 2.5" U.3 7450 Max 3.2TB Mixed Use NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 HS SSD

      • MTFDKCC6T4TFS–1BC15ABYY. ThinkSystem 2.5" U.3 7450 Max 6.4TB Mixed Use NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 HS SSD

For a comparison between VMware OSA and ESA, see the following topic:

Comparing the Original Storage Architecture to the vSAN 8 Express Storage Architecture