An HCI cluster (also referred to as Hyperconverged Infrastructure) is one of the most advanced and reliable solutions today for companies that want to simplify the management of their IT systems, increasing resilience and scalability.
On this page, we clearly explain what an HCI cluster is, how it works, the real benefits it offers businesses, and the key aspects to consider before adopting one. All of this is based on the hands-on experience of AXOL Server system engineers working across a variety of IT environments and high-availability infrastructures.
What is an HCI cluster
An HCI cluster is an IT infrastructure that combines compute, storage, and networking into a single virtualized system that is scalable and manageable from a centralized console. Unlike traditional infrastructure (based on separate servers, SANs, and switches), HCI enables clusters where each node contributes to all resources, ensuring business continuity and high performance.
How does an HCI cluster work?
Each node in the HCI cluster contains CPU, RAM, disks and network cards. The Promox virtualization software combines these resources into a single pool, which can be easily expanded by adding new nodes. In the event of a component failure, the system automatically fails over, redistributing loads without interruption, so that the company can continue its operations with complete peace of mind.
The concrete benefits of a cluster
- Guaranteed high availability: HCI is designed to withstand hardware or logical failures without noticeable interruptions. Virtual machines remain active even if a node goes down.
- Horizontal scalability: just add a node to increase power and space, without having to redesign the entire infrastructure.
- Simplified management: an intuitive web interface allows the IT specialist to control, update and monitor the entire system.
- Lower operating costs because efficiency translates into savings: fewer separate components, fewer subscriptions, less complexity.
FAQ
- What’s the difference between an HCI cluster and a traditional cluster?
- HCI combines all IT functions into software-defined nodes, reducing complexity and potential points of failure.
- What is the minimum number of nodes required for an HCI cluster?
- Typically 3, although more complex hyperconverged systems can also be configured.
- Do you need an in-house IT team to manage it?
- Not necessarily. AXOL Server provides fully managed solutions with support included. You can learn more on this page.
- HCI vs. CI: what’s the difference?
- In a CI (Converged Infrastructure), compute, storage, and networking are integrated but still separate components, while in an HCI (Hyperconverged Infrastructure) system, everything is virtualized and centralized on a single software-defined platform.
