What is Microsoft Azure Hyper Converged Infrastructure (HCI)?

1. Pre-requisite Knowledge –

Before we start with the understanding of what is Microsoft Azure HCI, we should know –

1. 1. Basic knowledge of cloud computing and its services
   2. Basic knowledge of Microsoft Azure
   3. Basic Knowledge of hybrid and private cloud

2. Background –

In this article, we will explore the Microsoft Azure HCI and its main services.

Before we look into what is Microsoft Azure HCI, let's understand Hyperconvergence and Azure stack-

Hyperconvergence –

• Hyperconvergence is an IT framework that combines storage, computing, and networking into a single system.
• This simplified uses software and x86 servers to replace expensive, purpose-built hardware’s.
• It includes the hypervisor for virtualized computing, a virtualized software-defined storage, and virtualized networking.

Microsoft Azure Stack –

• Azure Stack is an extension of Azure that provides a way to run applications in an on-premises environment and deliver Azure services in your datacenter.

3. Introduction of Microsoft Azure HCI –
   • Microsoft recently announced Azure stack HCI is a way for deploying Azure Stack on virtualized infrastructure in the enterprise data center.

Source – Microsoft Docs

• It is like Azure stack but using the virtualized environment. Hence, it is one more part of the Azure stack family.
• Azure stack HCI runs on industry-standard x86 hardware.
• Azure HCI has a low cost and improved performance as compared to Azure stack.
• Azure HCI is the evolution of Windows Server Software-Defined (WSSD) solutions previously available from Microsoft’s hardware partners.
• Azure HCI virtualized applications can connect to Azure public.
• Azure HCI has the same feature as Azure stack like compute, storage and networking.
• Azure HCI can seamlessly integrate with the Azure for site recovery, monitor, backups, etc.
• Microsoft has partners to set-up this environment. It helps to avoid the lengthy process of designing the solution from scratch. These partner names are ASUS, Axellio, bluechip, DataON, Dell EMC, Fujitsu, HPE, Hitachi, Huawei, Lenovo, NEC, prime line Solutions, QCT, SecureGUARD, and Supermicro.
• We can achieve the high availability of applications by built-in clustering and distributed software resiliency.
• We can manage Azure HCI using command line automation or Windows center.
• It replaces the aging server and storage infrastructure.

4. Microsoft Announcement
5. Reference Links –

• https://www.vmware.com/in/products/hyper-converged-infrastructure.html
• https://www.networkworld.com/article/3207567/what-is-hyperconvergence.html
• https://www.vmware.com/topics/glossary/content/hyperconvergence
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper-converged_infrastructure
• https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/overview/azure-stack/hci/
• https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/03/26/azure_stack_hci/

Conclusion – In this article, we have learned the overview of Microsoft Azure Stack HCI and its services.