Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced that it is expanding its Storage Gateway service to support the Nutanix AHV hypervisor. This integration enables organizations utilizing Nutanix AHV to seamlessly connect their on-premises infrastructure to AWS storage solutions through S3 File, Tape, and Volume gateways. This expansion applies across all AWS regions, allowing for increased versatility in hybrid cloud environments.
Storage Gateway is designed as a hybrid cloud solution that provides local applications with access to virtually unlimited cloud storage. It supports various protocols, including NFS, SMB, iSCSI, and iSCSI-VTL, and is primarily utilized for backup, archiving, and transferring on-premises storage to cloud-based file shares. The service can be deployed either as a virtual appliance on-premises or as an Amazon EC2 instance within the AWS cloud.
The addition of Nutanix AHV enhances AWS’s Storage Gateway, marking a significant development for users looking for diverse virtualization options. Nutanix AHV, also known as Acropolis Hypervisor, operates on a Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) platform, which facilitates easier integration compared to proprietary hypervisor systems.
The move comes as Nutanix is increasingly recognized as a viable alternative to VMware, particularly as organizations reassess their virtualization strategies in light of Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware. Concerns surrounding costs and product offerings under Broadcom’s focus on VMware Cloud Foundation have led many users to consider Nutanix more seriously. Analysts from Gartner predict that VMware may lose a substantial portion of its workloads in the coming years as customers seek alternatives.
Additionally, Nutanix has been proactive in enhancing its storage strategy. In recent years, the company has forged partnerships with external storage providers, such as Pure Storage and Dell, acknowledging the need for compatibility with existing storage arrays alongside its own software-defined storage solutions.
With the inclusion of AHV support within the Storage Gateway, AWS is further extending its hybrid storage service capabilities. This strategic move not only broadens AWS’s appeal to various virtualization platforms but also allows Nutanix environments to enjoy direct access to AWS’s S3-based storage, fostering a more flexible and efficient cloud infrastructure for organizations.