Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI) Reviews

We are looking at Acropolis only as a comparison to VMware. We want to determine what it offers better than VMware, in terms of features, as well as how we can position it to integrate to a VMware environment.

I haven't been there to test everything, but I have been to the Nutanix presentation two weeks back on Nutanix cloud. The cloud features an in-site offering, which I found to be very interesting.

There could be better support for high power ESX and other cross-platform applications. A major feature in Nutanix is that it should be able to move from AHV to BFX.

I would like to see an improved interface. I think Dell EMC is going to launch ClarityNow to address this.

In terms of stability, Nutanix is a good product.

In terms of scalability, I think that it is good that it works with many clusters, which is not the same as other vendors, for which there is a limitation in terms of the clusters.

For the time being, we don't have many users. We're still in development; we did not put it on the production environment yet. We are still busy in the testing phase. Once they are all done with the test, they will be concerned with what the stakeholders want in any condition. The process will be quick and we'll have about 100 people using it for internal purposes first. Then we will back up our server to the cloud. At that point, we can expand to 1,000 or so users.

We only need one or two people to deploy and maintain this solution.

I didn't contact technical support much, but what I hear is good.

The initial setup was straightforward, not complex. We followed all their guides, and you just have to go through them and install them. The initial deployment took less than half a day.

I don't think I know. I think it's cheaper than VMware in terms of cost.

VMware is already in the market and we have been using VMware first. Now Nutanix just emerged as the leader. That's why we are comparing them.

My advice is to go for Nutanix because it is the way the market is going. Nutanix is becoming the leader in the market. Also, Nutanix offers far more software features than other products. You will not need much effort to understand the product. It's very simple to work with.

I would rate this solution as nine out of ten. I can't give it a full ten yet since we are not fully inside.

We started using Nutanix recently. I'm working here in Muscat, Oman and I take care of a complete data center, the managing, security, and maintenance. We deployed Nutanix recently with the help of Entech. Entech is the main vendor here in Muscat. In that setup, we are using the VMA 6.5 as well as 6. The primary use is for node clusters. We are reviewing the Nutanix servers now.

We use Nutanix Acropolis to look after the cluster, the migration, etc. and run the data center. We have around 300 users here using it. 

We deployed a basic setup, then afterward one-by-one, we re-migrated the servers. 

Only four people are needed to deploy Nutanix Acropolis and maintain it. I'm the main keeper for maintaining the original deployment and everything I must do. 

At a cost level, it compared well with the other vendors. Nutanix is very costly compared to others, even HP but, it works very well. 

We recommend Nutanix to the management because of scalability and time efficiency. These advantages aim at the next level of relationship for our current management, then we'll decide on future deployments.

Nutanix helped us to install hardware and taught us how to deploy with a reset. We learned how to install the Nutanix OS, and run a network.

The storage and back-up facilities could be improved. The storage and recording back-up for updates where we can maintain the data server and handle an insurance company. 

We need day-to-day encrypting of the database. We're purchasing Acropolis and Veritas. That is a big headache. We are using Nutanix for backup and storage purposes. That is now going well in terms of storage and backup.

The cloud base is an extra feature. It should be the standard. Nutanix Cloud is not that helpful for us.

The stability is good. It's time efficient compared to Dell and HP servers. Compared to those companies the stability is very good. 

Once you start the server, use the boot manual for very user-friendly options.

The main scalability is time-efficiency. If you are conserving your data, this kind of scalability and performance is very good.

For technical support, we're not in contact with them. We get the information online. You can search to get to the solution.

Before we were using Mascot. Then we started with Nutanix.

The initial setup is straightforward and not complex. It is easy. It's the firewall only. Initial deployment takes less time. We have around four data centers here. 

Starting up takes around two days, plan for an extra day per data center.

The vendors, Entech, gave very good training to us. I did that one myself.

We evaluated many solutions but finally went with this one. We went with Dell. That is a portable device. We found this one to be better.

I would recommend Nutanix Acropolis. We are a national insurance company here. We require scalability. Nutanix is very good at whatever the scale is. There are no headaches. You can boot-up other servers, all in one.

On a scale from one to ten, I would rate Nutanix Acropolis a nine. I would go to 10, but many features are not perfect. 

The reduced complexity of the overall system is a major plus, especially for smaller IT teams. Nutanix eliminates the need to have a “storage team” when using virtualization.

Beside the reduction in cost, we have been able to use Virtual Desktops for all our users. The Nutanix Hardware is capable of delivering the performance needed for Virtual desktop deployment.

Nutanix has made huge improvements over the past years and the product is very good at the moment. It would be nice to be able to converge the network switch required to connect the Nutanix nodes together. This can then be managed via the Nutanix Admin console.

We were the first in New Zealand to implement the Nutanix converged infrastructure during December 2012.

We have recently scaled up on our infrastructure without any issues. It takes longer to get the kit out of the box and in to the rack than what it takes to set it up.

They have excellent customer service and has a few support contract options available to customers.

We used to use an HP SAN but there is no way SAN’s can compete on performance with Nutanix.

The initial setup was more about migrating between hardware than actually having complexity problems. Almost any systems engineer would be able to understand and administer Nutanix infrastructure in just a few days.
I’m confident that there is no infrastructure on the market now that is as simple to implement and configure as Nutanix.

The initial configuration was done with assistance from Nutanix support. The guys there offer a great service and know the product well. During upgrades and such, we contact support to talk us through the process just because we can and it gives management a safe feeling.

Nutanix is very competitively priced and the reduced cost compared to a traditional SAN, and the increased performance and scalability sits well with the finance department. I suggest you talk to the Nutanix engineers and get a solution that is right for your workload and needs. Licensing is simple and easy to understand.

I valued the high performance I/O and the high availability (HA).

This was a POC and due to the high cost of the solution we did not end up deploying the technology. Also the initial setup, and ongoing administration have room for improvement.

I used the Nutanix products in a Proof-of-Concept (POC) that we did for addressing performance issues for a Splunk installation. One of the issues was trying to get high I/O performance using VMware guests. Nutanix provided us with a possible solution for our needs. As a result, I was only exposed to the solution for about two to three months during the POC.

With the assistance of a Nutanix resource, we had very little issues with the deployment of the hardware. Our biggest technical hurdle was the networking requirements in order to provide adequate bandwidth for the product.

We did not encounter any stability issues.

We did not encounter an issues with scalability.

I was very pleased with the level of customer service and support provided during the POC.

The Nutanix resources provided to us were very knowledgeable about the product.

This was a POC to look for a solution, but we did not have an equivalent solution in place.

The setup was complex and required Nutanix to provide a resource to assist with it. The networking requirements, storage/file system layout and rack space layout added to the level of complexity.

Nutanix provided a vendor team to assist with all facets of the POC implementation.

As this was a POC there was no cost involved.

No other products were being reviewed at the time of this POC but we chose not to implement it.

This solution has many advantages, but comes with a cost in dollars and complexity, so make sure you are thorough in your requirements, and that this product meets and exceeds all your short term and long term needs, including your budget.

I am using Nutanix Acropolis AOS for virtualization.

Nutanix Acropolis AOS makes it easy to use and manage projects and it has a good reputation.

The compatibility and integration of Nutanix Acropolis AOS could be improved. For example, we have a WAF application firewall and it does not work on this solution. Not all the OS's run on AOS. You need to have a newer version of an operating system if you want Nutanix to perfectly run all the different options.

I have been using Nutanix Acropolis AOS for approximately four months.

Nutanix Acropolis AOS is stable.

I have contacted the support during the installation. I did receive a quick and informative response. However, I don't use the support very often. 

I would advise others this is a good product for virtualization.

I rate Nutanix Acropolis AOS an eight out of ten.

A majority of my clients are those who are looking to either move away from VMware or clients who are looking for maybe a little more out of HyperV. Naturally, they look towards the top of the list. We have seen a lot of customers drop VMware due to the cost. 

We're also seeing a lot of customers who want a couple of features, similar to VMware with the capacity of a cloud, et cetera. They want that, however, they don't have it to their HyperV. Instead of moving to VMware, they work with Nutanix.

There's a mix of multiple features that I like. A lot of our clients like the fact that it is easy to update and upgrade their clusters via an interface using LCM. 

The initial setup is quite simple. 

The solution remains stable across versions. 

Technical support is great.

We haven't come across any issues. Our clients haven't seen any issues with Nutanix at all.

There should be a little more access to Nutanix files. As it is right now you have one type of Nutanix file at no additional cost. Most customers have a little more than a one-byte file server. An initial byte size could be a little more than one terabyte.

I've been using the solution for maybe five or six years. 

Even when we do initial deployments, before we run the update for the newest versions, even the older version is quite stable for us. When we move to a new version, of course, it becomes even better.

The scalability is quite good. With the introduction of some smaller branch office nodes, it has given a lot of our customers the ability to scale from a small setup and then to grow up accordingly. For instance, we have some customers who may start off with some of the larger clusters and then scale by adding small branch office nodes. It's very flexible. 

At this time, we have about 35 deployments of the product.

We have plans to increase usage. We have customers who are in a cycle right now of increasing the capacities via the expansion of nodes. We also have clients who are adding on or upgrading from other Nutanix options.

We've never had any issue in terms of getting Nutanix support. We have a team of trained Nutanix engineers at hand, however, we do, from time, reach out to Nutanix directly both for our work cluster, as well as on behalf of our customers. 

We've never had any instances of a long waiting time. They're always responsive and get back to us on anything that has to be escalated. It's quite a smooth and simple process.

The implementation process is extremely straightforward. It's no more than two to three days to do entire migrations for VMware. We utilize the Nutanix move tool to help us with our processes as well.

We are partners and we partner directly with Nutanix. We're also resellers.

I'd advise the solution is definitely something that a company should go for. One of the major things is that Nutanix allows you to move from VMware to Acropolis and it also allows you to move back. There is no harm in actually trying out Nutanix Acropolis and seeing how it works out.

I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten.