VMware vSAN Trainings

VMware vSAN: hyperconverged storage in the VMware ecosystem

VMware vSAN is the hyperconverged storage solution (HCI – HyperConverged Infrastructure) integrated with vSphere, developed by VMware and owned by Broadcom since the acquisition finalised in November 2023. The principle is simple: instead of relying on an external SAN storage array (Dell EMC, NetApp, HPE, IBM, Pure Storage), vSAN aggregates the local disks (SSD, NVMe, HDD) of ESXi servers into a shared and redundant storage pool, managed directly by vSphere. This HCI architecture converges storage and compute in the same software layer, simplifies operations and reduces costs for many use cases.

vSAN brings several key functions: Storage Policies Based Management (SPBM) allowing to define storage rules per VM (RAID 1, RAID 5/6, FTT – Failures to Tolerate), deduplication and compression, at-rest encryption, snapshots, asynchronous replication (vSAN Replication), file services and iSCSI. The architecture can be Hybrid (flash cache + capacity HDD) or All-Flash (SSD cache + SSD capacity). vSAN comes in several editions according to activated functions, and integrates into VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) as a storage foundation. Typical use cases: SME / mid-market datacenter, edge computing (branches, remote sites), ROBO (Remote Office Branch Office), VDI (virtual desktop with low latency), DR (disaster recovery) and test/dev environment.

ITTA’s position on VMware vSAN

ITTA does not currently offer a dedicated VMware vSAN course in the EN catalogue. Specific vSAN offering is mainly carried by partner Broadcom training centres (vSAN Install, Configure, Manage and vSAN Deployment for Cloud Foundation training) and by VMware integrators specialised in HCI. For profiles interested in VMware and virtualisation, ITTA offers a VMware catalogue structured around vSphere and a complete virtualisation sub-domain.

Our VMware offer fits into the root VMware catalogue, with a main focus on VMware vSphere which is the technical foundation on which vSAN relies. For the storage and cloud dimension, the cloud computing sub-domain provides a complementary perspective on cloud and hybrid architectures. The virtualisation sub-domain regroups all virtualisation courses.

VMware vSAN profiles in French-speaking Switzerland

The vSphere administrator adding vSAN to the perimeter

VMware vSphere profile extending their perimeter toward HCI storage. Mastery of vSphere is key (cluster management, vCenter, distributed switches), with addition of vSAN skills (storage policies, FTT, deduplication, sizing). Our VMware vSphere catalogue provides the foundation.

The infrastructure architect evaluating HCI vs traditional SAN

Senior profile steering storage architecture choice: vSAN, Nutanix, Cisco HyperFlex (end of life), Dell PowerStore, HPE Alletra, Pure Storage, NetApp. Requires multi-vendor vision. Our VMware vSphere catalogue and the cloud computing sub-domain provide a foundation.

The VMware hybrid cloud engineer

Profile steering VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), with vSAN as storage and NSX as network. Global mastery of the VMware suite (vSphere, vSAN, NSX) is expected. Our VMware vSphere catalogue is central.

The VMware integrator at SME / mid-market

Consultant or service provider profile deploying vSAN at SME / mid-market customers seeking a simplified alternative to traditional SAN arrays. Requires field experience and VMware certification. Our VMware vSphere catalogue is a relevant starting point.

HCI storage trends in 2026

Several trends shape the HCI topic in 2026. The VMware acquisition by Broadcom restructured the offer around VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), integrating vSphere, vSAN, NSX and Aria as a single suite with new pricing. Some customers evaluate alternatives: Nutanix (historical HCI competitor, strong growth post-Broadcom), Microsoft Azure Stack HCI / Azure Local, Dell PowerFlex, open source solutions (Ceph, GlusterFS). DaaS and cloud-native architectures (Kubernetes, containers with CSI persistent storage) modify the traditional HCI landscape. AI and ML workloads demand fast storage architectures (NVMe, GPU) repositioning HCI choices. Edge computing (bank branches, industrial sites, retail) remains a very relevant use case for vSAN and Nutanix.

VMware vSAN FAQ

Does VMware vSAN still exist after Broadcom?

Yes. vSAN is kept by Broadcom and integrated into VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF). The commercial model has evolved toward VCF with a new pricing structure. The product continues to evolve technically.

Does ITTA offer a vSAN course?

Not currently. For vSAN specifically, Broadcom training (VMware partner centres) is better sized. Our pedagogical team can nonetheless study custom in-house requests with external HCI specialists.

vSAN or Nutanix: which choice?

The choice depends on context. vSAN is very suited to VMware-first organisations wanting to extend vSphere to storage. Nutanix is a historical competitor offering a complete HCI stack (AHV hypervisor, storage, network, management). After the Broadcom acquisition, several organisations evaluate Nutanix as an alternative. The choice is made according to the existing setup, cloud roadmap and budget.

Do you need to know vSphere before vSAN?

Yes, largely. vSAN technically relies on vSphere and vCenter, and is administered from the vSphere client. Mastery of vSphere is key to understand the architecture, clusters, storage policies. Our VMware vSphere catalogue provides this foundation.

VMware and storage catalogue at ITTA

For profiles interested in vSAN and hyperconverged storage, here are the key resources:

• VMware catalogue
• VMware vSphere catalogue
• Virtualisation sub-domain
• Cloud computing sub-domain
• Systems and networks sub-domain

Building a virtualised storage path at ITTA

For a profile wanting to enter HCI virtualised storage, a typical path can be: virtualisation foundation and VMware vSphere to understand the hypervisor and VMware ecosystem, then vSAN specialisation via Broadcom or Nutanix according to employer context. For the cloud and hybrid architectures dimension, add cloud computing (sub-domain). For broader profiles (infrastructure architects), combine with systems and networks and audit and cybersecurity. Our pedagogical advisors help sequence according to profile and employer.

Sessions and support at ITTA

VMware vSphere sessions take place in Geneva and Lausanne in person, and in interactive virtual classroom with a live trainer. For organisations seeking HCI storage upskilling, we organise custom in-house sessions with content adapted to the technology choice (vSAN, Nutanix, Azure Stack HCI). This modality is particularly suited to CIOs steering an infrastructure transformation or migration from a traditional SAN array.

Why consult ITTA on storage and virtualisation

ITTA offers a structured virtualisation and cloud computing catalogue covering VMware vSphere, as well as a complete virtualisation sub-domain and a cloud computing sub-domain. This continuity is valuable for profiles steering an HCI project and wanting a multi-vendor / multi-cloud vision. Our VMware trainers are consultants and integrators active on datacenter projects in French-speaking Switzerland, able to share concrete cases on vSAN vs Nutanix choices, HCI sizing, migration from traditional SAN. Sessions in Geneva, Lausanne and interactive virtual classroom, in-house and inter-company.

Transverse storage and HCI profiles

Several transverse profiles directly benefit from the ITTA VMware and virtualisation catalogue for the HCI topic. The storage architect evaluating choices between HCI (vSAN, Nutanix, Azure Stack HCI) and traditional arrays (Dell PowerStore, NetApp, Pure Storage, HPE Alletra) gains from understanding the operating models of each option. The datacenter engineer managing compute-storage convergence masters vSphere and vSAN as technical foundation. The IT budget manager arbitrates HCI vs traditional SAN cost, taking into account post-Broadcom pricing evolution. The DR / business continuity manager integrates vSAN Replication and cross-site architectures. The compliance auditor verifies at-rest encryption and governance of stored data. Our VMware vSphere catalogue and the virtualisation sub-domain provide a relevant foundation for these profiles, with a useful multi-vendor vision for architecture arbitrations.