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vSAN Alternative for OpenShift and Kubernetes

Replace VMware vSAN with storage that fits OpenShift, KubeVirt, and modern Kubernetes operations — without the Broadcom lock-in.

Teams leaving VMware need more than generic "Kubernetes storage." They need something that replaces vSAN behavior for VM disks, snapshots, cloning, and day-2 operations while fitting an OpenShift or Kubernetes target architecture. Simplyblock is a software-defined NVMe block storage platform with CSI integration, sub-200µs P99 latency via NVMe/TCP, and deployment flexibility across hyper-converged, disaggregated, and hybrid models — without a Broadcom subscription in sight.

vSAN Alternative for OpenShift and Kubernetes

Why vSAN Becomes a Bottleneck in VMware Exit Programs

Broadcom Pricing Shock at Renewal

Since Broadcom acquired VMware, vSAN customers face subscription-only licensing with 3–5x cost increases at renewal. Teams that locked in perpetual licenses have no clean path to avoid the new pricing without replacing the stack entirely.

ESXi-Only Architecture

vSAN is built around ESXi hypervisor nodes. When the destination is OpenShift, Kubernetes, or KubeVirt, vSAN cannot follow — it has no Kubernetes CSI driver, no persistent volume integration, and no path into a cloud-native operating model.

Hardware Compatibility List Lock-In

vSAN runs only on VMware-certified hardware. Teams refreshing infrastructure or moving to commodity servers face an HCL approval process that limits hardware choice and drives up refresh costs compared to open commodity alternatives.

Performance Ceiling on NVMe Hardware

vSAN's storage path adds significant software overhead on each I/O operation. Teams running modern NVMe nodes find that vSAN cannot reach NVMe's native throughput and latency potential, leaving hardware capacity unused on workloads like PostgreSQL, MySQL, and VM-dense deployments.

What a Practical vSAN Replacement Must Deliver

The goal is not just to replace a storage product. It is to support OpenShift, KubeVirt, and stateful Kubernetes workloads without carrying forward VMware-era limits or Broadcom-era pricing.

OpenShift and KubeVirt Ready

Simplyblock supports OpenShift storage, Kubernetes CSI workflows, and KubeVirt VM storage. VM disks and container persistent volumes share the same storage platform and the same operational model — no separate storage silos for containers and VMs.

NVMe Performance Without VMware Lock-In

Simplyblock delivers up to 250,000 IOPS per core and sub-200µs P99 latency via an NVMe/TCP data path over standard Ethernet — no proprietary hypervisor, no HCL requirement, no Broadcom subscription. Software-defined storage means the platform runs on commodity hardware the team already owns or can procure freely.

A Migration Path That Does Not Box You In

Start hyper-converged when that is the fastest operational fit, then move toward hybrid or disaggregated deployment as the platform matures — without changing the storage layer or retraining operators. If your destination is specifically Red Hat, start with Hyper-Converged Storage for OpenShift and scale from there.

What Platform Teams Gain with Simplyblock

Lower cost, higher performance, and an operational model that fits how OpenShift and Kubernetes teams actually work.

Up to 75% Lower TCO

Eliminate Broadcom vSAN licensing and reduce hardware coupling. Teams replacing vSAN with simplyblock typically see total storage costs fall by up to 75% through commodity hardware choice, efficient erasure coding instead of triple replication, and no per-socket subscription fees.

NVMe Performance for VMs and Databases

Simplyblock's NVMe-first architecture delivers up to 250,000 IOPS per core and sub-200µs P99 latency — reaching what the hardware is actually capable of, rather than adding a software I/O overhead layer on top of it like vSAN does.

HCI, Hybrid, or Disaggregated

Keep the deployment model flexible. OpenShift teams can stay hyper-converged where it makes sense and separate compute from storage where economics or scale require it — without replacing the storage platform as architecture evolves.

Snapshots, Cloning, and Resilience

Instant copy-on-write snapshots, volume cloning, and configurable erasure coding support migration, day-2 operations, and the data protection workflows platform teams expect from a serious VMware replacement.

Why vSAN replacement searches often end in OpenShift

Many VMware exit programs are really platform redesign projects. Once teams decide to move toward Kubernetes as the long-term operating model, OpenShift becomes a common target because it brings enterprise policy, automation, and lifecycle controls into the same platform. That is why the storage conversation shifts from “How do we replace vSAN?” to “How do we get vSAN-like outcomes on OpenShift?”

If that is your path, read this page together with VMware Migration to OpenShift and Kubernetes, OpenShift Storage for Stateful Workloads, and Hyper-Converged Storage for OpenShift.

What “vSAN-like storage” means on OpenShift

In practice, teams usually mean a few concrete things:

  • VM disks and persistent volumes on one storage platform
  • snapshots and cloning that fit day-2 operations
  • predictable latency for databases and platform services
  • hyper-converged deployment when simplicity matters
  • a path toward hybrid or disaggregated storage when scale changes

Simplyblock addresses that requirement set with software-defined storage and an NVMe/TCP storage data path on commodity hardware — without a VMware-bound architecture or Broadcom license requirement.

HCI vs disaggregated storage for OpenShift

Some teams want to preserve the operational simplicity they knew from vSAN and start with hyper-converged storage on OpenShift. Others already know they need independent scaling for capacity and performance. The better answer is usually not ideology. It is a platform that supports both paths.

That is why simplyblock supports hyper-converged, hybrid, and disaggregated deployment models. If your immediate goal is a vSAN-like operating model on OpenShift, start with Hyper-Converged Storage for OpenShift. If the broader program is a full VMware exit, also review VMware Migration to OpenShift and Kubernetes.

Questions and Answers

What replaces vSAN on OpenShift?

Teams typically replace vSAN on OpenShift with a CSI-native software-defined block storage platform that supports VM disks, persistent volumes, snapshots, cloning, and predictable latency. Simplyblock is designed for that role, delivering sub-millisecond block storage via NVMe/TCP with a direct path into OpenShift and KubeVirt — without the Broadcom license stack.

Can you get vSAN-like storage without VMware?

Yes. The main requirement is not the VMware stack itself. It is the storage behavior: consistent performance, operationally simple provisioning, and support for stateful workloads including VM disks and snapshots. Simplyblock delivers those outcomes with software-defined NVMe block storage and an NVMe/TCP data path — without a VMware hypervisor or Broadcom license.

How does simplyblock compare to vSAN on performance?

vSAN adds software overhead on each I/O path that prevents NVMe hardware from reaching its native throughput potential. Simplyblock's NVMe-first architecture delivers up to 250,000 IOPS per core and sub-200µs P99 latency on commodity NVMe hardware — a difference that matters for databases, analytics services, and VM-dense workloads.

Should OpenShift teams stay hyper-converged or move to disaggregated storage?

It depends on workload mix and scaling pressure. Hyper-converged storage is often the fastest operational fit for early OpenShift and VMware-exit programs. Disaggregated storage becomes more attractive when compute and storage need to scale independently. Simplyblock supports both models so teams do not have to replatform the storage layer when architecture changes.

How does VMware's Broadcom acquisition affect vSAN customers?

Since Broadcom acquired VMware, vSAN licensing has shifted to a subscription-only model with significantly higher prices. Many customers report 3–5x cost increases at renewal. For teams already planning a move to OpenShift or Kubernetes, this pricing pressure has become the deciding factor. Simplyblock has no per-socket or per-core VMware licensing dependency.

Not sure if simplyblock is right for your team?

Ask your favorite AI to compare simplyblock with vSAN, OpenShift Data Foundation, and Ceph for VMware-to-OpenShift storage programs.

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vSAN and all other product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only. Use of these names does not imply endorsement or affiliation. Comparisons are based on publicly available information at the time of publication and may not reflect the most recent product changes. Verify current capabilities with each vendor before making purchasing decisions.