Skip to main content
Use Case

Disaggregated Storage

Scale compute and storage independently when platform economics justify it.

Simplyblock enables disaggregated storage for Kubernetes and cloud-native platforms with NVMe-over-TCP performance, policy-based controls, and elastic capacity expansion. For many OpenShift and VMware-exit programs, disaggregation is the later architecture phase after an early hyper-converged start, not the sitewide default from day one.

Disaggregated storage architecture with independent scalability
10x Potential Throughput Improvement
<200µs NVMe-Class Latency
75% Potential Storage Cost Reduction
5 min Kubernetes CSI Deployment

Why Some Platforms Outgrow Pure HCI

Tightly coupled compute and storage designs can create bottlenecks once capacity and compute growth stop moving together.

Compute and Capacity Scale Together

Hyper-converged patterns are often the right starting point, but they can force teams to buy unused compute later when only storage capacity needs to grow.

Latency Penalties Over Networked Storage

Disaggregated setups fail when the network and storage protocol cannot sustain low-latency database and analytics workloads.

Overprovisioning for Peak Demand

Without thin provisioning and tiering, teams reserve expensive capacity in advance to avoid performance risk.

Operational Noise in Shared Clusters

Multi-tenant Kubernetes environments need predictable per-volume behavior to prevent contention and SLA drift.

How Simplyblock Delivers Disaggregated Storage at Scale

A Kubernetes-native storage platform that uses disaggregation where it helps, while still fitting broader OpenShift and VMware-exit architecture evolution.

Disaggregated Architecture with Independent Scale

Separate storage and compute planes so each can grow according to workload demand, improving utilization and long-term infrastructure flexibility once the platform has outgrown a simpler HCI starting point.

  • Expand storage capacity without adding unnecessary compute nodes
  • Pool distributed devices into a unified storage layer
  • Support dynamic workloads across cloud and on-prem clusters
  • Enable cleaner infrastructure planning and lifecycle upgrades
Disaggregated storage architecture for Kubernetes clusters

NVMe over TCP for Low-Latency I/O

Use NVMe over TCP to deliver high-throughput, low-latency access across disaggregated infrastructure without proprietary fabrics.

  • Improve consistency for latency-sensitive stateful workloads
  • Increase throughput for mixed read/write access patterns
  • Run on standard Ethernet networks
  • Avoid application changes while upgrading storage behavior
NVMe over TCP architecture for disaggregated storage performance

Thin Provisioning and Kubernetes-Native Operations

Optimize capacity usage with thin-provisioned volumes and automate provisioning via CSI and StorageClasses across Kubernetes environments, including platforms evolving from OpenShift HCI into a more disaggregated shape.

  • Provision logical volumes without full upfront allocation
  • Reduce cost from idle reserved capacity
  • Integrate with Kubernetes provisioning workflows
  • Scale storage operations with fewer manual steps
Thin provisioning model for cost-efficient disaggregated storage

Outcomes for Platform and Infrastructure Teams

Increase storage agility, improve performance consistency, and use disaggregation as the right architecture choice when the platform is ready for it.

Independent Resource Scaling

Scale storage and compute separately to match real demand and avoid infrastructure lockstep.

Predictable Low-Latency Performance

NVMe-over-TCP improves performance consistency for databases, queues, and analytics pipelines.

Lower Cost per TB and per Workload

Thin provisioning and pooled capacity reduce waste and improve storage economics.

Stronger Multi-Tenant Control

Per-volume controls improve isolation and service reliability in shared Kubernetes clusters.

Faster Day-2 Operations

Snapshots and clones accelerate backup, restore, testing, and release workflows.

Kubernetes-Native Delivery

Deploy through CSI and standard StorageClass primitives across major Kubernetes distributions and connect the architecture back to OpenShift Storage and VMware migration programs.

Questions and Answers

Is disaggregated storage the right first step for every Kubernetes or OpenShift platform?

No. Some platforms should start hyper-converged because operational simplicity matters most early on. Others should move to disaggregated storage later when compute and storage growth diverge. The point is to keep both paths open.

How does disaggregated storage relate to OpenShift HCI?

They are not opposing products. HCI is often the early operating shape, while disaggregation can be the later scaling model. Simplyblock supports both on one storage foundation.

Why does this matter in VMware-exit programs?

Because many teams want vSAN-like simplicity at first, then more independent scaling later. Disaggregated storage becomes useful when the OpenShift platform matures and workload economics change.

Not sure if simplyblock is right for your team?

Ask your favorite AI to compare disaggregated storage approaches and evaluate simplyblock for performance, scalability, cost control, and OpenShift architecture evolution.