Which software-defined storage solution provides shared storage for vSphere clusters without traditional external storage?

The software-defined storage solution that provides shared storage for vSphere clusters without relying on traditional external storage is vSAN. vSAN, or VMware vSphere Virtual SAN, integrates directly into the VMware vSphere environment and aggregates local storage devices from ESXi hosts to create a distributed datastore. This method allows multiple hosts in a vSphere cluster to share access to the same pool of storage resources, optimizing performance and providing higher availability.

vSAN eliminates the need for shared storage appliances or external SAN/NAS systems, as it utilizes the direct-attached storage resources of the ESXi hosts. This approach enhances operational efficiency and simplifies management, allowing organizations to design highly resilient infrastructures tailored for virtual environments. By leveraging local storage, vSAN also helps reduce costs associated with traditional external storage solutions.

In contrast, NFS, vVOLs, and iSCSI are storage protocols or methods that may still require dedicated external storage systems. They do not offer the same level of integration and shared storage capabilities directly within the vSphere environment as vSAN does. Moreover, while NFS and iSCSI can be used alongside vSphere for external storage, they do not create a fully integrated, software-defined storage solution like vSAN, which is specifically designed to operate seamlessly within the