Is a private cloud just a server in my own office?
No. A single server gives you no resilience — when it fails, the workload stops. A private cloud is a cluster: at least three nodes, with the storage replicated across them, so a node can fail or be patched with the workloads still running.
Do I still need a SAN?
No, and that is much of the point. HCI pools the drives inside each node into one distributed store, so the array, the fibre fabric and the specialist skills that go with them all come out of the design — along with their cost and their firmware cycles.
Can I start small and grow?
Yes. Three nodes is a normal starting cluster. Adding a fourth later adds compute and storage together, without downtime and without replacing what you already bought — which is the opposite of a SAN refresh.
We are on VMware and our renewal has gone up sharply. Is this the alternative?
For a lot of customers, yes — the licensing changes since the Broadcom acquisition are the most common reason we are asked to look at HCI right now. Both Nutanix AHV and Sangfor aSV replace ESXi outright. We put the cost of staying next to the cost of moving, migration effort included, so the decision is made on numbers rather than frustration.
How does disaster recovery work?
Three routes, depending on what you have: replicate to a second cluster at a DR site, replicate into Azure or AWS, or protect the workloads with Veeam and tier the older restore points off-site. Most customers combine cluster replication for fast recovery with backup for retention.
Where does the hardware sit?
Your datacenter or comms room if it meets the power and cooling requirements, any co-location facility if it does not, or split across both for DR. The assessment covers which is realistic for your site.
