George Crump

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Solving VDI Boot Storms is the number one requirement to driving Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) adoption. VDI has become essential for organizations supporting remote workforces, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and engineering firms. However, despite its advantages, VDI deployments frequently face significant storage challenges—especially during boot storms.

Why Do VDI Boot Storms Occur?

Boot storms happen when many virtual desktops simultaneously boot up or log in, causing a sudden surge of storage activity. Traditional storage architectures, including most virtual SAN (vSAN) solutions, struggle to handle these simultaneous I/O demands, resulting in significant latency and reduced performance.

The vSAN Bottleneck

Although vSANs are appealing for their potential cost savings, their architecture typically relies on running storage as an application inside a virtual machine (VM) under the control of the hypervisor. This additional software layer introduces significant overhead and performance inefficiencies, particularly under heavy workloads like a boot storm.

Examples of this approach include VMware vSAN and Nutanix AOS Storage. This architecture involves multiple steps for each storage request:

Solving VDI Boot Storms
  1. The application VM sends an I/O request to the hypervisor.
  2. The hypervisor routes the request to the storage VM.
  3. The storage VM processes the request and communicates back to the hypervisor.
  4. The hypervisor delivers the response back to the application VM.

This multi-step interaction introduces latency, increases hypervisor dependency, and degrades overall performance, especially during intensive scenarios like boot storms. Moreover, vSAN-based solutions require storage VMs to frequently coordinate metadata and resiliency across nodes, creating additional network load and complexity.

The Scale Problem

Boot storms are particularly problematic in environments with hundreds or thousands of virtual desktops booting simultaneously. Each desktop generates a surge of storage I/O requests that must be processed in real-time. In large VDI environments, this I/O demand can overwhelm vSAN-based systems, leading to:

  • Slow login times, with users experiencing delays of 2-5 minutes when starting their desktops.
  • Unresponsive applications, as latency spikes impact application launch times and in-session performance.
  • Infrastructure strain, as overloaded storage controllers and network congestion slow down overall system responsiveness.

Imagine this I/O back-and-forth between the virtual desktop, the hypervisor, and the storage VM happening 1,000 times per second while hundreds of virtual desktops are simultaneously booting. Even all-flash vSAN solutions cannot eliminate this inefficiency, as the multi-layered architecture and the need for metadata synchronization across nodes still constrain them.

The High Cost of Solving VDI Boot Storms with AFAs

Due to these limitations, many organizations resort to dedicated all-flash arrays (AFA) to handle the storage-intensive nature of boot storms. While AFAs improve performance, they significantly raise the cost per desktop, making VDI a much more expensive proposition. A storage infrastructure that should enable cost savings instead becomes one of the biggest budget concerns for IT teams.

For a more detailed breakdown of vSAN limitations and how they impact performance, read the whitepaper:
Understanding vSAN Limitations in High-Demand Environments

The Problem with Deduplication and RAID in VDI

Many storage solutions use deduplication and RAID for efficiency and data protection. However, these technologies introduce additional challenges during boot storms.

  • Deduplication Bottlenecks: Deduplication optimizes storage by reducing redundant data blocks. However, during a boot storm, hundreds of virtual desktops simultaneously access the same deduplicated blocks, creating a bottleneck. A single storage controller is forced to serve thousands of requests from the same physical block, leading to I/O contention and severe performance degradation.
  • RAID Parity Overhead: Traditional RAID architectures, particularly RAID 5 and RAID 6, use parity calculations to provide data protection. These calculations add substantial processing overhead. During a boot storm, the storage system must handle thousands of simultaneous read operations, forcing RAID controllers to decode parity data rapidly. This not only slows boot times but also creates an imbalance in read/write workloads.

These factors make traditional storage solutions fundamentally unfit for high-scale VDI environments.

Introducing VergeFS: A Better Approach

Solving VDI boot storms requires a highly integrated, performance-oriented storage solution to effectively overcome these challenges. VergeFS, integrated directly into VergeOS, offers a compelling alternative to traditional vSAN architectures and avoids the high cost per desktop of dedicated all-flash arrays. Unlike typical vSAN solutions that require additional software layers or dedicated storage hardware, VergeFS is built directly into VergeOS, eliminating unnecessary overhead and complexity.

Solving VDI Boot Storms with VergeFS

VergeFS’s integrated architecture ensures exceptionally efficient I/O handling, allowing it to handle boot storms seamlessly. It achieves bare-metal-level performance by simplifying data paths, eliminating the overhead commonly associated with external storage arrays, vSANs, or complex RAID configurations.

  • Integrated Storage and Compute: VergeFS and the hypervisor runs within the same code base, eliminating the need for separate storage VMs and removing unnecessary I/O hops.
  • Efficient I/O Distribution: Instead of centralizing I/O requests to a storage VM, VergeFS distributes them across multiple storage nodes, allowing the entire infrastructure to handle storage loads efficiently.
  • Efficient Deduplication: Integrated within the same code base as VergeOS, it enhances all facets of the infrastructure and incurs immeasurable additional overhead due to sharing identical metadata.
  • No RAID Bottlenecks: VergeFS replaces RAID parity calculations with a distributed mirroring approach, significantly reducing latency and improving boot performance.

The Advantages of VergeOS Deduplication

VergeOS eliminates the deduplication issue by integrating it natively within the core of its architecture. Because VergeFS and VergeOS share a common code base, deduplication is not a bolted-on feature or post-processing task—it is part of the storage fabric itself. Metadata used for deduplication is the same metadata leveraged for managing the file system and data distribution, incurring negligible overhead. This efficient design enables VergeFS to deliver the capacity-saving benefits of deduplication without compromising I/O performance during even the most demanding boot storms.

Solving VDI Boot Storms with Distributed Mirroring

One of VergeFS’s key advantages is its use of distributed mirroring, enabling multiple drives to feed data requests simultaneously. Unlike RAID configurations that require parity decoding, distributed mirroring directly serves data from multiple mirrored copies across storage drives, drastically reducing latency and increasing throughput during intensive I/O operations.

Additionally, VergeOS’ integrated deduplication offsets the capacity penalty common with other mirrored data protection models. This means IT teams get the benefits of high-performance mirroring without excessive storage overhead.

Real-World Results with VergeFS

Solving VDI boot storms with VergeFS has been independently verified by reputable third parties and at customer deployments. These proof points demonstrate the significant performance advantages of VergeFS.

  • Storage Review Validation: Independent testing by Storage Review confirmed that VergeOS, leveraging VergeFS, successfully booted 1,000 virtual machines in under 70 seconds—far beyond what is possible with traditional vSAN architectures.
  • 6X Faster than VMware and Omnissa: CCSI, a Desktop-as-a-Service provider and VergeIO customer, found that virtual desktops running on VergeFS booted up to six times faster compared to equivalent environments using VMware Horizon or Omnissa.

This real-world validation shows that VergeFS delivers tangible performance benefits that translate directly into improved user experience and reduced IT overhead.

The Cost Advantage

By eliminating costly add-ons like AFAs, reducing hardware requirements, and removing RAID-based performance bottlenecks, VergeFS significantly lowers the cost per virtual desktop. A VergeFS deployment is 10X less expensive than using a dedicated AFA. IT teams can scale VDI deployments more affordably while maintaining high-performance standards.

For more insights into choosing the right VDI infrastructure, download the whitepaper:
Choosing The Right Alternative to VMware Horizon and Citrix for VDI Solutions.

Conclusion

Organizations facing VDI storage challenges, especially boot storms, should strongly consider solutions designed explicitly for efficiency and performance. VergeFS, fully integrated into VergeOS, provides a proven alternative to traditional VDI storage architectures, ensuring rapid, predictable boot performance even under heavy load conditions.

By adopting VergeFS, IT teams can eliminate RAID bottlenecks, reduce complexity, avoid the high cost of dedicated all-flash storage and eliminate future storage refreshes, all while delivering a seamless user experience.

Learn more by attending our live webinar:
Register for the VDI Alternatives Webinar on March 27, 2025

Filed Under: VDI Tagged With: , ,

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VergeIO and Inuvika Partner to Deliver a Cost-Effective, High-Performance Alternative to VMware Horizon and Citrix

Ann Arbor, Michigan – March 18, 2025 – VergeIO, the leading alternative to VMware, and Inuvika, a leading provider of application virtualization and VDI solutions, today announced a strategic partnership to deliver a more cost-effective, high-performance virtual desktop and application delivery platform. This collaboration provides organizations with a seamless, scalable alternative to VMware Horizon and Citrix, addressing the increasing cost and complexity of legacy VDI solutions.

Organizations can reduce IT costs by integrating VergeOS’s ultra-efficient, software-defined data center platform with Inuvika OVD Enterprise’s high-performance application and desktop virtualization while improving user experience and operational simplicity. The combined solution offers enterprises, educational institutions, and service providers an affordable and efficient way to deploy and manage virtual desktops and applications without the licensing constraints of traditional VDI platforms.

“With VMware and Citrix raising prices and complicating their offerings, organizations need a more efficient and cost-effective approach to VDI,” said Yan Ness, CEO of VergeIO. “Our partnership with Inuvika enables organizations to eliminate unnecessary software licensing fees while improving the performance and manageability of their virtual desktop environments.”

Kevin Gallagher, CEO of Inuvika, added, “Partnering with VergeIO allows us to provide organizations with a modern, scalable VDI solution that can replace both VMware Broadcom and Omnissa Horizon for a complete solution for end customers and MSP/CSP partners. Inuvika OVD’s Linux-based architecture, combined with VergeOS’ highly integrated infrastructure, delivers a faster, more secure, and cost-effective alternative to legacy desktop virtualization solutions.”

A Smarter, More Efficient Approach to Virtual Desktops

Unlike traditional VDI solutions that require expensive third-party hypervisors and complex storage architectures, the VergeIO and Inuvika solution leverages VergeOS’ integrated storage and virtualization capabilities to reduce hardware requirements and simplify IT management. Inuvika OVD complements this by efficiently delivering Windows and Linux applications and desktops and reducing the Microsoft server licensing costs, enabling organizations to deploy VDI at a fraction of the cost of VMware/Omnissa Horizon or Citrix.

Key benefits of the joint solution include:

  • Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Say goodbye to costly hypervisor and VDI licensing fees with a more streamlined pricing model.
  • High-Performance VDI: Eliminate boot storms and slow logins with VergeFS’s integrated storage and Inuvika’s optimized application delivery.
  • Simplified Management: Reduce administrative complexity with a single, intuitive management interface for infrastructure and virtual desktops.
  • Flexible Deployment: Support for persistent and non-persistent desktops and Linux and Windows applications ensures organizations can tailor VDI to their unique needs.

Organizations currently using VMware Horizon or Citrix and seeking a cost-effective alternative are encouraged to explore the combined VergeIO and Inuvika solution.

Join Us for a Live Webinar

To learn more about how VergeIO and Inuvika deliver a cost-effective, high-performance VDI alternative, join our upcoming webinar on March 27, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT. This session will feature live demonstrations of the solution and a detailed framework for evaluating VDI alternatives. Register now: https://www.verge.io/webinar-vdi-alternatives-vio/

About VergeIO

VergeIO is the leading alternative to VMware. It provides a highly efficient, software-defined data center solution that integrates virtualization, storage, and networking into a single, easy-to-manage platform. With its innovative approach, VergeIO helps organizations reduce IT complexity, lower costs, and improve infrastructure performance. Learn more at www.verge.io.

About Inuvika

Inuvika is a leading provider of virtual application and desktop delivery solutions and a leading alternative to VMware/Omnissa Horizon and Citrix. Its OVD Enterprise platform enables organizations to deliver Windows and Linux applications securely on-premises or on any private or public cloud. Inuvika helps organizations reduce VDI costs while enhancing performance and security. Learn more at www.inuvika.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Judy Smith
JPR
[email protected]
818-522-9673

Filed Under: Press Release

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SDN at the Edge should be part of evaluating a VMware alternative. While organizations often focus on reducing licensing costs and simplifying data center management, they should also consider using software-defined networking at the edge. Extending SDN beyond the core to edge locations, remote offices, and branch networks further cuts costs, eases expansion, and simplifies operations. 

Conventional networking architectures face high costs and intricate configurations when implemented in distributed settings. Proprietary hardware, dedicated appliances, and vendor-specific solutions complicate and increase the expense of scaling edge networking. Furthermore, traditional SDN solutions rely on a separate application operating within a set of VMs, consuming resources that might be limited at the Edge, ultimately elevating deployment costs. 

An SDN solution integrated into the hypervisor can eliminate these challenges and bring cost-effective, policy-driven networking to edge sites.  

The Challenges of Traditional Networking at the Edge  

Many enterprises rely on branch offices, remote sites, manufacturing facilities, and IoT-driven edge computing deployments that require reliable, secure connectivity. However, networking at the edge is often limited by:  

at the edge
  • Costly proprietary hardware – Branch offices and remote sites require routers, firewalls, VPN appliances, and SD-WAN hardware, each adding expense and complexity.
  • Limited IT resources – Edge locations often lack on-site IT staff, making hardware management and troubleshooting difficult.
  • Inconsistent security – Network segmentation and firewall enforcement become complex when multiple sites rely on independent appliances or per-site policies.
  • Scalability challenges – Expanding remote networks typically require vendor-specific hardware upgrades, increasing costs.
  • Slow Expansion – Each site must be carefully planned, and IT must ensure that the exact or similar hardware is placed at the new location.

The Problems with Traditional SDN Solutions at the Edge  

Traditional SDN solutions are challenging to deploy in edge environments due to high resource consumption, added complexity, and elevated costs. Since most SDN platforms run as standalone applications within dedicated virtual machines, they require additional CPU, memory, and even hardware—resources that edge locations often cannot spare. Licensing models based on cores or ports further increase costs, making SDN adoption impractical for distributed environments. 

Key challenges of traditional SDN at the edge:  

  • High resource consumption – Requires dedicated VMs that consume CPU and memory, limiting application performance at edge sites.
  • Increased hardware costs – Edge locations may need additional servers just to support SDN functionality.
  • Complex licensing models – Many SDN solutions charge per core or per port, making widespread deployment costly.
  • Management overhead – Running SDN as a separate application means additional maintenance, updates, and security policies.

The alternative, instead, is to virtualize networking alongside compute and storage, integrated into a single platform. With this platform, organizations can extend software-defined policies and automation to remote sites without requiring expensive proprietary appliances.  

The Solution: Integrate SDN into the Hypervisor

Watch Our Integrated SDN Demonstration

To overcome the challenges of traditional networking and standalone SDN at the edge, organizations need a fully integrated SDN solution that eliminates unnecessary complexity, reduces hardware costs, and operates seamlessly within existing infrastructure. Instead of relying on separate networking appliances or resource-intensive SDN controller VMs, an integrated SDN approach builds networking capabilities directly into the data center operating platform.

By embedding SDN into the virtualization layer, organizations can extend network automation, security, and connectivity to edge locations without requiring additional hardware or per-core licensing fees. This approach removes the inefficiencies of legacy networking and makes software-defined networking practical, scalable, and cost-effective for distributed environments.

Key benefits of integrated SDN:

  • No dedicated SDN hardware required – Networking is handled within the hypervisor, eliminating the need for separate appliances or extra servers.
  • No additional resource drain – Unlike standalone SDN solutions, an integrated approach does not consume excess CPU and memory, ensuring optimal application performance at the edge.
  • Lower deployment and licensing costs – Integrated SDN eliminates per-core or per-port licensing, making it cost-effective for large-scale edge deployments.
  • Seamless network automation – Extends software-defined policies, security enforcement, and routing to edge sites without manual configuration.
  • Built-in security and segmentation – Enables per-VM and per-VDC security policies, reducing attack surfaces.
  • Scalable multi-site connectivity – Supports site-to-site VPNs and dynamic routing (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP) without external SD-WAN appliances.

at the edge

With integrated SDN, edge networking becomes a seamless extension of the data center—without additional infrastructure burden or cost.

Centralized Network Management Without Dedicated Hardware  

One of the most significant advantages of integrated SDN is the ability to manage remote locations from a single interface without requiring separate, site-specific networking appliances. IT teams can:  

  • Apply security and routing policies across all locations centrally
  • Eliminate the need for dedicated edge firewalls, routers, and VPN devices by using software-defined networking overlays
  • Reduce the need for on-site IT staff by enabling cloud-based or centralized administration

Using Virtual Data Centers and Segmentation At the Edge  

One of the biggest security risks at edge locations is network sprawl and inconsistent segmentation policies. Remote sites often connect back to the main data center without proper isolation, increasing the attack surface.  

An integrated SDN solution provides:  

  • Virtual Data Center (VDC)-level isolation to segment traffic between remote sites
  • Per-VM security policies that ensure devices and workloads remain protected regardless of location
  • Built-in firewalls without requiring additional security appliances

This approach ensures that edge workloads remain secure without the complexity of VLANs, hardware-based firewalls, or external appliances.  

at the edge

Why Now Is the Time to Use SDN  

For organizations already evaluating a VMware alternative, now is the perfect time to extend networking modernization beyond the core data center. Instead of replacing only the hypervisor, IT teams should consider how a fully integrated SDN solution can:  

  • Reduce the cost of edge networking by eliminating single-purpose hardware and SD-WAN appliances
  • Simplify network management by centralizing policy enforcement across remote sites
  • Improve security with built-in segmentation and software-defined firewalls
  • Enable future-proof scalability with vendor-neutral networking that works across hybrid, cloud, and edge environments

at the edge

A Smarter Approach Using SDN at the Edge  

A SDN solution built into the hypervisor, rather than a separate licensing tier or add-on, allows organizations to extend cost savings and network automation to all locations.  

VergeOS, with its integrated VergeFabric SDN, enables seamless, software-defined networking across distributed environments without requiring additional licensing fees or dedicated hardware.  

For organizations seeking a VMware alternative, this is the ideal time to rethink networking—not just in the data center but at the edge. Learn more about other options to proprietary networking in this blog.  

Learn More: On-Demand Demonstration  

Discover how VergeFabric can eliminate costly networking appliances while simplifying edge connectivity. Watch the on-demand webinar to see it in action.  Then, check out our hands-on labs to see for yourself how easy networking within VergeOS can be. 

Filed Under: Networking Tagged With:

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A StorageReview write-up highlights VergeIO’s integration of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) into VergeFabric within VergeOS, eliminating the cost and complexity of VMware NSX. This update provides enterprise-grade networking without extra licensing fees or proprietary hardware, simplifying VM and Virtual Data Center segmentation while automating network management. Unlike traditional SDN solutions, VergeFabric conserves resources and streamlines management. CEO Yan Ness emphasized that this integration removes barriers to SDN adoption, making advanced networking more accessible and cost-effective, especially for VMware migrations.

Filed Under: News

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Organizations considering a VMware exit should also consider alternatives to proprietary networking. Extending infrastructure modernization to networking has the potential to further lower costs and improve flexibility. Why continue paying for expensive, proprietary networking hardware when an integrated, software-defined alternative is available at no extra cost?

The Hidden Costs of Proprietary Networking

alternatives to proprietary networking

Many IT teams have spent years managing networking the traditional way—with dedicated hardware appliances for routing, firewalls, VPNs, and vendor-locked switches. These environments were built assuming that specialized, proprietary hardware was necessary to maintain performance, security, and reliability.

Proprietary networking relies on multiple dedicated appliances, each playing a specific role in the infrastructure. A typical IT environment might include:

  • Routers for managing external and internal traffic
  • Firewalls for enforcing security policies and filtering traffic
  • VPN appliances for remote access and site-to-site connectivity
  • Proprietary switches that lock organizations into a single vendor’s ecosystem

Managing this environment necessitates distinct management interfaces, multiple licensing agreements, and firmware updates across various devices. Scaling or implementing changes can be cumbersome, requiring additional licenses or expensive hardware upgrades. Furthermore, proprietary networking often demands specialized vendor-specific expertise, frequently leading organizations to invest in classes and certifications.

Interoperability is another major challenge. Many networking vendors design their hardware and software to work best within their ecosystem, making it difficult—or even impossible—to mix and match solutions from different vendors. This locks organizations into a single vendor’s roadmap and pricing model, reducing flexibility and increasing long-term costs.

The Alternative: VergeOS with VergeFabric

alternatives to proprietary networking

One of the alternatives to proprietary networking is VergeFabric, a SDN solution fully integrated into VergeOS, provides all the core networking functions needed to replace legacy network hardware at no additional cost and without requiring extra resources from physical servers.

Instead of managing separate proprietary networking appliances, IT teams can consolidate routing, firewalling, VPN services, and network segmentation into a software-defined solution that runs natively within VergeOS.

By replacing dedicated network appliances with VergeFabric, organizations gain:

  • Integrated routing and traffic management that eliminates the need for standalone routers with BGP, OSPF, and EIGRP support
  • Built-in firewalling that provides stateful rule enforcement directly within the hypervisor
  • VPN capabilities that support IPSec and WireGuard VPNs without requiring a separate VPN appliance
  • Multi-site connectivity that establishes seamless software-defined network overlays between remote locations without complex SD-WAN hardware
  • Switching without vendor lock-in that works with any standard Ethernet switch, reducing dependency on expensive proprietary hardware
  • Mixed hardware support allowing disparate switches to act as one

No Additional Licensing Fees, No Extra Resource Overhead

Unlike standalone SDN solutions or VMware NSX, VergeFabric is not an add-on, a separate virtual appliance, or a paid upgrade—it is fully integrated into VergeOS, which means:

  • No additional software or licensing costs, as all networking features are included as part of VergeOS, which is licensed by server and not by core.
  • No resource drain on the physical server hardware, unlike VMware NSX, which requires dedicated SDN controller VMs that consume CPU and RAM
  • No complex setup or configuration, as VergeFabric is built into VergeOS and managed through a single interface alongside compute and storage

How VergeFabric Replaces Dedicated Appliances

Considering alternatives to proprietary networking as organizations move away from VMware to lower costs enables them to extend their savings. Proprietary networking often means managing multiple appliances and licensing agreements. VergeFabric eliminates the need for these devices by offering complete networking functionality as a software-defined solution inside VergeOS.

Integrated Routing and Firewalling Without Dedicated Appliances

Instead of relying on a Cisco, Juniper, or Fortinet router, VergeFabric provides fully integrated Layer 3 routing and firewalling with:

  • Dynamic routing protocols including BGP, OSPF, and EIGRP
  • Stateful firewalling with per-VM and per-VDC rule enforcement
  • Network segmentation at both the VM and Virtual Data Center (VDC) level

With VergeFabric natively handling these functions, there is no need for a separate firewall or router appliance, saving both hardware costs and administrative overhead.

Secure VPN Connectivity Without a Dedicated Appliance for VPNs

Many organizations rely on hardware-based VPN appliances, such as Cisco AnyConnect, Fortinet FortiGate, or Palo Alto Prisma Access, to establish secure site-to-site and remote access connections. VergeFabric eliminates the need for standalone VPN devices with:

  • Site-to-site VPN using IPSec and WireGuard for secure, multi-location connectivity
  • Client-based VPN access for remote workers, enabling secure user connections without extra VPN licensing fees
  • End-to-end encryption that ensures traffic between sites is protected without requiring third-party security appliances

SD-WAN Alternative for Multi-Site Networking

VergeFabric is an alternative to SD-WAN solutions for organizations with multiple locations, eliminating the need for proprietary SD-WAN appliances. Features include:

  • Software-defined inter-site networking that enables seamless communication between remote data centers without dedicated SD-WAN hardware
  • Dynamic routing to optimize traffic flow between locations automatically
  • Integrated VPN encryption to secure connections without requiring expensive SD-WAN tunnels

Network Services Without a Separate DHCP or DNS Appliance

Many IT teams rely on dedicated DHCP and DNS servers, such as Windows Server DHCP or Infoblox appliances, for network services. VergeFabric eliminates this requirement by providing:

  • A built-in DHCP server for automatic IP address management
  • Static DHCP reservations for simplified device provisioning
  • Integrated DNS services to reduce dependency on external DNS servers

Since these features run inside VergeOS, there is no need for separate networking appliances or additional virtual machines, further reducing infrastructure complexity.

A Future-Proof Networking Strategy

Proprietary networking locks organizations into expensive, complex architectures that are difficult to scale. VergeFabric provides a future-proof alternative that:

  • Eliminates vendor lock-in and reduces costs by using software-defined networking instead of hardware appliances
  • Simplifies management by consolidating routing, security, and VPN functions into VergeOS
  • Improves security and scalability with built-in firewalling, VPN, and site-to-site networking
  • Provides a gradual transition path from hardware-based networking to fully software-defined networking
  • Mix hardware from different vendors as needs or relationships change

If your organization plans to move away from VMware, now is the perfect time to rethink your networking strategy. VergeFabric provides a seamless, integrated alternative to proprietary networking without extra cost or resource overhead.

Explore VergeFabric today and see how software-defined networking can transform your infrastructure.

Learn More | Download the White Paper | Register for the Webinar

Filed Under: Networking Tagged With: , ,

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Integrated SDN That Eliminates the Cost and Complexity of VMware NSX 

Ann Arbor, MI – Tuesday, March 11 – VergeIO, the leading VMware alternative, today announced an update to VergeFabric, an integrated Software-Defined Networking (SDN) solution built into VergeOS. Unlike standalone SDN offerings, VergeFabric delivers enterprise-grade networking without licensing fees, dedicated controller VMs, or vendor lock-in, making SDN more accessible and cost-effective for organizations of all sizes. 

As businesses transition from VMware, many overlook networking, yet it offers an opportunity to extend infrastructure savings beyond just the hypervisor.

Most organizations continue to use proprietary networking hardware and appliances because of VMware’s NSX licensing costs and operational complexity. VergeFabric makes cost-effective networking available to data centers of all sizes by embedding advanced networking capabilities directly into VergeOS. This enables seamless network virtualization, security enforcement, and multi-site connectivity without additional infrastructure costs. 

The Benefits of SDN—If It Were Affordable 

SDN has long been recognized for its ability to simplify network management, enhance security, and improve agility. However, due to high licensing costs, complex deployments, and vendor lock-in, it has remained out of reach for many organizations. 

If SDN were truly affordable and seamlessly integrated, IT teams could: 

  • Eliminate proprietary networking hardware costs – Avoid expensive, vendor-specific networking appliances and switches. 
  • Improve security at no additional cost – Implement built-in VM and VDC-level segmentation to block lateral movement of threats without adding external firewalls or VLAN appliances. 
  • Automate network management – Remove manual configuration tasks, reduce errors, and improve overall infrastructure agility. 
  • Support multi-site workloads effortlessly – Establish software-defined interconnectivity between on-prem, edge, and cloud environments without complex VPNs or expensive WAN solutions. 

Breaking the Barriers to SDN Adoption 

Traditional SDN solutions, including VMware NSX, require expensive per-core licensing, dedicated virtual machines, and complex configurations that limit adoption. VergeFabric removes these obstacles by providing: 

  • Integrated SDN at no additional cost – Included with VergeOS, VergeFabric eliminates the need for standalone SDN software or per-core licensing fees. 
  • Simplified network management – Fully integrated within the VergeOS management interface, reducing complexity and streamlining operations. 
  • No dedicated SDN VMs required – Unlike VMware NSX, VergeFabric does not consume CPU or memory resources with separate controller VMs. 
  • Seamless multi-site connectivity – Built-in tools for secure, software-defined interconnectivity between remote data centers. 
  • Enhanced security and segmentation – VM and Virtual Data Center (VDC)-level security without external firewalls or VLAN complexities. 

“With VergeFabric, we are removing the cost and complexity barriers that have historically stalled SDN adoption,” said Yan Ness, CEO of VergeIO. “Integrating SDN directly into VergeOS enables organizations to modernize their network infrastructure without additional costs or complexity—a game-changer for those leaving VMware.” 

A Seamless Networking Transition for VMware Customers 

As VMware customers seek cost-effective alternatives, VergeFabric allows them to extend infrastructure savings beyond the hypervisor and to the network. By integrating with existing network hardware and providing a gradual adoption path, organizations can transition to a software-defined network architecture at their own pace. 

For organizations planning their post-VMware infrastructure, VergeFabric ensures that networking is no longer an afterthought—but rather a key component of a cost-effective, high-performance IT strategy. 

Availability & More Information 

VergeFabric is available immediately as part of VergeOS. To learn more, visit VergeIO’s website:

https://www.verge.io/advanced-networking-with-vergeio/

and/or join the upcoming webinar: 

📅 Date: Thursday, March 13

⏰ Time: 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT

📍 Live Webinar + Interactive Q&A 

🚀 Register Now

About VergeIO 

VergeIO is the leading VMware alternative, delivering a next-generation infrastructure platform that combines virtualization, storage, and networking into a single, efficient software-defined solution. Built on a highly scalable ultraconverged infrastructure (UCI) model, VergeOS enables organizations to achieve high performance, reduced costs, and streamlined IT operations—all without the licensing complexity of traditional hypervisors. 

As IT organizations move beyond VMware and traditional HCI, VergeIO provides a future-proof alternative that simplifies data center management while maximizing flexibility and cost efficiency. 

For more information, visit VergeIO’s website or contact: 

Media Contact

Judy Smith, JPR Communications

📧[email protected]         

📞 818-522-9673 

Filed Under: Press Release