What is hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) primarily composed of?

Hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) is primarily composed of compute, storage, and virtualized networking functions all integrated into a single solution. This architecture combines these elements into a cohesive system that allows for improved scalability, flexibility, and manageability, making it well-suited for modern data center operations.

The integration of compute and storage resources, along with network virtualization, enables HCI to simplify deployments and management. This also allows for the use of commodity hardware, which reduces costs while providing a robust platform for running applications. Additionally, HCI supports various virtualization technologies, facilitating the efficient allocation of resources and promoting operational efficiency.

In contrast, storage and networking components alone do not embody the complete essence of HCI since the computing layer is equally crucial for its functionality. Physical server hardware, while an essential component, does not represent the integrated and virtualized nature of HCI. Likewise, relying solely on cloud-based services does not capture the full scope of HCI, which typically focuses on on-premises infrastructure that can extend to hybrid-cloud scenarios.