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StarWind Virtual SAN

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Company health

Employee growth
1% increase in the last year
Web traffic
3% increase in the last quarter

Ratings

G2
4.8/5
(162)

StarWind Virtual SAN description

StarWind Virtual SAN is a software solution that creates a virtual storage network from your existing servers, removing the need for a physical storage area network (SAN). This makes your IT infrastructure simpler and potentially cheaper. StarWind is particularly focused on smaller offices and businesses that need a high-performance and reliable storage solution but might not have the resources for complex IT systems. It boasts easy setup and management, and promises high availability of your data and applications - even if a server fails.


Who is StarWind Virtual SAN best for

StarWind Virtual SAN is ideal for organizations needing cost-effective, high-performance storage for virtualized environments. Users praise its seamless vSphere integration and reliable performance. Keep in mind that initial setup can be complex, and the CentOS End of Life may require migration planning. We find that the responsive support is a major plus, even without a paid license, which helps users overcome these challenges.

  • Perfect for SMBs (1-1000 employees) seeking affordable, high-performance storage for virtualized environments. Licensing is simple.

  • We find that StarWind is versatile across industries, offering reliable and cost-effective storage solutions for diverse business needs.


StarWind Virtual SAN features

Supported

Automated Self-Healing: ZFS self-healing, AI-powered telemetry, and “call home” systems provide maximum reliability without customer intervention.

Supported

High Availability (HA): StarWind offers the Enterprise-level high availability (HA), deployed and easily configured in a few minutes.

Supported

Screaming Performance: StarWind unlocks hardware potential. Minimum overhead means maximum performance.

Supported

Flexible Architecture: StarWind VSAN can be run on any hypervisor or cloud and supports any industry-standard server hardware.

Supported

Predictable Costs: You only pay for the software itself. There are no hidden fees. You can use any commodity x86 server and any HDD or SSD. Support is also included in the price.

Supported

Simple Licensing: StarWind Virtual SAN has a simple licensing model making it easier to budget.

Supported

Intelligent Automation: Built-in monitoring, storage auto-tiering, and other intelligent technologies help IT administrators avoid mundane tasks and maintain storage more effectively.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Value and Pricing Transparency

Rather positive
+0.43

Customer Service

Strongly positive
+1

Ease of Use

Rather positive
+0.6

Reliability and Performance

Strongly positive
+1

Ease of Implementation

Neutral
-0.13

Scalability

Strongly positive
+0.75

StarWind Virtual SAN reviews

We've summarised 162 StarWind Virtual SAN reviews (StarWind Virtual SAN G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of StarWind Virtual SAN
  • Cost-effective, extends hardware lifespan, and reduces costs.
  • Seamless vSphere integration.
  • Linux-based, reducing licensing costs.
  • Reliable, stable performance with minimal sync issues.
  • Excellent and responsive support, even without a paid license.
Cons of StarWind Virtual SAN
  • Complex initial setup and configuration can be challenging, especially for the free version.
  • CentOS End of Life (EOL) poses a security risk and requires future migration.
  • Limited out-of-the-box usability; requires significant planning and customization.
  • Documentation can be inconsistent and outdated due to frequent product changes.
  • Separate license purchase required for witness host; renewal issues exist for pre-witness licenses.

StarWind Virtual SAN pricing

The commentary is based on 69 reviews from StarWind Virtual SAN G2 reviews.

We find StarWind Virtual SAN to be a cost-effective alternative to traditional SANs, especially for smaller businesses. Users appreciate its affordability and licensing model, highlighting its value for the money. While some find the pricing a bit high, many consider it justified by the excellent support and resulting cost savings.

Users sentiment

Rather positive
+0.43

See the StarWind Virtual SAN pricing page.


StarWind Virtual SAN alternatives

  • Logo of Scale Computing Platform
    Scale Computing Platform
    Simple, scalable server virtualization and storage for any business.
    Read more
  • Logo of Datacore SDS
    Datacore SDS
    Unlocks the full potential of your storage. Simple, smart, and efficient.
    Read more
  • Logo of StorMagic SvSAN
    StorMagic SvSAN
    Two-server virtual SAN makes high-availability simple and affordable.
    Read more
  • Logo of StarWind HyperConverged Appliance
    StarWind HyperConverged Appliance
    Turns servers into virtual data centers, simple and affordable.
    Read more
  • Logo of SoftNAS Cloud NAS
    SoftNAS Cloud NAS
    Cloud file storage, simplified, fast, and secure.
    Read more
  • Logo of StarWind Virtual Tape Library
    StarWind Virtual Tape Library
    Replaces physical tape backups with virtual ones, simplifying and securing archives.
    Read more

StarWind Virtual SAN FAQ

  • What is StarWind Virtual SAN and what does StarWind Virtual SAN do?

    We find that StarWind Virtual SAN is software that lets you create shared storage from your existing servers, eliminating the need for a separate physical SAN. It simplifies storage management and improves data availability, which is especially helpful for small to medium-sized businesses.

  • How does StarWind Virtual SAN integrate with other tools?

    We find that StarWind Virtual SAN integrates seamlessly with VMware vSphere. It also supports any industry-standard server hardware and hypervisor, offering flexibility in your infrastructure choices. It's worth noting that some users find the initial setup complex.

  • What the main competitors of StarWind Virtual SAN?

    We find that StarWind Virtual SAN's main competitors are Scale Computing Platform, DataCore SDS, and StorMagic SvSAN. These alternatives offer similar virtual SAN solutions with varying features and pricing models.

  • Is StarWind Virtual SAN legit?

    We find StarWind Virtual SAN to be a legitimate and reliable solution. It's well-regarded for its performance and responsive support. However, be aware that the initial setup can be complex.

  • How much does StarWind Virtual SAN cost?

    StarWind Virtual SAN doesn't have public pricing information. For specific pricing details, it's best to contact their sales team directly for a custom quote based on your needs.

  • Is StarWind Virtual SAN customer service good?

    We find that StarWind Virtual SAN customer service is generally considered positive. Users mention responsive, knowledgeable support staff and helpful resources like readily available documentation. A few users mentioned minor issues with documentation or initial setup complexity, but these were often resolved quickly with support assistance.


Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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