How is storage managed in a vSphere cluster?

Storage management in a vSphere cluster is fundamentally based on storage policies and datastores, making this approach crucial for defining how virtual machines access and utilize storage resources.

Storage policies allow administrators to define rules that dictate the characteristics and performance requirements of the storage resources assigned to virtual machines. These policies can specify performance levels, redundancy requirements, and other criteria, ensuring that the virtual machines operate in accordance with the desired service levels.

Datastores, on the other hand, provide the foundational storage infrastructure where virtual machine files reside. They can be backed by various storage types, including SAN (Storage Area Networks) or NAS (Network Attached Storage), among others. This flexibility allows for efficient resource allocation and management within the cluster, enabling features such as VMware's vSAN and other storage components designed to enhance availability, scalability, and performance in virtual environments.

While file-level sharing, direct connections to SAN, and NAS protocols are relevant concepts in the broader context of storage management, they do not encompass the comprehensive and policy-driven framework that storage policies and datastores provide within a vSphere cluster. This policy-based management is essential for aligning storage capabilities with workload demands effectively.