StarWind Virtual SAN Reviews

Name: StarWind Virtual SAN
Brand: StarWind
Rating: 4.8 (193 reviews)

Vendor: StarWind

4.8 out of 5

193 reviews
100% willing to recommend

643 followers

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What is StarWind Virtual SAN?

StarWind Virtual SAN provides high availability and fault tolerance for virtualized environments without the need for dedicated SAN hardware. It allows for real-time replication between servers, shared storage for Hyper-V clusters, and enables vMotion and High Availability features for VMware vSphere. The solution reduces costs and leverages existing hardware while providing a scalable and reliable infrastructure. Valuable features include ease of use, scalability, top-tier support, hardware agnosticism, and the ability to use off-the-shelf standard servers to increase storage space. StarWind VSAN has helped organizations improve performance, data availability, and data security while reducing downtime and providing cost-saving storage options.

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StarWind Virtual SAN is the #1 ranked solution in top Software Defined Storage (SDS) solutions and #5 ranked solution in HCI Software. PeerSpot users give StarWind Virtual SAN an average rating of 9.6 out of 10. StarWind Virtual SAN is most commonly compared to VMware vSAN: StarWind Virtual SAN vs VMware vSAN. StarWind Virtual SAN is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 58% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 17% of all views.

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Featured StarWind Virtual SAN reviews

WJHG

Soporte IT at Sildan Security

Although I am generally satisfied with VSAN and its performance, there are some areas that could be improved to enhance its effectiveness even further. One area that could benefit from improvement is scalability. While the tool works well in its current configuration, allowing for greater ease and flexibility in adding new nodes to the cluster without complications would be very beneficial, especially in growing environments. Additionally, I would like to see additional features in the next version, such as better support for automated resource management. This could include proactive suggestions for optimizing storage and memory usage, as well as preventive alerts about the health status of the servers. A more intuitive interface or an improved dashboard for monitoring the cluster would also be helpful, as it would facilitate performance tracking and help identify potential issues before they affect services.

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MIT

IT System Administrator at Ludwig Meyer GmbH & Co. KG

Feature-wise we are only waiting for the release of a "planned disaster" feature that would allow us to patch a hypervisor node without having to take the full storage offline. ATM (20220609) is still necessary, since taking a node offline without properly activating the maintenance mode on the vSAN would trigger a full sync of the vSAN nodes. This is fine and a good thing since it ensures data integrity. However, there is something in the making that would ensure integrity without a full sync after a node goes down, which, as stated above, one could "abuse" to patch (and boot = take down) the hypervisors during business hours 😁 Other than that, the thing is rock stable and chugging along without issues. We are an SMB so we "only" have around 50 VMs on our FO cluster, which is a medium load for SSDs. If you plan to go more to the "max" side of performance use, do proper testing!

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Julian Clarke

Solution Architect at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

There are times when the feedback in the event of an impending issue or an actual failure can be limited. The remediation steps are usually fairly simple to resolve the issue, but the management GUI does not give a lot of good feedback in some instances. A specific example of a situation where the feedback was limited was in an event where there may have been a change in network settings, and it affected one of the servers going offline. The feedback that I got from the GUI didn't quickly lead me to that root cause. However, once I immediately escalated to StarWind's own technical support, they resolved the problem quickly. That limited feedback in the management GUI is the main area where I would like to see StarWind Virtual SAN get better. Nothing else.

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StarWind Virtual SAN mindshare

Product category:

As of May 2025, the mindshare of StarWind Virtual SAN in the Software Defined Storage (SDS) category stands at 7.2%, down from 8.4% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Software Defined Storage (SDS)

PeerResearch reports based on StarWind Virtual SAN reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Software Defined Storage (SDS)	May 23, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	May 23, 2025	Download
Comparison	StarWind Virtual SAN vs Red Hat Ceph Storage	May 23, 2025	Download
Comparison	StarWind Virtual SAN vs Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS)	May 23, 2025	Download
Comparison	StarWind Virtual SAN vs Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure (NCI)	May 23, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
VMware vSAN	4.2	N/A	87%	231 interviews Add to research
Red Hat Ceph Storage	4.1	21.1%	82%	26 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

StarWind Virtual SAN's most valuable features include exceptional support, ease of use, and seamless integration with existing infrastructure. Users appreciate its high availability, fault tolerance, and cost-effectiveness. The virtual SAN offers scalability, hardware flexibility, and efficient data replication. Its active-active setup, real-time synchronization, and intuitive management interface simplify operations. The support is highly responsive and knowledgeable, contributing significantly to user satisfaction. Performance, reliability, and simplified maintenance are also highly valued by users.

"StarWind Virtual SAN has positively impacted my organization by saving money in skill set development, and certainly minimal downtime across all of our installations, where they maintain almost zero downtime in their 24/7 operations."
"Azure AD is much more user-friendly and has a better integration with our existing infrastructure."
"The best features are the software's ease of setup and the excellent technical support."

Room for Improvement

StarWind Virtual SAN experiences challenges with documentation being outdated or unclear, hindering user setup and maintenance. Users desire improved automation for iSCSI connections and better integration with Linux, cloud services, and communication protocols. Enhancements in monitoring tools, user interfaces, alert systems, and scalability features are needed. Users face complexity in setups, with difficulties in hardware and network management. Updates and support could be more user-friendly and accessible, particularly in multilingual contexts.

"That limited feedback in the management GUI is the main area where I would like to see StarWind Virtual SAN get better."
"More comprehensive reporting and educational resources for error resolution would enhance the user experience."
"Scalability should be further improved, especially considering the possibility that environments may grow exponentially."

ROI

Users report impressive ROI from StarWind Virtual SAN, citing savings from reduced downtime, maintenance costs, and hardware independence. Many experienced immediate returns, with StarWind being cost-effective and 80% cheaper than alternatives. The solution allows high availability without extra hardware, provides comprehensive support, and minimizes technical consultant expenses. Users appreciate that it maximizes use of existing resources and achieves ROI within months, emphasizing the financial benefits and efficiency compared to traditional SAN setups.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers evaluating StarWind Virtual SAN generally find its pricing, setup, and licensing favorable. Many emphasize the cost-effectiveness and simplicity of its licensing model, often highlighting its affordability compared to competitors. Setup costs are minimal, frequently described as straightforward and quick, especially with StarWind's support. Users appreciate the perpetual license structure, which covers updates, with additional costs mainly linked to support plans and capacity upgrades. The overall sentiment underscores good value for money and ease of deployment.

"For two nodes, it cost us $10,000, and we spend $2,000 a year on support."
"We found that the pricing was perfect; simple and clear."
"This solution is very accessible and the pro-level for support is well worth the cost."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use StarWind Virtual SAN for enhancing storage in hyper-converged environments, particularly in Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware clusters. It provides high availability, uninterrupted failover, and ensures reliable data replication across nodes. They utilize it to replace aging SAN systems, enabling cost-effective, high-performance virtual storage. Many have adopted it for infrastructure optimization, running critical virtual machines without dedicated storage hardware, and maintaining redundancy while reducing operational costs.

Service and Support

StarWind Virtual SAN's customer service and support are praised for promptness, professionalism, and expertise in Microsoft systems and storage architecture. Users appreciate knowledgeable staff, fast response times, consistent follow-up, and proactive support. Customer service is highly valued, making users feel well-supported and enhancing satisfaction. They highlight excellent technical assistance, friendly engagement, and the quick resolution of complex issues, contributing to positive experiences and strong product loyalty.

Deployment

Users found StarWind Virtual SAN's initial setup largely straightforward, aided by excellent support and documentation. Even though it presented complexity at times, especially regarding network configurations and PowerShell scripts, support ensured a smooth process. Users appreciated the thorough guidance and noted that with some familiarity, the setup felt intuitive. Many experienced quick installations, often within hours, and valued the reliability and assistance available through StarWind's support team.

Scalability

StarWind Virtual SAN demonstrates impressive scalability, praised for its easy expansion by adding nodes and storage as needed. Many appreciate its seamless integration with various infrastructures and its adaptability to different sizes. Some mention limitations in management after a certain point but acknowledge that the licensed version extends scalability significantly. Users highlight its compatibility with both small and larger setups, finding it suitable for businesses with growing storage needs. The ability to handle scaling efficiently stands out.

Stability

StarWind Virtual SAN demonstrates exceptional stability, with users consistently reporting reliable performance and minimal downtime. The software effectively manages hardware issues, ensuring seamless operation. Most issues arise from external factors, not the software itself, and upgrades typically proceed without interruption. Users highlight its redundancy and ability to maintain performance during hardware failures or server maintenance. It provides consistent, uninterrupted service, proving dependable across diverse environments and configurations.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our StarWind Virtual SAN Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.