StarWind Virtual SAN Reviews

My main use case for StarWind Virtual SAN is to simulate a shared storage for a Hyper-V cluster in a lab environment, where I am testing high availability, failover scenarios, and validation solutions before applying them in production. The goal is to create a cost-effective setup for homologation and planning without needing physical SAN hardware.

I set up a two-node Hyper-V cluster using StarWind Virtual SAN to replicate storage between the servers, which helped me simulate those high availability takeover scenarios. Each host had a logical disk, a local disk, and StarWind Virtual SAN created a virtual shared volume over the network. I then tested the failover scenarios by turning off one of the nodes to simulate a hardware failure, which allowed the cluster to successfully move the virtual machines to the other node, validating the high availability behavior. It was a key part of my homologation and disaster recovery planning process.

I also deployed Windows Servers virtual machines to test and validate customer solutions in a safe lab environment before any changes were applied in production. This helps me ensure compatibility and reduce the risk during real deployments.

The best features StarWind Virtual SAN offers are real-time data replication, which ensures storage availability between the nodes in a Hyper-V cluster, ease of creating and managing virtual disks, even through PowerShell in the free version, and consistent redundancy without requiring expensive SAN hardware, making it a great fit for lab and test environments. These features allowed me to simulate a reliable and cost-effective shared storage setup for high availability testing and customer solution validation.

The real-time replication works during my lab tests, and it made my disaster recovery planning easier and more reliable. I configured synchronous replication between two nodes, so when data was written on one host, it was immediately mirrored to the other, which allowed me to simulate failover and recovery scenarios reliably. For example, shutting down one of the hosts and confirming that virtual machines could continue running from the other node without data loss helped me make my disaster recovery planning more accurate and gave me confidence in the system's behavior under failure conditions. Another nice feature is that even in the free version, I can automate most of the setup using PowerShell, which is great for scripting environments.

StarWind Virtual SAN has positively impacted my organization by reducing infrastructure costs, which allows me to implement shared storage simulation without needing a physical SAN device. It also saves time during the planning and validation of changes in production, as I can run multiple tests in a lab environment using real workloads and scenarios.

One area for improvement regarding StarWind Virtual SAN is the lack of a full-feature trial. At the time I tested it, I had access only to the free version, which required using PowerShell scripts for most configurations. This made the initial learning curve steeper, especially for users who aren't comfortable with scripting. Also, since the solution depends heavily on network interfaces for replication, any misconfiguration or instability in the network could affect cluster reliability, which makes it sensitive in a certain environment.

The main reason I gave it a 7 instead of an 8 or 9 is the limited feature access in a free version available during my testing. I had to configure everything via PowerShell, which increased complexity and time to deploy. Also, the sensitivity to network stability during replication tests made it less ideal for certain production-like scenarios. With a full-feature trial and better network resilience, it could easily rank higher.

I use StarWind Virtual SAN since 2019 for less than one year, during a test and validation period in a lab environment.

In my experience, StarWind Virtual SAN was stable during testing. I ran it on a two-node Hyper-V cluster setup, and I didn't experience any unexpected crashes or major issues. As long as the network used for replication was stable, the solution performed reliably.

I only tested StarWind Virtual SAN in a lab environment with two nodes, so I didn't explore its full scalability. However, within that limited setup, it handled the workload well. I can't speak to how it performs in a large production scale environment, but based on documentation, it appears to support multi-node configurations and growing workloads.

Before using StarWind Virtual SAN, I had to rely on more complex or limited setups to simulate clustered environments, which often took days to prepare. With StarWind Virtual SAN, I am able to deploy and test failover scenarios in just a few hours, significantly speeding up the validation cycle for planned changes. It also makes it easier to reproduce real-world issues in a lab, which improves troubleshooting and reduces risks before implementing changes in production.

I previously used basic local storage or iSCSI setups to simulate shared storage in lab environments, which were more complex, less flexible, and required more manual configuration. I switched to StarWind Virtual SAN because it allows me to simulate shared storage across nodes more easily, using software-defined storage without the need for additional hardware.

I have seen a return on investment in terms of time saved and resources used. By using StarWind Virtual SAN, I avoided the need to purchase physical shared storage, which would have increased cost and setup complexity. I estimate it saved me several hours per deployment since I could quickly simulate a Hyper-V cluster with shared storage entirely in software. This allowed me to validate solutions faster and reduce time to decision for changes going into production.

I had experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing through using the free version of StarWind Virtual SAN for testing purposes, so there was no cost involved during my evaluation. That made it very attractive for a lab environment, but the lack of access to the full feature set, including the GUI, limited the depth of testing. I didn't go through the full license or pricing process, so I can't speak to that in detail.

I gave StarWind Virtual SAN a rating of 7 out of 10.

On-premises

My main use case for StarWind Virtual SAN is that we're using it with older hardware to create a new SAN.

I have a number of virtual servers that run utilizing this service on top of StarWind Virtual SAN in my environment.

Our file server benefits most from StarWind Virtual SAN because of the speed and the ease of use.

StarWind Virtual SAN has impacted my organization positively by saving a lot of money over purchasing a new SAN.

By choosing StarWind Virtual SAN over buying a new SAN from a big vendor, I probably saved about $50,000.

The best features StarWind Virtual SAN offers in my experience are the ease of implementation and it runs on Microsoft Windows platform, which stand out for me.

The ease of implementation was important for my team because it saved us a lot of time and research, and we didn't have to do anything other than just install the software and we were up and running in a few minutes.

StarWind Virtual SAN could be improved, and I wish the management GUI worked better.

I have been using StarWind Virtual SAN for a year.

StarWind Virtual SAN is stable in my experience.

StarWind Virtual SAN's scalability is good, and I have had an easy experience adding more space to the system.

I have not had to reach out to customer support, so my experience has been positive.

Positive

I previously used an older Dell SAN.

Before choosing StarWind Virtual SAN, I evaluated other options, including purchasing SANs from Dell and HPE.

I decided to switch from the older Dell SAN to StarWind Virtual SAN because we had existing hardware that we could use and implement for this project.

I have definitely seen a return on investment because we saved money.

Specifically, we saved money over having to purchase a SAN from a big vendor, which has impacted my IT team's workload.

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing was that it was easy to implement, license, and the cost was very good.

My advice to others looking into using StarWind Virtual SAN is to download a trial and try it for yourself. I rate StarWind Virtual SAN 10 out of 10.

On-premises

I'm using it in several virtualization for testing the capability of some hypervisor example proxmox ve, redhat enterprise virtualization, ovirt, oracle vm for x86, hyper-v and more. Using Starwind VSAN i was able to test the block storage of most cases using iscsi with ease of use

Since I'm using free version. testing deployment of various virtualization get as a lot of discount.

FREE! It's free please try to use it.

I hope you can try to have a multiple deployment option like ceph which covers several nodes and replicas

I have been using Starwind VSAN for years. When doing home lab and testing for the need of external storage, Starwind VSAN always come to my mind.

There are like same users like truenas

As per white paper. you can scale this product

It's easy to file a ticket when you are experiencing problem with this vsan

Positive

Yes. dell emc, oracle pillar and oracle zfs and truenas

It is straight forward. white papers is easy to understand

Inhouse only. since i have several experience in storage. Mostly in iscsi it much easier to understand

0 years. I tried it mostly in testing in the implementation. with zero cost i can test a solution like proxmox

You can purchase support with this. this is a great product and good support even you are using free version! community is ok as well

I can compare it via truenas. It's both free

I hope can have more option like zfs.

On-premises

Other

First, I need to explain what motivated me to use VSAN. 

Some time ago, I developed a work environment with KVM Proxmox by creating a cluster made up of four servers: two HP and two Dell, along with two servers running Proxmox Backup Server, both interconnected to ensure redundancy for the backups of all virtual machines. 

Now that I’ve described a bit of my environment, the main use I have given to this tool is in the creation of HA (High Availability) servers to provide better performance to the services running on my Proxmox cluster.

Since I started using VSAN to create high availability servers in my Proxmox environment, even referring to the free version, the services we provide in the company have achieved a high percentage of effectiveness over the year, significantly reducing downtime due to hardware issues with any server in the cluster. 

This has led to a remarkable improvement in the services we offer, and since this is a company that provides security in various areas, the difference between before and after is huge. 

For this reason, I have submitted a request to the company management to acquire the Pro version of the product, as I have not found any negative comments about its use so far.

The feature I have found most valuable in VSAN is its high availability capability. This function has been essential to ensure that our services remain operational even in the event of hardware failures. 

Thanks to its seamless integration with Proxmox, the implementation of high availability servers has drastically reduced downtime, which is crucial for our security-focused company. 

Before implementing VSAN, we faced more interruptions and downtime, which impacted our ability to provide reliable services. The ability to manage a cluster with servers from different brands and ensure backup redundancy has significantly improved our operational efficiency.

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.

I have been working with VSAN for about one year on the free version.

My impressions of the tool's stability so far have been positive, as it has met my expectations.

I believe that scalability should be further improved, especially considering the possibility that environments may grow exponentially. Strengthening this aspect would allow for better adaptation to future demands and ongoing growth.

We have not had any contact with technical support.

Positive

I had not used other solutions before because I didn't need them. When I finally decided to look for a tool, I chose VSAN due to the many positive recommendations I found. That trust in the feedback from other users led me to try it, and so far, it has met my expectations.

The initial setup on my part was quite intuitive.

The solution was implemented internally.

My role within the company is IT support, focusing on infrastructure and servers.

I can't give a sincere opinion on the installation and licensing costs because, as I have mentioned repeatedly, I am currently using the free version. 

However, I can say that I have submitted a request to the company management to evaluate the acquisition of the Pro version. 

I haven't tried other options. When I set out to research which solution or tool could help with the issues I was facing, I came across many positive reviews about VSAN. This convinced me to give it a try, and its performance was so impressive that I was hooked right away.

I would recommend considering the high availability feature of VSAN as an important asset for any organization. It has greatly improved the reliability of our service by drastically reducing downtime, especially in a security-focused environment like ours.

While I have only used the free version so far, I have found that its seamless integration with Proxmox is extremely beneficial.

I'd rate the solution ten out of ten.

On-premises

Other

My main use case for StarWind Virtual SAN is testing in lab environments and as a temporary setup where I needed storage on existing hardware.

A specific example of how I used StarWind Virtual SAN in my lab is as storage for virtual machines in Proxmox.

The best features StarWind Virtual SAN offers in my experience are that there is a free version and it can be used as hyper-converged storage over multiple nodes.

StarWind Virtual SAN has positively impacted my organization because the straightforward setup has made things easier for my work and organization.

StarWind Virtual SAN can be improved by adding a possibility to install bare metal on hardware to use as storage without using it in a hyper-converged configuration.

I have been using StarWind Virtual SAN for approximately two to three years.

In my experience, StarWind Virtual SAN is stable.

From my experience, StarWind Virtual SAN's scalability is good.

I did not need to contact customer support for StarWind Virtual SAN.

I previously used a different solution, specifically Open-E, but the experiences were not as good from a stability standpoint.

I have not seen a return on investment and cannot share any relevant metrics, such as time saved, money saved, or fewer employees needed.

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that there is a free version, which is beneficial. However, when you need pricing information, you have to contact sales, which is a downside.

Before choosing StarWind Virtual SAN, I did not evaluate other options and simply found StarWind Virtual SAN ranked first on Google.

I have used StarWind Virtual SAN on multiple virtual machines to create a high-availability storage solution. I gave this review a rating of 8 out of 10.

On-premises

Other

Our use case is for an oil and gas site with 200 ATEX cameras and 30 administrative buildings that have 400 indoor and outdoor cameras. All of the cameras are connected to a VLAN switch in each area. 

All of the switches are connected to the core switch in the data center through a fibre network between buildings. 

We add all cameras to management servers and they are divided to recording servers. There are 30 cameras for each recording server. 

We create a Microsoft failover cluster to achieve redundancy between management servers.

Another use case is to create a storage pool (4TB) to store SQL DB to achieve database stability and make it reachable to each server.

It provides shared storage to multiple hypervisor hosts. Times have changed, however. StarWind Virtual SAN is the “software replaces hardware” for SAN. We have access control and CCTV systems up and running using Microsoft clustering and shared storage

From time to time we face some issues with the storage unit and the whole cluster goes down. We replaced the storage with virtual SAN on both the nodes of each system using StarWind and now the system is more stable and has failover redundancy.

It is easy to use and can monitor system synchronization and check the storage status. StarWind Virtual SAN (VSAN) combines flash and disks of the cluster and forms a virtual shared storage “pool” accessible by all hosts. 

StarWind cuts down virtualization costs and complexity by eliminating the need for physical shared storage (SAN). 

It offers enterprise-level high availability (HA), deployable and easily configured. We get technical support from their team for the implementation software and if we have any issues.

You can maintain and update it with little to no fuss, even the free version is incredibly capable whilst it brings the cost of a Highly Available HCI solution down to a very cost-effective point. 

Having used Starwind Virtual SAN for many years both for clients and for internal systems, it has always done exactly what it set out to do. It provides a cost-effective way to run an HCI storage platform for almost any hypervisor, but it is most effective with Hyper-V. It's simple and easy to use, 

The software monitoring should be web-based to be reachable from any VLAN workstation.

I have been using the solution for five years.

I work as a Senior Systems Administrator at a mid-sized company in the financial services industry.

The single sign-on capabilities have been a huge time saver for our users. The multi-factor authentication also adds a much-needed layer of security, especially with so many people working remotely these days. The centralized management is great. Being able to manage user access and permissions from one place simplifies things considerably. The integration with other Microsoft products is also a plus.

Initially, there was a bit of a learning curve for some of our users, but Microsoft's documentation was helpful. Also, the pricing can be a bit complex depending on the features you need.

We used a previous identity and access management solution before Azure Active Directory. Azure AD is much more user-friendly and has a better integration with our existing infrastructure.

Also, the pricing can be a bit complex depending on the features you need.

Overall, I would recommend Azure Active Directory to other companies. It’s been a valuable addition to our IT infrastructure.

Other

My main use case for StarWind Virtual SAN involves our physical servers, where I monitor the virtual machines and the storage we have attached to it.

It has simplified the daily monitorin gof our VMs

In my opinion, the best features StarWind Virtual SAN offers are its flexibility and the ability to combine the storage types we have, and it stands out because it is easy to use.

StarWind Virtual SAN has positively impacted my organization by giving us the flexibility and freedom to have more time for other projects. It is a tool that does not have many problems or create any issues, so we can concentrate on other projects.

Currently, StarWind Virtual SAN is working perfectly fine, so there are no changes I would suggest.

I have been using StarWind Virtual SAN for a couple of years now.

StarWind Virtual SAN is stable.

The scalability of StarWind Virtual SAN is pretty good.

We did not use customer support for StarWind Virtual SAN.

Positive

I did not previously use a different solution before StarWind Virtual SAN.

The pricing and setup were easy. It was easy to deploy, which was the best part I think, and for pricing, it is a relatively good price.

I have seen a return on investment with StarWind Virtual SAN, particularly in time saved, as I can have more free time to concentrate myself and the team on other projects.

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for StarWind Virtual SAN was okay.

Before choosing StarWind Virtual SAN, I did not evaluate other options.

My advice to others looking into using StarWind Virtual SAN is that they should use it and give it a try because it is a very nice, easy, and working solution.

I just want to say to StarWind Virtual SAN to keep up the good job.

On a scale of one to ten, I rate StarWind Virtual SAN a ten out of ten.

On-premises