Hi
I know Server 2016 isn't released yet but we are now on TP4 and hopefully it has matured enough for someone to answer a question I have about the storage technologies. basically, I know that Storage Replica replicates synchronously between two hosts or even from one cluster to another cluster on a volume basis, I know that storage spaces direct requires 4 nodes to work and RDMA adapters and there is no mention about it going across multiple clusters.
Firstly, in terms of the final output of functionality and performance what really is the best between replica and Storage Spaces Direct? I am finding it difficult to find a comparison chart between the two but maybe someone has a list of a few pointers pros and cons?
also, I assume that storage spaces direct is more equivalent to a virtual SAN such as Starwinds, apart from the obvious that Starwind can only require 2 nodes and also will work on any disk regardless (even sit on top of iSCSI disks) plus no stipulation on RDMA, what else is the difference between how a virtual SAN like Starwind and Storage Spaces Direct work? I have used Starwind for a while and I think the back-end storage can go up to 3 separate nodes, whereas Storage Spaces Direct indicates it could possibly scale to a full 64 node cluster? what's the pro's and cons between these? Starwind has some obvious lower costs in some areas but maybe the scalability right now isn't there, what else?
thanks
Steve