VMware offers two primary models for managing storage within its vSphere platform :
: These use existing network storage protocols like iSCSI, Fibre Channel (FC) , and Network File System (NFS) to connect ESXi hosts to external storage arrays.
: This is VMware's flagship hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) solution. It aggregates local storage devices (SSDs and HDDs) from multiple servers in a cluster into a single, shared datastore. Key Benefits of VMware Virtual Storage VMware Storage: Understand Your Options | Cloudian
VMware virtual storage is a software-defined approach that abstracts physical storage resources to create a unified, logical pool for virtual machines (VMs). Rather than interacting with individual hardware units, applications access storage through a virtual layer, allowing IT teams to allocate resources dynamically based on demand. Core Storage Technologies
