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Nutanix Basics

The document compares AHV (Acropolis Hypervisor) and AOS (Acropolis Operating System) in Nutanix, highlighting their distinct functions where AOS manages storage and data services while AHV runs virtual machines. It also discusses the role of the Controller Virtual Machine (CVM) in managing storage and cluster operations, and introduces Life Cycle Manager (LCM) for efficient firmware and software upgrades. Key features and best practices for CVM and LCM are outlined to ensure optimal performance and management within the Nutanix ecosystem.

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65 views3 pages

Nutanix Basics

The document compares AHV (Acropolis Hypervisor) and AOS (Acropolis Operating System) in Nutanix, highlighting their distinct functions where AOS manages storage and data services while AHV runs virtual machines. It also discusses the role of the Controller Virtual Machine (CVM) in managing storage and cluster operations, and introduces Life Cycle Manager (LCM) for efficient firmware and software upgrades. Key features and best practices for CVM and LCM are outlined to ensure optimal performance and management within the Nutanix ecosystem.

Uploaded by

vinaysagar7842
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The key difference between AHV (Acropolis Hypervisor) and AOS (Acropolis Operating System) in

Nutanix lies in their functions and roles within the Nutanix ecosystem. Here's a detailed comparison:

Feature AOS (Acropolis Operating System) AHV (Acropolis Hypervisor)

The software layer that provides


The built-in hypervisor for running
Definition storage, data management, and cluster
virtual machines.
services.

Manages storage, replication, data Manages virtual machines and


Function
protection, and cluster operations. workloads within Nutanix clusters.

Nutanix’s proprietary software-defined KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine),


Based On
infrastructure. optimized by Nutanix.

Acts as the foundation of Nutanix HCI, Virtualization layer that runs on top of
Role
integrating storage and compute. AOS to manage VMs.

Nutanix's native hypervisor (alternative


Hypervisor Works with multiple hypervisors (AHV,
to VMware ESXi and Microsoft Hyper-
Compatibility VMware ESXi, Hyper-V).
V).

Managed through Prism Central and


Management Managed through Nutanix Prism.
Prism Element.

Comes with Nutanix HCI (not a separate Included for free with Nutanix AOS (no
Cost
license). extra licensing cost like VMware).

- Distributed Storage Fabric (DSF)


- Virtual Machine Management
Primary - Data Protection & Replication
- Native Security Features
Components - Networking & Security
- Resource Scheduling & Optimization
- Disaster Recovery

How They Work Together

 AOS provides the underlying infrastructure, including storage, data management, and
networking.

 AHV runs on top of AOS to provide virtualization capabilities, allowing you to create and
manage VMs efficiently

CVM (Controller Virtual Machine):


In Nutanix, CVM (Controller Virtual Machine) is a critical component of the Acropolis Hypervisor
(AHV) and AOS (Acropolis Operating System). It plays a central role in managing storage and cluster
operations.

Key Functions of CVM in Nutanix:

1. Distributed Storage Fabric (DSF):

o Manages all I/O operations and storage services.

o Ensures data replication, deduplication, and compression.

2. Cluster Management:

o Runs the Prism service for cluster monitoring and management.

o Handles failover, load balancing, and self-healing.

3. Data Protection & Resilience:

o Supports snapshots, clones, and replication for disaster recovery.

o Ensures high availability and automatic failover.

4. Networking & Performance Optimization:

o Optimizes data locality to reduce latency.

o Balances workloads across nodes.

5. Security & Upgrades:

o Handles security features like encryption and authentication.

o Manages rolling upgrades without downtime.

CVM Best Practices:

 Do not power off the CVM unless necessary (use cvm_shutdown -P when needed).

 Always use Prism or CLI commands to manage CVMs, not the hypervisor.

 If a CVM goes down, Nutanix automatically redistributes workloads to other nodes.

LCM (Life Cycle Manager):

In Nutanix, LCM (Life Cycle Manager) is a tool used to manage the firmware and software upgrades
of Nutanix clusters in an efficient and non-disruptive manner.

Key Features of LCM in Nutanix:

1. Automated Firmware and Software Updates:

o Manages upgrades for BIOS, BMC, SSD firmware, hypervisor, AOS, and other
components.

2. Non-Disruptive Upgrades:
o Ensures minimal downtime using rolling upgrades where nodes are updated one at a
time.

3. Pre-Check Mechanism:

o Runs a health check before upgrading to avoid compatibility issues.

4. No Need for External Tools:

o Unlike traditional firmware updates requiring vendor-specific tools, LCM handles


everything within the Nutanix Prism interface.

5. One-Click Upgrade via Prism:

o Simple user experience through Prism Element or Prism Central.

6. Component Compatibility Management:

o Ensures that all firmware versions remain compatible with the installed Nutanix
software.

How to Use LCM in Nutanix?

1. Log in to Prism Element or Prism Central.

2. Go to Life Cycle Manager (LCM).

3. Check for Available Updates.

4. Run Pre-Checks.

5. Select Components to Upgrade.

6. Initiate the Upgrade Process.

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