--- description: Tuning hyper-converged systems for VMmark presents new challenges for how StorageReview runs the benchmark. Our VMmark implementation is designed for... title: "VMware Virtual SAN Review: VMmark Performance" image: https://www.storagereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/StorageReview-VMware-VSAN-Dell-PowerEdge-R730xd-Thumb.jpg --- [![Storage Review]()](https://storagereview.com/) --- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/@storagereview) [X (Twitter)](https://twitter.twitter.com/storagereview) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/storagereview-com) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/storagereview?sub_confirmation=1) [Email](mailto:info@storagereview.com) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0) [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/StorageReview/) [Discord](https://discord.gg/TwMHb4azdC) [RSS Feed](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/@storagereview) [X (Twitter)](https://twitter.com/storagereview) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/storagereview-com) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/storagereview?sub_confirmation=1) [Email](mailto:info@storagereview.com) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0) [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/StorageReview/) [Discord](https://discord.gg/TwMHb4azdC) [RSS Feed](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview) [![StorageReview.com](https://www.storagereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Storage-Review-2x.png)](https://www.storagereview.com) ≡ Menu - [Home](https://www.storagereview.com/) - [Storage Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/review) - [End User Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/consumer) - [Enterprise Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/enterprise) - [Ubiquiti Reviews](https://www.storagereview.com/best/ubiquiti-reviews) - [SR Merch](https://store.storagereview.com) - [Leaderboards](https://www.storagereview.com/best) - [Best Storage Arrays](https://www.storagereview.com/best/storage-arrays) - [Best Enterprise SSDs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/enterprise-ssds) - [Best Servers](https://www.storagereview.com/best/servers) - [Best Enterprise GPUs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/enterprise-gpus) - [Best Desktops for Local AI](https://www.storagereview.com/best/desktops-local-ai) - [Best Laptops for Local AI](https://www.storagereview.com/best/laptops-local-ai) - [Best Local LLM Tools](https://www.storagereview.com/best/local-llm-tools) - [Agentic AI Hardware](https://www.storagereview.com/best/agentic-ai-hardware) - [Best SSDs & Hard Drives](https://www.storagereview.com/best_drives) - [Best Portable SSDs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/portable-ssds) - [Best Business Laptops](https://www.storagereview.com/best/business-laptops) - [Best Mobile Workstations](https://www.storagereview.com/best/mobile-workstations) - [Best Desktop Workstations](https://www.storagereview.com/best/desktop-workstations) - [Best Mini PCs](https://www.storagereview.com/best/mini-pcs) - [Best Laptop Battery Life](https://www.storagereview.com/best/laptop-battery-life) - [Storage Reference Guide](https://www.storagereview.com/storage-reference-guide) - [About SR](https://www.storagereview.com/about-storagereview) - [StorageReview.com Sweepstakes Rules and Regulations](https://www.storagereview.com/storagereview-com-sweepstakes-rules-and-regulations) Search [Home](https://www.storagereview.com/) » [Review](https://www.storagereview.com/review) » VMware Virtual SAN Review: VMmark Performance # VMware Virtual SAN Review: VMmark Performance by StorageReview Enterprise Lab on July 17, 2015 [Enterprise](https://www.storagereview.com/enterprise) Tuning hyper-converged systems for VMmark presents new challenges for how StorageReview runs the benchmark. Our VMmark implementation is designed for traditional IT architectures, fixed compute servers and review storage hardware swapped between tests. With VMware VSAN, storage and compute are merged into one platform with one single datastore, necessitating a modification to our VMmark setup. In this case we had our VMware VSAN cluster both running the storage and the compute requirements, offering a one-two punch compared to traditional platforms that would require compute servers separate. VMmark by its very design is a highly resource intensive benchmark, with a broad mix of VM-based application workloads stressing storage, network and compute activity. When it comes to testing VSAN, there is almost no better benchmark for it, since VMmark looks at so many facets, covering storage I/O, CPU, and even network performance in VMware environments. VSAN deployments also gain the benefits of hyper-converged, with compute and storage bundled together in the same cluster.  To get VMmark working within our VSAN cluster we brought in a spare iSCSI storage host ([DotHill Ultra48](https://www.storagereview.com/dot_hill_assuredsan_ultra48_review)), as VSAN is limited to one datastore and VMmark performs Storage vMotion activities as part of the test. We provisioned 2 SSDs in RAID1 and served this storage up to the cluster for that single data migration activity, which will remain consistent as other platforms in this category are tested. Sticking with academic posting requirements, we normalized the platform against a baseline iSCSI storage platform, which we also leverage with standard storage array VMmark testing to keep figures as consistent as possible even with the compute infrastructure changes. In this case we used a single tile score on a [Synology RackStation RS10613xs+](https://www.storagereview.com/synology_rackstation_rs10613xs_review) configured with ten 15K SAS HDDs in RAID10 to normalize all results against for this cluster. **Dell PowerEdge R730xd VMware VSAN Specifications** - Dell PowerEdge R730xd Servers (x4) - CPUs: Eight Intel Xeon E5-2697 v3 2.6GHz (14C/28T) - Memory: 64 x 16GB DDR4 RDIMM - SSD: 16 x 800GB Solid State Drive SAS Mix Use MLC 12Gbps - HDD: 80 x 1.2TB 10K RPM SAS 6Gbps - Networking: 4 x Intel X520 DP 10Gb DA/SFP+, + I350 DP 1Gb Ethernet - Storage Capacity: 86.46TB As we compare the pricing between the traditional storage arrays against the Dell PowerEdge R730xd VMware VSAN configuration, the total cost of the platform needs to be taken into consideration. With VSAN builds, compute and storage are part of the same package and scale-out as additional nodes are added into the fold. With traditional storage platforms, you only get the storage half of the equation, meaning compute costs must still be factored into your buying decision. While our Dell PowerEdge R730xd servers were specced out in a storage-heavy configuration ($26,500 each) to utilize the storage for VSAN, users opting for external shared storage would only need to purchase the servers for their compute resources. In that case the cost of the server, minus drives, drops to around $10,000 each or $40,000 total to match the compute resources in our VSAN build. vSphere licensing also has to be taken into account, which would add another $28,000 on top of the configuration costs to match those we used for VSAN. - [Dot Hill AssuredSAN Ultra48 (Hybrid)](https://www.storagereview.com/dot_hill_assuredsan_ultra48_hybrid_review): $113,158 + Cost of Servers + vSphere Licencing - [Tegile HA2300 Hybrid](https://www.storagereview.com/tegile_ha2300_hybrid_array_review): $185,000 + Cost of Servers + vSphere Licencing - [Dell PowerEdge R730xd w/ VMware VSAN](https://www.storagereview.com/vmware_virtual_san_review_overview_and_configuration): $153,920 - Dell PowerEdge R730xd Servers w/ 3 year warranty: 4x $26,500 - VMware vSphere 6.0 Enterprise Plus Licenses: 8x $3,495 - VMware VSAN 6.0 Licenses: 8x $2,495 During VMmark testing, we deployed 20 tiles onto the cluster, taking up over 6TB of our 86.46TB total storage capacity. We started at a load of 20 tiles (which was close but not passing) and moved down to 18 tiles for the first passing score. Afterwards we scaled down by 2 before closing with a 1-tile score. Unlike other storage platforms, there is no RAID or datastore configuration with VSAN. Once the drives are pooled into the cluster, VSAN handles the rest on its own. **VMmark Performance** The 4-node Dell PowerEdge RD730xd VSAN cluster was able to top out at 18 tiles in VMmark. 18 tiles is certainly an impressive ceiling, given that's where we've seen traditional storage arrays top out previously with a dedicated compute cluster. The Dot Hill Ultra48 with SSD tiering for instance came in at 18 tiles, with 800GB of flash and 9.6TB HDD capacity in RAID10. The Tegile HA2300, which exceeds the total cost of our VSAN cluster, topped out at 6 tiles with a dual-controller unit and an extra shelf, though to be fair, Tegile swaps performance for data reduction and ease of use.  ![]() For the purposes of this test, the main focal point should be the number of tiles VSAN was capable of achieving, and less of the one-to-one comparison between it and traditional storage. Since the compute platforms differ, exact head to head, normalized numbers aren't possible. With that said though, this comparison is helpful to understand the top-end performance of VSAN given the hardware as configured. It is interesting to see that even in a compute-heavy benchmark such as VMmark, the overhead of the shared storage component of VSAN didn't inhibit the overall performance of the cluster. At 18 tiles we still had CPU resources leftover on all nodes, storage was the gating factor. It's worth noting that a little more flash would continue to drive up the supported tile count, which underscores the need for proper flash sizing in any VSAN deployment. Next Up: [VSAN MySQL Performance Report](https://www.storagereview.com/vmware_virtual_san_review_sysbench_oltp_performance) [VMware Virtual SAN Review: Overview and Configuration](https://www.storagereview.com/vmware_virtual_san_review_overview_and_configuration) [VMware Virtual SAN Review: VMmark Performance](https://www.storagereview.com/vmware_virtual_san_review_vmmark_performance) [VMware Virtual SAN Review: Sysbench OLTP Performance](https://www.storagereview.com/vmware_virtual_san_review_sysbench_oltp_performance) [VMware Virtual SAN Review: SQL Server Performance](https://www.storagereview.com/vmware_virtual_san_review_sql_server_performance) [VMware Virtual SAN Review: Scaled Sysbench OLTP Performance](https://www.storagereview.com/vmware_virtual_san_review_scaled_sysbench_oltp_performance) [VMware Virtual SAN Review: HCIbench Synthetic Performance](https://www.storagereview.com/vmware_virtual_san_review_hcibench_synthetic_performance) [VMware VSAN Product Page](https://www.vmware.com/products/virtual-san) [Discuss this review](http://forums.storagereview.com/index.php/topic/37907-vmware-virtual-san-review-overview-and-configuration/) [Sign up for the StorageReview newsletter](https://www.storagereview.com/storage_newsletter) **Engage with StorageReview** [Newsletter](https://www.storagereview.com/storage_newsletter) |  [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/StorageReview "Opens in a new window") | Podcast  [iTunes](https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/storagereview-com-storage-reviews/id1060681115 "Opens in a new window")/ [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0 "Opens in a new window") |  [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/ "Opens in a new window") |  [Twitter](https://twitter.com/storagereview "Opens in a new window") |  [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview? "Opens in a new window") |  [RSS Feed](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) ![]() ### StorageReview Enterprise Lab Previous post: [VMware Virtual SAN Review: Overview and Configuration](https://www.storagereview.com/review/vmware-virtual-san-review-overview-and-configuration) Next post: [VMware Virtual SAN Review: Sysbench OLTP Performance](https://www.storagereview.com/review/vmware-virtual-san-review-sysbench-oltp-performance) Trusted Vendors Products and solutions from our affiliate partners: - [ ![Ubiquiti Logo](https://www.storagereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2-1.webp) Ubiquiti ](https://store.ui.com/us/en?a_aid=StorageReview "Opens in a new window") - [ ![Newegg Logo](https://www.storagereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/newegg.webp) Newegg ](https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=g5terNMDhz0&offerid=1207190.18&subid=0&type=4 "Opens in a new window") - [ ![Amazon Logo](https://www.storagereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/amazon.webp) Amazon ](https://amzn.to/4fLJUEW "Opens in a new window") Newsletter Subscribe to the StorageReview newsletter to stay up to date on the latest news and reviews. We promise no spam! 1 Leave this field empty if you’re human: ## Advertisement Content Categories [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/@storagereview) [X](https://twitter.com/storagereview) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/storagereview/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/storagereview-com) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/storagereview?sub_confirmation=1) [Email](mailto:info@storagereview.com) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/1y6VnznABhHeOSMOmbDTz0) [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/StorageReview/) [Discord](https://discord.gg/TwMHb4azdC) [RSS](https://www.storagereview.com/rss.xml) [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@storagereview) Copyright © 1998-2025 Flying Pig Ventures, LLC Cincinnati, Ohio. All rights reserved. Manage your privacy To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen. Functional Functional Always active The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Preferences Preferences The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Statistics Statistics The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Marketing Marketing The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Statistics Marketing Features Always active Special features Special purposes Always active - Manage options - Manage services - Manage {vendor\_count} vendors - [Read more about these purposes](https://cookiedatabase.org/tcf/purposes/) Accept Deny Manage options Save preferences Manage options - {title} - {title} - {title} Manage your privacy To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Functional Functional Always active The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Preferences Preferences The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Statistics Statistics The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Marketing Marketing The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Statistics Marketing Features Always active Special features Special purposes Always active - Manage options - Manage services - Manage {vendor\_count} vendors - [Read more about these purposes](https://cookiedatabase.org/tcf/purposes/) Accept Deny Manage options Save preferences Manage options - {title} - {title} - {title} Manage consent Manage consent ```json {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/vmware-virtual-san-review-vmmark-performance","url":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/vmware-virtual-san-review-vmmark-performance","name":"VMware Virtual SAN Review: VMmark Performance - StorageReview.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/vmware-virtual-san-review-vmmark-performance#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/vmware-virtual-san-review-vmmark-performance#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/StorageReview-VMware-VSAN-Dell-PowerEdge-R730xd-Thumb.jpg","datePublished":"2015-07-17T15:08:50+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/vmware-virtual-san-review-vmmark-performance#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/vmware-virtual-san-review-vmmark-performance"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/vmware-virtual-san-review-vmmark-performance#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/StorageReview-VMware-VSAN-Dell-PowerEdge-R730xd-Thumb.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/StorageReview-VMware-VSAN-Dell-PowerEdge-R730xd-Thumb.jpg","width":100,"height":100},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review\/vmware-virtual-san-review-vmmark-performance#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Review","item":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/review"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"VMware Virtual SAN Review: VMmark Performance"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/","name":"StorageReview.com","description":"StorageReview.com is a leading provider of news and reviews throughout the entire IT stack - from the datacenter to the edge, and all points in between.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/#organization","name":"StorageReview.com","url":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Storage-Reviews-2-2.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Storage-Reviews-2-2.png","width":344,"height":61,"caption":"StorageReview.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.storagereview.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/x.com\/storagereview","http:\/\/youtube.com\/user\/storagereview"]}]} ```