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NexentaStor

What NexentaStor is
NexentaStor is software-defined storage for enterprise applications, providing file storage through NFS and SMB and block storage through Fibre Channel and iSCSI. It scales from terabytes to petabytes and can run on bare-metal hardware or private-cloud virtual machines, including as a virtual storage appliance. Listed data features include inline reduction, unlimited snapshots, and long-distance replication. Administrators can use NexentaFusion, a VMware vCenter plug-in, or the self-documenting REST API framework. NexentaStor is described as integrated with VMware, Microsoft, and OpenStack environments, and certified with Commvault, Veeam, NetBackup, and other backup products. Enterprise file services support NFSv3, NFSv4, SMB 2.1, and SMB 3, with Windows-style ACLs and SMB 3 encryption. Reference architectures include Cisco, Dell, HPE, Lenovo, and Supermicro hardware. Nexenta offers a 45-day free trial; pricing is on request. A listed perpetual license costs $0.25, paid once, plus maintenance and support, with capacity-tiered pricing.
Who it suits
It suits enterprises needing unified file and block storage for databases, NAS, private cloud, backup, or archive workloads. It also fits teams managing VMware, Microsoft, or OpenStack environments.
What it does well
- Unified NFS, SMB, Fibre Channel, and iSCSI storage
- Scales from terabytes to petabytes
- Unlimited snapshots and long-distance replication
- REST API and NexentaFusion management
- 45-day free trial
What to know first
- No free plan
- Pricing is capacity-tiered and plus maintenance
- Commercial use requires a purchased license key
- Designed for enterprise storage workloads
Limits
The free trial lasts 45 days. Converting the trial to a commercial license requires a purchased license key; the listed perpetual plan also adds maintenance and support to its $0.25/GB list pricing.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| NexentaStor 5.0 + NexentaFusion 1.0 | $0.25/GB list, plus maintenance and support; price per raw gigabyte is tiered by total capacity and decreases for larger deployments. · Perpetual software license · capacity-tiered pricing | $0.25, paid once |
As nexenta.com lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://nexenta.com/products/nexentastor
- Contact sales to request a demo or start the enterprise trial
- Deploy on bare-metal hardware or in a private-cloud virtual machine
- Choose storage protocols such as NFS, SMB, Fibre Channel, or iSCSI
- Manage the deployment with NexentaFusion, the VMware vCenter plug-in, or the REST API
- Convert the 45-day trial to a commercial license with a purchased license key
Verdict
NexentaStor combines broad storage protocols, virtualization integrations, and replication features in a deployable software-defined platform. Review capacity-based pricing and infrastructure requirements with Nexenta before deployment.
Questions
Is NexentaStor free?
No. It is a paid product with pricing on request, and a 45-day free trial is offered.
What storage protocols does it support?
It supports NFS, SMB, Fibre Channel, and iSCSI. Enterprise file services list NFSv3, NFSv4, SMB 2.1, and SMB 3.
Where can NexentaStor run?
It can run on bare-metal hardware or in virtual machines on a private cloud, including as a virtual storage appliance.
What is the listed NexentaStor 5.0 + NexentaFusion 1.0 price?
The plan is listed at $0.25, paid once, billed $0.25/GB list, plus maintenance and support. Pricing is capacity-tiered and decreases for larger deployments.
Does it integrate with virtualization and backup products?
It is described as integrated and optimized for VMware, Microsoft, and OpenStack. It is certified with Commvault, Veeam, and NetBackup, among others.
How is NexentaStor managed?
Administrators can use NexentaFusion, a VMware vCenter plug-in, or its self-documenting REST API framework.
Facts from NexentaStor's own pages
- Backup integrations
- The product page says NexentaStor is certified with Commvault, Veeam, and NetBackup, among others. · nexenta.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Data features
- The product page describes a complete feature set including inline data reduction, unlimited snapshots, long-distance replication, and management with NexentaFusion. · nexenta.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- It can run on bare-metal hardware or in virtual machines on private cloud, including as a virtual storage appliance. · nexenta.com, 4 Oct 2026
- File service details
- NexentaStor enterprise file storage supports NFSv3, NFSv4, SMB 2.1, and SMB 3, with Windows-style ACLs and SMB 3 encryption among its listed features. · nexenta.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Hardware compatibility
- Nexenta lists reference architectures involving Cisco, Dell, HPE, Lenovo, and Supermicro. · nexenta.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Chatsworth, California, USA · nexenta.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Intended users
- Nexenta describes NexentaStor as software-defined storage for enterprise applications and highlights databases, enterprise NAS, private cloud, backup, and archive workloads. · nexenta.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Management
- Administrators can manage NexentaStor through NexentaFusion, a VMware vCenter plug-in, or its self-documenting REST API framework. · nexenta.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- Nexenta describes a joint NexentaStor and HyTrust KeyControl KMS setup for encrypted file shares; that page states FIPS 140-2 Level 1 validation and Level 3 compliance via HSM support for the combined capabilities. · nexenta.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- Nexenta's product page directs prospective users to request a demo by contacting sales or to start a free enterprise trial. · nexenta.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Trial
- Nexenta offers a 45-day free trial and says a trial can be converted to a commercial license with a purchased license key. · nexenta.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Virtualization integrations
- NexentaStor is described as integrated and optimized for VMware, Microsoft, and OpenStack environments. · nexenta.com, 4 Oct 2026
- What it does
- NexentaStor provides unified file storage over NFS and SMB and block storage over Fibre Channel and iSCSI, scaling from terabytes to petabytes. · nexenta.com, 4 Oct 2026
Where NexentaStor stands on Freedom251
- Storage Management Software#12 of 28