AWS Storage Gateway Opens Doors for Nutanix AHV Users

AWS Storage Gateway Opens Doors for Nutanix AHV Users: What It Means for Hybrid Cloud Users

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has expanded its hybrid cloud capabilities by adding official support for Nutanix AHV to AWS Storage Gateway. This move strengthens AWS’s position in hybrid infrastructure while giving Nutanix users a simpler path to AWS cloud storage—without relying on VMware.

What Is AWS Storage Gateway?

AWS Storage Gateway is a hybrid storage service that connects on-premises environments with AWS cloud storage, such as Amazon S3. It allows applications to continue using familiar storage protocols while seamlessly storing data in the cloud.

Key capabilities include:

• File, volume, and tape storage options

• Local caching for low-latency access

• Secure data transfer to AWS cloud storage

• Seamless integration with backup and archival workflows

Until now, Storage Gateway primarily supported platforms like VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Linux KVM.

What’s New: Nutanix AHV Support

With this update, organizations running Nutanix AHV (Acropolis Hypervisor) can now deploy AWS Storage Gateway directly on their existing infrastructure.

Why This Is Important

• No VMware dependency: AHV users no longer need VMware just to integrate with AWS Storage Gateway

• Lower infrastructure costs: Nutanix AHV is often chosen for its licensing advantages

• Stronger hybrid cloud flexibility: On-prem Nutanix environments can now natively connect to AWS storage

This is a major win for enterprises that are rethinking VMware costs and exploring alternative hypervisors.

How It Works

AWS Storage Gateway can now be deployed as a virtual appliance on Nutanix AHV. Once deployed:

1. On-prem applications access storage using standard protocols (NFS, SMB, iSCSI)

2. Frequently accessed data is cached locally

3. Data is securely synced to AWS cloud storage (such as Amazon S3)

4. Organizations benefit from AWS durability and scalability without changing workflows

Use Cases for Businesses

This integration unlocks several practical enterprise scenarios:

Hybrid Backup & Disaster Recovery

• Store backups locally for fast restores

• Automatically replicate data to AWS for disaster recovery

Cloud Archiving

• Move cold or infrequently accessed data to low-cost AWS storage

• Reduce on-prem storage footprint

Gradual Cloud Migration

• Shift workloads to AWS at your own pace

• Maintain existing Nutanix infrastructure while modernizing storage

Why AWS Is Betting on AHV

Nutanix AHV adoption has grown rapidly as enterprises look for VMware alternatives. By supporting AHV, AWS:

• Expands its reach into non-VMware environments

• Makes hybrid cloud adoption easier

• Position the storage Gateway as a hypervisor-agnostic solution

This move reflects a broader industry trend toward flexible, vendor-neutral hybrid architectures.

Availability

AWS Storage Gateway support for Nutanix AHV is:

• Available globally

• Supported for on-prem deployments

• Compatible with existing AWS regions and services

No major changes to existing Storage Gateway workflows are required.

By adding Nutanix AHV support, AWS has removed a key barrier for enterprises running modern, cost-efficient virtualization platforms. For organizations invested in Nutanix, this update delivers simpler AWS integration, lower complexity, and more freedom in hybrid cloud design.

As hybrid cloud strategies continue to evolve, updates like this show how major cloud providers are adapting to real-world enterprise needs—not just pushing one ecosystem.