Portworx Enterprise 3.3 offers VMs on Kubernetes upgrade

Portworx by Pure Storage has launched an enterprise-grade container data management platform tailored for KubeVirt VMs on Kubernetes platforms, addressing virtualization and cost efficiency concerns.

This update is in response to industry movements such as Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, which has motivated many organisations to explore cost-effective virtualization solutions.

Kubernetes has emerged as a preferred platform capable of supporting both virtual machines (VMs) and containers, allowing enterprises to streamline cloud-native application development and infrastructure modernisation.

A 2024 survey highlighted that 81% of enterprises intend to migrate or modernise their VMs to Kubernetes, with nearly two-thirds planning to do so within two years. These migrations present new challenges as virtual machines increasingly move to Kubernetes.

The release of Portworx Enterprise 3.3 extends Pure Storage's data management platform capabilities to support VM workloads at an enterprise level, offering expected cost savings between 30%-50% compared to alternatives.

It enables enterprises to retain their VMs on Kubernetes, providing the flexibility to refactor or create new cloud-native applications while using existing resources on their own timeline.

The updated platform introduces High Performance at Scale with features such as RWX Block for KubeVirt VMs operating on FlashArray or any storage vendor, facilitating robust read/write capabilities for high-performance storage on Kubernetes.

Portworx Enterprise 3.3 also includes Enterprise-grade Data Management and Protection.

It offers a unified management plane allowing synchronized disaster recovery for VMs on Kubernetes with zero data loss. It supports file-level backups for Linux VMs, giving organisations more granular control over backup and restoration.

The platform supports Broad Ecosystem Integrations with major KubeVirt solutions, enabling customers to use reference architecture and partner integrations with platforms such as SUSE, Spectro Cloud, Kubermatic, and Red Hat.

Venkat Ramakrishnan, Vice President and General Manager of Portworx at Pure Storage, stated, "Built for Kubernetes, Portworx offers the scalability, automation, and self-service capabilities required to support the churn and elasticity of cloud-native applications. Portworx Enterprise 3.3 addresses C-suites' virtualization concerns around cost efficiency by allowing data storage stakeholders to go at their own pace in their modernization journey due to its unified platform and multiple integrations."

Mitch Ashley, Vice President and Practice Lead of DevOps and Application Development at Futurum, commented, "Kubernetes is the dominant platform for containerised workloads of all types, from VMs to fully cloud-native applications. With Portworx 3.3, Pure Storage is bringing together a scalable data management platform with a simplified workflow across containers and VMs. That's appealing to enterprises modernising their infrastructure, pursuing cloud-native applications, or both."

Steven Dickens, CEO and Principal Analyst at HyperFRAME Research, said, "Portworx Enterprise 3.3 represents a game-changer for organisations modernising their virtualization environment, delivering a robust, cost-efficient platform that seamlessly supports both VMs and containers on Kubernetes."

"With Portworx projecting cost savings of 30-50% compared to traditional alternatives, this solution empowers enterprises to optimise their infrastructure without compromising performance or scalability, making it a robust choice for production environments at scale."