In this first sample use case, a vSAN two-node architecture is employed to provide a common small business solution where Microsoft Active Directory, File Services, other applications and site management tools are provided on-premises. In this example, the service provider furnishes a fully managed service offering. Microsoft Active Directory and File Services are provided locally to the end users to facilitate quick authentication and fast access to large media files from within their small office, which is only enabled with a limited 10Mb/s connection to the Internet.

All File Server data is being continuously replicated back to the service provider’s data center through Microsoft Windows built-in Distributed File System Replication (DFSR) service. In addition, domain controllers at both locations are synchronized continuously through their service’s internal replication mechanism.

Data backups are performed only at the service provider’s data center. This solution also provides end users with the ability to work at their office, even in the event of a communication failure between their office location and the service provider’s data center. Another service might also be added that provides the ability to allow remote access to the data center’s replica data for remote and home users.

The following figure illustrates what the high-level architecture might look like for a service offering such as that outlined in this first use case. The figure shows a small office with highly available access to data, service provider backups, and local access to large media files.