Today, VMware and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are announcing a strategic partnership providing the ability to run a full VMware Software Defined Data Center (SDDC) as a cloud service on AWS. This service will include all the enterprise tools you’re familiar with including vSphere, ESXi, VSAN and NSX. This article provides a technical preview of The post VMware Cloud on AWS – A Closer Look appeared first on VMware vSphere Blog .
Today, VMware and AWS are announcing a strategic partnership that brings the two leaders in Enterprise IT together to deliver a vSphere-based cloud service running on AWS. This service will make it easier for customers to run any application, using a set of familiar software and tools, in a consistent hybrid cloud environment.
The VMFork technology involves on-the-fly creation of virtual machine clone (VMX-file and process in memory), which uses the same memory (Shared memory) that the parent VM does. At the same time, the child VM cannot write to the shared memory
NSX and vRealize Automation are two major products from VMware. You use vRealize Automation to build a Cloud environment and use NSX for building a Software-Defined-Network environment. Individually they are awesome products and when you mix them up, you get an overdose of awesomeness. Fun apart, the actual power of Software Defined Datacenter The post Integrating NSX with vRealize Automation – Part I appeared first on VMware Cloud Management .
At Connect Atlanta 2016, Yahoo Tech founder David Pogue interviews Sanjay Poonen on VMware’s vision for a truly unified digital workspace. Hear them share their insights on smart glasses at work, “consumer simple, enterprise secure” digital transformation and the consumer-focused mobile app design. Learn more at blogs.air-watch.com.
VMworld community and social media activity is surging as we head towards VMworld 2016 Europe in Barcelona. Here are resources on vmworld.com to prep for the conference:
I have had quite a few questions on VMware Cloud Foundation already this week. On what it is? Is it just a licensing bundle? Does it come with Cross-Cloud Services? Can customers build their own or is there a HCL? If you are a partner that I support, please feel free to reach out to me. Thank you!
VMware Cloud Foundation is more than a bundle of vSphere, VSAN and NSX licenses. It also contains SDDC Manager, which is critical in building and maintaining the SDDC infrastructure stack.
The core components of VMware Cloud Foundation are VMware vSphere, Virtual SAN and NSX. VMware Cloud Foundation also comes with VMware SDDC Manager that automates the entire system lifecycle and simplifies software operations. In addition, it can be further integrated with VMware vRealize® Suite, VMware Horizon® and VMware Integrated OpenStack.
What is Unique?
Natively Integrated Software-defined Stack.
VMware Cloud Foundation integrates compute, storage, and networking into a single layer of software, ensuring full interoperability of the entire software stack to deliver the easiest path to deploy a virtualized infrastructure for a SDDC.
Next Generation Hyper-convergence.
VMware Cloud Foundation takes hyperconvergence to the next level by extending the convergence of compute and storage by including network virtualization with VMware NSX. This allows for simpler network management and elastic scalability at data-center scale.
Run as a Service from the Public Cloud.
VMware Cloud Foundation can be run as a service from leading cloud service providers, establishing a common operational model between private and public clouds, that leverages existing administration skillsets, tools, and processes.
Automated Lifecycle Management.
VMware Cloud Foundation comes with VMware SDDC Manager that radically simplifies the day 0 to day 2 operations of the entire software stack, automating deployment, configuration, patching and upgrading processes.
Currently, SDDC Manager provides lifecycle automation for VMware vSphere®, vCenter Server, Virtual SAN™, NSX®, Log Insight™, vRealize Operations™ and Horizon®. Other VMware components will be added in the future.
The Cloud Foundation stack includes at a minimum VMware vSphere, Virtual SAN, NSX and SDDC Manager. Customers can purchase separately a VMware Horizon add-on for Cloud Foundation, and the full VMware vRealize Suite or its individual components.
vCenter Server is NOT included in Cloud Foundation.
Minimum Size: Cloud Foundation requires at a minimum, a deployment of a single rack with 8 nodes and 2 Top-of-Rack (ToR) switches.
Cloud Foundation is supported on qualified Virtual SAN Ready Node server hardware from select vendors, including Dell, HPE and QCT, and on qualified hardware switches from select switch vendors, including Cisco and Arista.
Remember to qualify customers first. Minimum Size: Cloud Foundation requires at a minimum, a deployment of a single rack with 8 nodes and 2 Top-of-Rack (ToR) switches. Cloud Foundation is supported on qualified Virtual SAN Ready Node server hardware from select vendors, including Dell, HPE and QCT, and on qualified hardware switches from select switch vendors, including Cisco and Arista.
What are the physical hardware requirements for a Cloud Foundation private cloud?
A Cloud Foundation private cloud is comprised of between 1 to 8 physical racks. Each rack is comprised of between 8 to 24 qualified servers, a pair of redundant Top-of-Rack (ToR) switches and a single management switch. In a multi-rack configuration, a pair of redundant spine switches is used to interconnect the racks.
What are the physical scalability limits of a Cloud Foundation private cloud deployment?
Each Cloud Foundation private cloud deployment can span up to 8 physical racks with each ra
Remember minimum 8 nodes per rack
Software and hardware can either be purchased separately. This would be the VMware Cloud Foundation SKU and qualified hardware or the customer can purchase an integrated system, which is a turnkey solution of hardware and software. The second option is only offered by OEMs. Any type of VMware ELA is supported, as well as OEM Partner ELAs.
Cloud Foundation – this is our full SDDC platform, should be interesting to see Photon as an alternative to vSphere in the future. Healthcare customers? Did you know we have EPIC customers running VSAN? SDDC is prime time and here to stay.
Cross-Cloud Architecture/Services – SaaS based solution/platform. Remember we were talking about vRealize Air everything? This is it. This is the future for VMware being able to support multi-Clouds just like we did for multiple hardware vendors for servers. Imagine being able to have DRS-like features across clouds based on utilization, based on costs?
Cloud Native Applications – I cannot stress the importance of our Containers/Cloud Native Apps strategy. Remember, “App is King!” Without apps, there’s no IT/Business Transformation. Without apps, there is no need for infrastructure. This new wave of DevOps and Cloud Native Apps is where the industry is headed. See below note on acquisition by Cisco to confirm this. vSphere Integrated Containers and Photon will be a key strategy for us in the next few years. I see the convergence of DevOps and SDDC/Cloud platforms in the next 1-2 years and we are the only company well positioned to converge the DevOps phenomenon with the tradition Infrastructure as a Service that companies won’t be able to let go. Imagine an environment where developers are creating applications using Containers and Micro-services. Then deploying those on VIC or Photon to then scale out to our Cross-Cloud Architecture. At VMware, we are setting the standards. Just a couple of years ago, we talked about SDDC and now we are delivering it with Cloud Foundation. Just like we joke about how this is the year of VDI in the past years. I see CNA as the next big thing next year. Let’s talk to our partners about our strategy and solutions. It is very comprehensive.
EUC will be an area where we will continue to innovate. Within the past year, we have surpassed Citrix as far as capabilities. With our Workspace ONE solution with identity manager, we have a comprehensive strategy that we should not lose to anyone in delivering applications to “Internet of Things” devices.
We need to have a solid message and continue to deliver the full solution to win with our customers. I tell everyone everyday we can’t just sell them vSphere and vSOM. We need to engage our customers and be a trusted advisor to help them transform their business. Understand their needs and point out how our solutions can deliver what they are looking for. Without knowing all the moving parts, it is a challenge to direct a customer with the right solution. It is now our challenge to engage our customers so they can understand and help them implement the right solution.
Introducing a New Era of Cloud Freedom and Control
VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger opened VMworld 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada, this morning by telling his audience that “a new era of cloud freedom and control is here.” Gelsinger used his keynote to introduce the VMware®Cross-Cloud Architecture™. This is a game-changing new architecture that, as he says, “will enable customers to run, manage, connect, and secure applications across clouds and devices in a common operating environment.”
A Strategy for an All-Digital World Gelsinger began his remarks by describing the progression from a world characterized by a mix of traditional and digital business operations to an all-digital world. “Today,” he said, “only 20 percent of businesses are leading this digital transformation.” “The challenge for businesses worldwide, he added, is to choose which way they intend to make their own digital transformation.”
Making the End-User Experience “Consumer Simple — Enterprise Secure” Sanjay Poonen opened today’s general session with energy and passion, describing VMware’s digital workspace strategy and the new EUC technologies announced earlier in the day. He shared our three-layer EUC strategy, all of which comes together in the new consumer simple, enterprise secure digital workspace: apps and identity, desktop and mobile, and management and security. The keynote showcased a high caliber of customer and partner stories, including: the American Red Cross, Coca-Cola, Mecklenburg County and Sprint. In addition, Sanjay was joined on stage by Salesforce’s EVP of Product and Solutions Marketing Stephanie Buscemi, and by Tanium CEO Orion Hindi.
SDDC Innovations for the Mobile-Cloud Era Ray O’Farrell then turned to Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) innovations for the Mobile-Cloud era, hosting Mike Wittig, Senior Director of Consumer Digital Infrastructure Services, from Nike for a discussion around how our solutions (vCloud Suite, NSX, VIO, AirWatch, Horizon) are fueling Nike’s digital products and services. Next up was Kit Colbert explaining how vSphere Integrated Containers has been expanded to provide a full container stack with deep integration into vSphere and the SDDC, enabling customers to run containers in production. He also gave an update on Photon Platform and how we’re delivering on the promise of simplifying greenfield cloud native deployments.
Showcasing the Power of NSX and Virtual SAN Rajiv Ramaswami followed, describing his personal journey towards an increasing appreciation of the power of NSX. He called out 40+ NSX customers in Las Vegas who are showcasing how NSX has transformed their businesses and he ran compelling demos on how NSX can provision and secure apps and clouds. Yanbing Li turned the spotlight to how customers can best simplify their cloud infrastructure in a Cross-Cloud world, with a focus on Hyper-Converged Infrastructure enabling a seamless path from virtualization to VMware Cloud Foundation. The key takeaways? NSX is real and on fire with >400% customer growth in the last 18 months! This is the year of Virtual SAN, with more than 5,000 customers today and the majority of workloads powered by Virtual SAN used for mission-critical applications!
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