Category: VMware Explore

VMware Explore US and EU

#VMworld Announcement – VVD

VMware Validated Designs (VVD) has been announced.  This one is quite exciting, it kind of parallels my “Enterprise-Architecture-Design as a Service” concept at RapidMatter.com.  I have not seen the final product, but it will help architects with “build-your-own” VMware SDDC solutions.

In addition, it will be interesting to see how the VCDX program reacts to designs being submitted with this framework and how the EMC Federation incorporates this into the EHC and VxBlock reference architectures.

Continue reading #VMworld Announcement – VVD

#VMworld 2015 – Maximise your Experience

This will be my third VMworld and I want to pass on some tips that maximised my experience in previous years:

  • The VMware Communities Roundtable Podcast announces a lot of VMworld news and activities during July and August – listen if you have the time.
  • DevOps is now becoming an unofficial track – filter these sessions with the keyword “DevOps”.
  • On the day of the Keynote, the Official VMworld Bloggers will release their posts about new VMware announcements – keep an eye out at VMworld 2015 Official Bloggers.
  • Keep up with what is happening via #VMworld on Twitter.
  • The sessions related to announcements under NDA are in “stealth mode” until the day of the Keynote – keep an eye on the Schedule Builder to attend these sessions once they become visible.
  • Fully booked sessions – you can attend them by waiting in line outside the hall 15 minutes before the start time, a lot of people will no-show.
  • Keep hydrated with H20, carry a water bottle.
  • Maintain your energy levels by eating good, healthy food, regularly.
  • Limit your alcohol intake.
  • Wear comfortable shoes that have been “broken in”.
  • Dress in neat casual or professional clothing – just make sure it is comfortable.
  • Travel light – if you do not need your laptop, leave it at the hotel.
  • Plan ahead and organise your schedule so that you are getting at least a few hours of sleep a night.
  • It is physically impossible to attend every event, so attend what is important to you.

Continue reading #VMworld 2015 – Maximise your Experience

VMworld 2015 US – Schedule Builder Live

The VMworld 2015 US Schedule Builder is now live.  Sign in and register for the most popular sessions before they become fully booked.

If you have been listening to the VMware Communities Roundtable Podcast, you will have heard talk about DevOps becoming an unofficial track with Expert-Led workshops and sessions.  Use “DevOps” as a keyword search to find them.

VMware have also added the TAM-day schedule to the builder, which is a first (only valid for TAM customers).

The clock is ticking, register for VMworld 2015 US, plan your travel and reserve your sessions:

VMworld 2014 US – Closing Comments

This was my first time at VMworld US and I was impressed with the level of planning and attention to detail.  The highlights of the conference where:

  • vCommunity Hang Space – vBrownbag TechTalks, VMware Community and Blogger’s area, VMware Foundation “Give Back” event
  • Hands On Labs – 10,000 labs were taken this year.  They just get better and better.
  • Sessions – lot of cool content was presented this year.
  • Thursday’s General Session was very interesting and informative.
  • Announcements about EVO:RAIL and Open Stack support within vSphere.
  • Solutions Exchange – loads of new technology out there.
  • TAM Day was fantastic.

Continue reading VMworld 2014 US – Closing Comments

Most popular NSX use case

From talking to the NSX experts yesterday at “Meet the Experts”, I learned that the most popular use case for NSX is “micro segmentation” within the enterprise, moving firewall filtering between VMs to “ESXi as a service”.  “I thought vCNS does that?”, I hear you ask.  Well, vCNS vShield App is actually a separate virtual appliance, instead NSX provides this functionality as a service within the ESXi kernel, which provides greater scalability and improved performance for large scale enterprise and service providers.

The clock is ticking, register for VMworld EU 2014, plan your travel and reserve your sessions:

Is “vRealize” another “vRAM”?

I was very happy when VMware announced the “vCloud Suite” two years ago.  It unified the entire Data Center and Cloud Automation eco-system of VMware’s products under a single umbrella with a unified licencing model.  No more buying per VM licences for multiple products, just licence your physical sockets with the level you wanted and off you go.  It was a great move.

Fast forward to this year: “vRealize”? Who were the vPeople in vMarketing who vSuggested this vChange and who is the vGroup who vDrank the vCoolaid and vSupported this?  Who is the vBoss who vSigned off on it?  Sticking a “v” in front of every word does not make it cool, just look at the previous two sentences.  You have done a good job of it so far, but placing a “vee” in front of verbs is taking it too far, stick to nouns!

Continue reading Is “vRealize” another “vRAM”?