VMware Cloud Foundation

During the first day of VMworld 2016, VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) was announced.  Some of us who are following what VMware has in its portfolio might be really confused.  I am just one of the few.

So what is VMware Cloud Foundation?  Basically remember we used to have a platform known as EVO?  EVO Rail and EVO Rack.  EVO Rail has been deprecated and was only leaving the EVO Rack which was later rebrand as EVO SDDC.  VMware Cloud Foundation is the replacement for EVO SDDC.

As of 1st Sept today, EVO SDDC is no longer available as stated here.  You can read more of VMware Cloud Foundation here.  The FAQ that clearly describe here.

In a simple summary, EVO SDDC is been replaced by VMware Cloud Foundation and VCF is no longer limited to the few (actual 4) vendors exclusively, in fact customer can choose to use even a VSAN Ready Nodes with VCF and use the supported switches from Cisco or Arista making sure TOR and Spine are from the same vendor.

On a personal view, VMware has just created another ecosystem for VCF just like how it has done for vSphere and VSAN but with a complete solution which consist of vSphere, NSX and VSAN.  Vendors will leverage VCF and build their lifecycle management into VCF to support their hardware all together.

As for the support, licenses can be bundled with OEM licenses in such, total support comes from the specific vendor.  However customer can choose to purchase the license direct from VMware to have VMware direct support instead.  Though this comparing to build your own system it is still more simplified but customer will still need to contact two vendors for support.

VCF does not stop there, all summarized above are for on premises.  However, VCF can also be leverage by public cloud vendors e.g. vCloud Air Network Partners (VCAN) and for the first partner this will be IBM Softlayer as announced.

This way, it creates a better solution to create a SDDC platform on and across cloud.  Allowing vendors to build a unified SDDC platform while customer enjoying the benefits of a unified SDDC Platform.  This remove the complexity to ensure compatibility and reduce interoperability between versions of software on premies and off premises where customer will have when moving workload between hybrid clouds.

VMware vSphere 6.5 What's New

In most announcement in VMworld, often there will be a release every other time for vSphere.  This time round, there isn't any announcement or a given date.  However, there are session on vSphere 6.5 and also on VM encryption feature which will be introduced in the next version.

There ain't major features but some great enhancement and requests that customer has been asking for.  So here is a breakdown of some of the important features enhancements or addition to this release:

vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA)

VMware has already introduce this back in version 5.0.  And at 6.0, it has already been in par with the Windows version.  In this release, there will be no update to vSphere Client and Update Manager is now part of vCSA.  API is also provided for automation.

vCenter Migration, a new feature to help existing Windows vCenter Server customers to move to the vCSA.  This tool will also migrate the database to the embedded PostgreSQL database in vCSA.  The main problem for customer here is that the tool only migrate it to the embedded database and not allowed them to choose an external or remain as external DB.

Auto Deploy improvement with API and workflows to improve lifecycle management.

Host Profile improvement with search functionality and simplification for troubleshooting if needed.

Open VMware Tools, the aim to provide bootless Linux upgrade and more streamline in-guest lifecycle management.

vCenter High Availability.  A ask for the replacement on vCenter Heartbeat and finally VMware has come out with a solution.  No more requirement of WFCS or RDM.  vCenter HA will be able to handle an outage of within 10 mins.

PSC HA.  A native PSC HA which does not require a Load Balance will be introduced.  This will only be available in the vCSA.

vSphere Web Client.  Further enhancements been done to the vSphere Web Client where all will be in HTML5.  

UEFI Secure Boot.  This has been a delayed feature as most OS would have this function and glad vSphere is now supporting it.  Just simple way if a rootkit for e.g. is compromise, ESXi will not boot due to boot chain been compromise.

VM Encryption.  Lots of ask in the public sector space and financial industry.  Currently solution is to work with 3rd party solutions to have agent in OS to have encryption been done.  If this feature, you can now encrypt a VM using 3rd party KMS.  Also VM secure boot and secure vMotion.

Proactive DRS
Working tightly with vRealize Operations, DRS will be triggered to make sure resource is available before a VM become demanding.  A scenario will be e.g. A VM typically become busy during month end closing, DRS will move certain VM out knowing it will need more resources and making sure there won't encounter a resource contention when this happens.  In the past, DRS alone will only be perform when such contention happens.

Proactive HA
With hardware vendor working to reflect meaningful sensor notification that a possible of a hardware failure e.g. DIMM Slot, vSphere HA can leverage DRS to vMotion out VM from a hardware box before a kernel panic.

Will further update this with more details.

                                                

VMware Certified Advanced Professional 6 Exam GA!

If you head to VMware Certification site, you will be able now to book the following VCAP6 exams at USD400 each and USD100 for the beta exam:

Data Center Virtualization
VCAP6-DCV Design (GA)
VCAP6-DCV Deploy

Network Virtualization
VCAP6-NV Design (pending release)
VCAP6-NV Deploy

Cloud Management and Automation
VCAP6-CMA Design (GA)
VCAP6-CMA Deploy

Desktop and Mobility
VCAP6-DTM Design
VCAP6-DTM Deploy

Apparently only VCAP6- NV Design is not yet release.   During this period, passing VCAP6-NV Deploy will give you direct access to be VCIX6 waving the two VCAPs requirement.  So if you are keen, do be fast.   This is also stated here.

As for the rest of the track, well you will need both VCAPs in Design and Deploy to be VCIX unless you are upgrading our certification from VCAP5.  Read more about it in my previous post.


Update
One of our VMUG SG Member pointed this out.  Apparently only the VCAP6-DCV Design and VCAP6-CMA Design has GA.  The rest are in better.  It is announced here.  Whichever you take, as long a pass in beta or GA you will be VCAP6 in the respective track.  Look at the price to know if it's beta or not.

VMware Certification for VCAP6 Deploy Beta Exam is OUT!

VMware has release the public beta exam for VCAP6 Deploy in Data Center Virtualization, Cloud Management Automation and Network Virtualization tracks.  For Desktop Mobility, this has been run the last time.  You can read about the announcement here.

This time the beta is extended to North America, Middle East, Europe and Africa.  This will give VMware Education a good statistic of the certification level and attempts around the world.

This is also running on a new interface like the VMware Hands-on Labs.

Hurry down to make your booking and provide valuable feedback to the exam to have it be GA later on.

Head over here and register for the beta.  Do note that exam centers are limited as this is beta exam and the dates as well since there are always limited sets that can utilized for each session of exam.

vBlog 2016 Results Release!

Every year multiple bloggers around the world get to be listed into the ranking of vBlog.  Without fail, this year the results has been release here.

I like to take this chance to thank all followers and supporters.  I would not have made it thus far without feedback and suggestions to come out with new articles.

In the chinese culture "8" is a lucky number and my blog got ranked 88.  This comes with double joy and indeed is so as I have also moved into my new place with my wife.

Deeply appreciate all the votes from everyone.  Please support me in future so I can do more and better.  Share my articles whenever you find it useful to you am sure it will for others.

VMware NSX 6.2.3 for vShield Endpoint

VMware announced the release of NSX 6.2.3 with the release notes.  So what is unusual of this release you might ask.  Well other than feature and functions or bug fixes, this also something on licensing.

So what on licensing you might ask other than the previous announcement on having Standard, Advanced and Enterprise editions of NSX.

Finally moving forward, vCNS Manager which has always been the key function for vShield Endpoint for AV offloading function is been replaced by NSX in this release.

Looking the release notes:
"Change in default license & evaluation key distribution: default license upon install is "NSX for vShield Endpoint", which enables use of NSX for deploying and managing vShield Endpoint for anti-virus offload capability only. Evaluation license keys can be requested through VMware sales."

This means default installation of NSX will be enabled with vShield Endpoint function just like vCNS Manager which is ending its support soon.

So are you entitled?  Well all existing vSphere customer will be entitled to use NSX moving forward.  If you head to the download site, you will no longer see vCNS Manager but NSX 6.2.3 in this case.

So if you are thinking that you are able to use NSX for routing and switches you will be disappointed, by default the NSX license does not enable any routing switching ability unless you have applied a evaluation license based on the editions accordingly.  This is also stated in the document center.

Release of VMware NSX Editions

If you have been following, VMware release NSX from acquisition of Nicira over the last two years.  The concept of overlay was new to the market and change many from looking at Network Virtualization.  It also introduced the first micro-segmentation concept into the virtualization world where it is not possibly done.

NSX was released with the capability from distributed firewall (DFW), Routing and Switching, VPN as well as Load Balancing in the virtual network environment.

Many have viewed NSX as an expensive solution however many wasn't aware what NSX really provide.  A majority of NSX deployment were attracted by the micro-segmentation ability which at today context the only way to do so is to place a firewall behind every single physical server.  That however still does not provide protection on all the VMs that can be running on one physical server which DFW has the ability to do so.

Looking at just the above example, the cost of implementing micro-segmentation would be way out of the picture for any company even with a deep pocket as manageability will be a nightmare.  With NSX is not just providing the same security ability but also provide an ease of operations by working of rules based on policy.  On top of this, it also provide other functions of routing switching without stepping into the data center, VPN and Load Balancing capabilities.

With all these, does it still sound pricy to you?  The next questions many will answer is I do not use all the functions.  With NSX licensing the in past, it is regardless which function you use you just license the same.

That make VMware to start implementing Editions into NSX.  This strategy is to help also Small Medium Business and Enterprise (SMB/SME) to be able to adapt NSX based on their requirement.

For the routing and switching function, customer can now look at NSX Standard Edition while for Micro-segmentation, Advanced Edition can be considered.  And lastly a mutli-site with cross vCenter  Servers requirement will consider Enterprise Edition.

This makes NSX more easy affordable to adopt especially for customers looking at cost perspective.  You can now pay for what you need.

You can check out the editions comparison here.

RIP vSphere Client for Windows (C# Client)

Today marks the announcement from VMware to end the availability in future release of vSphere Client for Windows also known as the C# Client by many.  The last version and will be vSphere Client 6.0.  Any version of vSphere alongside with support will still be released.

With this, there will only be one client moving forward in the next release of vSphere (lightly announced in Aug 2016 during VMworld as usual).  As also stated there will be two edition of Web Client in next release namely: Flex and HTML5.

There will be plugins from other vendors that will not work since the time to create support for HTML5 will take times, so it makes sense for those who are dependent on those plugin to utilize the Flex.  For users who are not using any Flex dependent plugin, you can fully utilize the HTML5 based web client completely and enjoy the requirement of using Flash and away from the security vulnerability that comes with it.

Currently there is a Fling of the HTML5 client for testing released.  If you are curious feel free to test it out.

Catch more updates of the future vCenter from here as well.  One of the mentioned is vCenter HA which will be look into.  Let's hope something like vCenter Heartbeat replacement can be seen soon.

While some users find that the vSphere Web Client is slower than the vSphere Client.  This is true and will remain in no matter how much VMware put into R&D.  This is because this is a web based client in such it can never be as fast as been on a Windows based GUI.  We do have to understand there will be loading and refresh requirement by moving to web based and giving independency of end point OS.

Nevertheless let's take a minute to pray for our beloved vSphere Client a last bit goodbye.

What's New for VMware vCenter Server

This has been something which was announced here but many customers are not aware. Yes vRealize Log Insight (vR LI) is now bundle into every vCenter Edition.

Yes you hear it right. Don't be too contented. Nothing is for free unless there is a catch. And yes it does. The catch here is it only cover 25 OSI (OS Instance).
It does come with many content packs to work with vR Log Insight.

• Horizon View
• NSX
• OpenStack
• vCenter Operations Manager (5.x)
• vCloud Automation Center (6.0)
• vCloud Director
• vCNS
• Virtual SAN
• vRealize Automation (6.1, 6.2)
• vRealize Operations Manager (6.x)
• vSphere

If you find vR LI is something useful, you can always add more 25 OSI Packs or you can license them by per CPU model via vRealize Suite/vCloud Suite. If you do the latter, I would recommend you to use the free 25 OSI pack for external device.

This has been made unaware by many and like to repeat this is only for vCenter edition from vSphere Standard and above (if there is any edition in future not for now) and for Desktop edition as stated here.

Hope this clarify for all.

Top 2016 vBlog Voting Starts

The time of the year again for the voting for the top 12 vBlogs that you have find useful and you have been following.  These bloggers have put in effort to share what they know and contribute their own time outside work and using their personal time to contribute back to the bigger community.

It only takes less than 5 mins to complete the voting.  Just head over here to vote for the top 12 vBlogs that you felt meaning to you in one way or the other.  If you do not have exact 12, include those you felt have put in effort in doing so.