Plain Virtualization

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 In a simple summary, EVO SDDC is been replaced by VMware Cloud Foundation and VCF is no longer limited to the few (actual 4) vendors exclusively, in fact customer can choose to use even a VSAN Ready Nodes with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 vend...

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.  This year it was announced at VMworld Barcelona 2016. 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 wil...

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...

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.

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 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. ...

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-segmenta...