Plain Virtualization

Network Virtualization (NV) and Software Defined Network (SDN) has been a hype over the last 2 years through media and lots of news publicity. The adoption for many is still new.  In fact, most customers around the world has either yet to start, or just starting, or have a setup just running not at full scale. Over the last two years, we see lots of solutions ranging from NS from VMware NSX via software to SDN from Cisco ACI via hardware.  This then also started up many new comers from companies like Nuage Networks to vArmour. Having meeting many customers from different industry and verticals the questions often been asked are like the below: why this and not that? what the different from your competitors? isn't going to SDN or NV makes visibility more complex? how secure is logical compare to physical? While some of the questions and more cannot be explained in details, from a personal point of view it often drive down to a few factors: 1) Will the company be a...

Awhile a go I wrote an article about how the different vSphere Desktop licensing is for and the entitlement. Having meeting many customer with big and small environment, projects or used cases for certain requirements.  There were some question revolving around vCenter licensing especially for the desktop related. Here is an article of the FAQ on vSphere Desktop licensing.  One of the question in this article states: Q. Do I need a separate vCenter Server for my VDI hosts?  A. Yes, like Horizon 7 deployments on vSphere 5.x, you will need a separate VMware vCenter Server® for your VDI hosts. vCenter is not included in vSphere Desktop.  Let me further explain the above.  If you are running a 3rd party VDI solution riding on vSphere Desktop licensing, vCenter is not included.  You would need to purchase vCenter Standard to manage that environment. However if you are a Horizon customer, the bundle include vCenter Desktop use to manage a vSphere Des...

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.