VMworld US 2014 is taking place this week in San Francisco at the Moscone Center, where attendees can choose from more†than 500 sessions in four tracks: software-defined data center, end-user computing, hybrid cloud, and VMware partner; certification and training; hands-on labs; workshops; group discussions; and booth demonstrations.
In addition, spotlight sessions on strategy and latest roadmaps are being given by VMware executives on topics that include software-defined data center, cloud infrastructure, networking and security, software-defined storage and business continuity, management, hybrid cloud, and end-user computing.
The event kicked off on Sunday with a 5K fun run/walk in the morning, followed by hands-on labs and partner day.
On Monday, CEO Pat Gelsinger addressed attendees about the latest in software-defined networking; while Bill Fathers, executive VP and GM, Hybrid Cloud Services Business Unit, outlined the hybrid cloud strategy. And VMware customers shared a session with President Carl Eschenbach on how software-defined architectures and solutions are transforming their businesses.
Also on Monday, VMware announced new virtualization, cloud management, and integrated OpenStack solutions:
- VMware Integrated OpenStack will enable IT organizations to deliver developer-friendly OpenStack APIs and tools on top of their existing VMware infrastructure. With the VMware Integrated OpenStack distribution, customers can quickly stand up a complete OpenStack cloud to provide API-driven infrastructure for internal developers, and to repatriate workloads from public clouds. IT can manage and troubleshoot an OpenStack cloud with familiar VMware. VMware Integrated OpenStack is expected to be available in the first half of 2015.
- VMware NSX 6.1, the network virtualization platform, includes new features: advanced network micro-segmentation capabilities, improved hybrid cloud connectivity, equal cost multi-path (ECMP) routing, and VMware vCloud Automation Center 6.1 integration. VMware NSX 6.1 is expected to be available in Q3 2014.
- VMware vRealize Suite combines the capabilities of VMware’s existing cloud automation, cloud operations, and cloud business management solutions into a single offering under the new VMware vRealize brand. VMware is delivering a complete software stack for managing a software-defined data center and public cloud infrastructure services (IaaS). The comprehensive management platform is purpose-built to manage heterogeneous environments and hybrid clouds. VMware vRealize Suite is expected to be available in Q3 2014.
- VMware vRealize Air Automation is the first in a family of new as a service (aaS) cloud management offerings. Offered initially as a qualified beta, this new subscription service will enable customers to automate the delivery and ongoing lifecycle management of application and infrastructure services while maintaining compliance with IT policies.
- VMware vCloud Suite 5.8 is an integrated offering for building and managing a VMware vSphere private cloud based on a software-defined data center architecture. VMware vCloud Suite 5.8 will feature enhanced policy-based provisioning capabilities that will enable customers to add compute, network, security, storage and now disaster recovery services to their applications and infrastructure. VMware vCloud Suite 5.8 is expected to be available in Q3 2014.†
On Tuesday, VMware’s CTO Ben Fathi and VMware technology evangelists will highlight innovative uses of VMware technologies across a wide range of use cases—from the data center to the hybrid cloud and in end-user computing. The session will include an overview of end-user computing business strategy.
On Thursday, the general session “People + Machines: Redefining The Possible” will feature Jane McGonigal, designer of alternate reality games and best-selling author; James Patton, inventor, visual artist, designer and TED Fellow; and Sean Gourley, physicist and collective intelligence researcher, TED Fellow, and Rhodes Scholar.
Other announcements on Monday included:
- Joint initiatives with Docker, Google, and Pivotal to help enterprises run and manage container-based applications on a common platform at scale in private, public, and hybrid clouds. The collaboration will enable enterprises to leverage their existing VMware infrastructure as a unified, scalable and secure platform for running and managing enterprise applications whether in a container or a virtual machine or a container within a virtual machine in a platform as a service.
- VCE and VMware are expanding their strategic partnership to include new collaborative development initiatives for delivering integrated management solutions for the hybrid cloud. VCE will integrate its converged infrastructure, Vblock Systems, with VMware vCloud Automation Center and VMware vCenter Operations Suite, and provide technology onramps to VMware vCloud Air, enabling customers with seamless management, workload migration and disaster recovery between their private and public cloud environments.
- AT&T and VMware announced they will deliver highly secure, flexible bandwidth, low-latency private cloud network connectivity for VMware vCloud Air customers using AT&T NetBond. Working together, VMware and AT&T will enable customers to quickly connect to VMware vCloud Air using AT&T’s Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) based private network solution
- Dell and VMware are extending a longstanding relationship to include a range of new networking solutions for midmarket, large enterprise, and service provider customers, backed by a joint go-to-market initiative, a validated reference architecture and a global reseller agreement. Dell and VMware are working with Cumulus Networks to deliver the VMware NSX network virtualization platform with Cumulus Linux on Dell Networking switches. Additionally, Dell is delivering a fully tested and validated converged infrastructure solution for midmarket customers that includes VMware NSX. VMware NSX is on the Dell price list today, and is currently available directly from Dell and Dell channel partners for purchase and deployment. Dell and VMware have partnered to train the Dell field, with thousands of representatives already completing initial VMware NSX training. Dell and VMware have also completed a validated reference architecture for the combined Dell and VMware networking solution.
