Monday, August 26th was Day One of VMworld and in this post, I will reflect on what happened, and what did not happen. In my observation, VMworld is unique in the tech world in that there are actually things announced that can represent a fork in the road for the tech industry. It’s not Apple announcing the first iPhone but hey, it about as “sexy” as data center infrastructure gets…
So what was announced at VMworld so far? It definitely depends on your perspective what makes news, but below are the things VMware appeared to be focusing on. I will do the list like David Letterman’s Top 10 List (just imagine we are living in the days when he was still popular…)
#10 The Power of AND (rather than OR)
Pat Gelsinger talked at length about the tradeoffs that businesses and IT have had to make (due to an inflexible infrastructure platform). He is right on – IT has been operating with both hands tied behind their back. The question is can VMware really bridge all the “ANDs?”
#9 Bravery is really important – used at least 50 times…
The message is that we are at a fork in the road that creates great opportunities for businesses and for IT, but requires IT professionals to take some risks. Just as VMware created career opportunities to IT staff, the next wave also creates opportunities as well – but requires folks to step outside of their comfort zone to take risks…
#8 SDDC Product Launches
As expected there were product launches to support VMware’s core products as part of the SDDC strategy. An interesting note was progress on virtual SAN and admission that Virtual Volumes needed to be partnered with the technology ecosystem.
#7 3 years in a row – same strategy (SDDC, EUC and Hybrid Cloud)
VMware has had a complicated message ever since they moved beyond server virtualization to “cloud infrastructure”, SDDC, cloud management etc… But with a focus on the same 3 priorities, things are getting clearer, and vision is getting closer to reality…
#6 End User Computing Platform Requirements for a mobile workforce are coming into place – and VMware has the pieces
In a nod to VP and GM, Sanjay Poonen, Pat Gelsinger pointed out the huge changes since he came on board a year ago. EUC acquisitions like Air Watch has filled out the portfolio and new packaging – Workspace Suite, makes it easy for customer to consume.
#5 Micro-segmentation
Pat Gelsinger put a new focus on the network and security offerings by focusing on new capabilities of NSX with a new capability he called “micro-segmentation. “The premise is that in an ideal world, you’d put a firewall on every service and every device – but that is juts too complicated and costly in a physical world. With virtualized networks you can segment networks at any level, by setting policies in software. Yet another value proposition of VMware NSX vs. the “hardware-defined” approach to networking…
#4 Containers without Compromise
There has been a lot of online speculation on whether containers from companies like Docker make virtualization obsolete. There does seem to be some overlap in the goals, but VMware partnerships with Docker and Google Kubernetes aim to prove that the best approach is a combination. VMware announced a new platform and partnership with Docker, Google Kubenettes and Pivotal Cloud Foundry that uses VMware APIs, OpenStack APIs, Pivotal APIs to deliver a better solution that VMware positions as “A better platform for all apps.”
#3 VMware Integrated OpenStack
In a move clearly focused on enhancing positioning as platform that enables customer choice, VMware announced full support and solutions for OpenStack platforms.
#2 Hyperconverged infrastructure. EVO: A new family of hyper converged infrastructure products delivered through OEMs
Perhaps the most thought provoking announcement at VMworld was a new family of hyper converged infrastructure to make deployment of an SDDC dramatically simpler called EVO. With the announcement of EVO Rails and major partnerships and EVO Rack in technology preview, VMware entered the “hyper converged” infrastructure software -deployed on partner hardware. The goal is a simpler experience for customers to get to an SDDC.
#1 Hybrid Cloud and vCloud Air – now moving to “professional” stage that requires a compatible approach to on-premise and cloud.
VMware VP and GM Bill Fathers made a compelling case that many companies are beyond the “experimentation” phase of cloud where companies put low impact applications in the cloud, without concern for scalability or robust approaches to security and compliance. Many customers are beyond experimenting and as the cloud enters the “Professional Phase”, customers want to have compatible on-premise and cloud infrastructure.
That is where vCloud Air (formerly known as VMware vCHS) comes in – providing a strong public cloud platform that works with existing infrastructure. This new era requires a new role for IT where they re-establish relevance to business by enabling agility at cloud costs.
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