VMware product portfolio changes after Broadcom acquisition

 There have been drastic changes in how products have been repackaged and VMware Product Portfolio has been restructured. The attempt is to give you a glimpse of the restructuring of the Product Portfolio. Hold on to your questions, as we as partners also are yet to know the changes officially being communicated. But the customers are confused at this point in time, and rightly so. Hope these series give or you may draw from to articulate some of the answers that your customers may ask you.

Repackaged vSphere & vCloud Offering announced

 As you may be aware there are significant updates to packaging of vSphere and vCloud offering from VMware.

VMware Cloud Foundation: Is the premier enterprise-level hybrid cloud solution, designed for running essential and modern applications securely, resiliently, and cost-effectively.

 VMware vSphere Foundation: Tailored for mid-sized and smaller businesses, this new offering simplifies enterprise-grade workload management. It combines vSphere with intelligent operations management, delivering superior performance, availability, and efficiency. This integration offers enhanced visibility and insights, making it easier for businesses to manage their workloads effectively.

Both the VMware Cloud Foundation and VMware vSphere Foundation will offer optional advanced add-ons. These include storage solutions, ransomware and disaster recovery services, and application platform services, available for both product lines. Additionally, Application Network and Security options will be exclusive to the VMware Cloud Foundation. VMware along with Broadcom are also preparing to launch more advanced services and offerings, such as Private AI, in the near future. Stay tuned for these developments.

Webinar on Tanzu for Kubernetes Operations (TKO)

 I was tasked in conducting a webinar to vSphere Customers on Tanzu for Kubernetes Operations. I should warn you that video has a lag as it was conducted on a mobile hotspot internet connection.

Mind you this is my first time experience doing a webinar, also my first time taking a deep dive on Tanzu portfolio. Hope you will get something out of it.

Step by step beginner series Docker, Kubernetes, Tanzu and beyond...

 After a long hiatus I've decided to make a comeback in every sense of the word. Following the pandemic Sri Lanka as a nation has gone through a lot in terms of economic turmoil, political turmoil hence I haven't been active in contributing to the community. Besides personally I had to deal with lots that’s going through. But now, I feel it's time to rejuvenate and acquire new skills to prepare for the future. Therefore I have decided to get my hands dirty again with the technologies that define today and the future.  

 

The technologies I have chosen for this series are docker containers, Kubernetes (K8S) and Tanzu. Separate section will be maintained for this beginner series. Do stay tuned for this series.

Tribut to my good friend "Ravichander Nooka"

 

Never in my wildest dreams I would have thought writing a tribute to anyone in my tech blog. You always addressed me as "bro". Whenever I needed to clarify any doubt or issue you were always available. You were genuine in everything you did. Most of all you were a true gentleman. I am still in shock 'Bro!'. Until we meet again. Rest well and rest in peace my friend.

NSX Design and Deploy course - review

I am currently underway taking the NSX Design and Deploy course. I will be revealing my take on the course in the upcoming blog entries. Please be tuned.

Portable License Unit (PLU) License; How do they work?

A recent engagement of vCloud Suite License caught us off guard. This is because VMware has retired “Per CPU” license and replaced it with “Portable License Unit” PLU for short.

But how does PLU license convert to deprecate CPU license was a question that cropped up…

Since VMware embarked on the cloud journey jointly with AWS and other major players they had to rethink the strategy of licensing. So here is a quick primer on the PLU license.

1 PLU License can be directly converted to 1 CPU license. One PLU unit also can be converted to 15 OSI’s (Operating System Instances). These 15 OSI’s can be Physical Server instances or 15 vm’s on the cloud.

The following was extracted from VMware PLU License white paper:

“One PLU allows usage of vRealize Suite to manage unlimited OSIs/VMs deployed on one on-premises vSphere CPU or up to 15 OSIs deployed on the public cloud including vCloud Air, vCloud Air Network Partners, other supported public clouds, as well as third-party hypervisors and physical servers.”

https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/products/vrealize/vmware-portable-license-unit.pdf

For more info:

https://blogs.vmware.com/management/2016/02/vrealize-suite-pricing-and-packaging-changes-2016.html

How NSX re-route traffic after a Stretched vMotion?

I happen to get in a discussion with a friend who is into Cisco ACI. We both were going into Pro's and Con's of both NSX and Cisco ACI. (No we didn't get into an ugly argument ;) ) but he was curious how would NSX work in an all Software environment. 

He then brought in how would NSX re-route traffic once a VM has vMotion'd the vm to secondary data center. I asked back my friend how would Cisco handle this? Cisco takes help of Locator/ID Separation Protocol (LISP) protocol or global site load balancer (GSLB).

But how does NSX takes care of this? I had to do some research of my own and I thought it's better to blog about this for my personal reference and may be I can share it with my friend too ;)

So NSX can be configured for Cross vCenter. As you would might think vCenter's will be running on either site. It has to be paired with its own NSX Managers. One of them will assume the role of being Primary NSX Manager. With the use of Primary NSX Manager we create a Universal Controller Cluster, which assumes the role of the Control Plane. Primary NSX manager is responsible in creating all the universal objects for Cross vCenter NSX to work. We create Universal Logical Switch which spans across data centers. Universal objects are spanned through services called NSX Universal Synchronization Service. You could only edit these objects from Primary NSX Manager and could only be viewed from Secondary NSX Managers. 

(Please download these pics for better view)

Detailed View

"On both primary and secondary NSX Managers, you can create objects that are local to that specific vCenter NSX environment, such as logical switches, and logical (distributed) routers. They will exist only within the vCenter NSX environment in which they were created. They will not be visible on the other NSX Managers in the cross-vCenter NSX environment."

Then we create a Universal Logical Distributed Router (UDLR) and enable local egress on it. We need to add the locale ID at both ends on UDLR.

"Locale ID;  The value is generated on the individual NSX Managers.  To Find the locale ID for a given Manager, migrate to the Manager Status page (Networking and security, NSX Managers, Choose a manger, and on the right, it will show the ID under status)

Once you have your Locale ID for each side, you need to configure your UDLR (Universal Distributed Logical Router), under NSX Edges.  (Keep in mind, you must have deployed the UDLR with local egress enabled)

be aware, when you are editing the UDLR, you must select the NSX Manager for which you are editing  (Primary / Secondary)

Add in the Locale ID for each Manager  (have to edit twice).. and put in your individual gateway IP's for each site  (NSX Edge at each site).

Also keep in mind for the IP / subnet you assign to the transport logical switch, needs to be a /29.  Need 1 IP each for the edges (Site A, site B), and two IP's for the UDLR interface (IP and protocol IP for OSPF)

Also if you are doing any static routes, the documentation (and indeed the interface) indicates you have to add a locale ID but not quite so.  In the same way you are adding different gateways to the UDLR config by entering the config under the context of whichever manager, you simply would add statics the same way  (not entering locale ID, just editing under the appropriate side)

https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-NSX-for-vSphere/6.3/com.vmware.nsx.admin.doc/GUID-D20858AA-DF86-4A36-8262-390F2D9D9231.html

https://communities.vmware.com/thread/557188

Today I join the elite club of vExperts!

With great pleasure I would like to inform you that I joined the vExpert club for 2017. I might be the first to achieve this from Sri Lanka! I owe it all to Almighty God, my parents and my Alma mater (St. Joseph's College) and to all the viewers of the blog.

VCAP6-NV Blueprint Word version and PDF version

The Blueprint in PDF version:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B25curGkTxGbOTE2N3NhRmZ2X0E/view?usp=sharing

Word version of the Blueprint:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B25curGkTxGbeWJpakNQbDdfT3c/view?usp=sharing

VCAP6-NV Blueprint download

Like me, if you want to keep a tab or track of your progress of your VCAP-NV. This excel file mapped to VCAP6-NV Blueprint is an awesome way to track your progress. Credit should go to Clinton Prentice https://vzealand.com

 Download from: 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B25curGkTxGbeDg5RGVYM3U5bGc/view?usp=sharing

vForum 2016 - Bangkok 29th November 2016.

vForum 2016 in Bangkok was in full swing and exciting event just concluded on 29th November. The venue was at Centara Grand Hotel. Which also was a great venue to hold a vForum in a grand scale.

Some of the moments were captured from the event.

Callum Eade delivering keynote session.

IBM announcing VMware is run on their Cloud.

Callum again on Cross Cloud Architecture

VXRail being the first co-engineered HCI Appliance with VMware!

Myself and my friend Lakmal managed to get a snap :)

Entrance for Solution Exchange booths...

Solution exchange booths...

VMware Certification booth which gave out 50% for VCP Certifications and 25% for VCAP - which was very welcoming1

The sponsors who made the event successful

VEEAM winning one of the awards for exhibitor

VMware vSphere 6.5 is available for download!

As you are aware VMware did some changes to the licensing and eliminated Enterprise Edition.

http://venthusiast.blogspot.com/2016/10/changes-to-vsphere-vsom-licensing_56.html

But the downloads section is showing old model of licenses.


Well It's GA now! That's what matters...

vSphere
https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/info/slug/datacenter_cloud_infrastructure/vmware_vsphere/6_5


vSOM 
https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/info/slug/datacenter_cloud_infrastructure/vmware_vsphere_with_operations_management/6_5

FOLLOW UP Post from How Windows 2016 licensing works with VMware (virtual) environments?

This post is inspired from a question that was asked from one of the comments on the blog by Sebcbi1.

The question was to the post I wrote on How Windows 2016 licensing works with VMware (virtual) environments?

The question was;
A 2 node ESXi cluster having 2 Physical Processor with 10 core each. If the cluster has 10 vm's. How many Standard Licenses is needed to comply with the licensing.

I personally believe it is a great question and great starting point to understand how the licensing works.

Answer

Each processor has 10 Core and having dual processor means it has 20 cores altogether. There are 2 nodes in the cluster, which makes the overall core count to 40.

 No: of physical cores = 2 * 10 * 2 = 40

Since Windows 2016 License are in 2 core packs;

 2 core license packs to comply the physical cores = 40/2 = 20

This covers 2 of the vm instances. We have 8 vm's more to be licensed.

The Windows 2016 Licensing datasheet states;

"Standard Edition provides rights for up to two OSEs or Hyper-V containers when all physical cores in the server are licensed. For every two additional VMs, all the cores in the server have to be licensed again."

So we need to re-license the physical cores for next 2 additional vm's

Which looks like this,

VM	License
2	20
2	20
2	20
2	20

Which sums up to total of 100 (2 core) license packs.

I know what you think LOL!

VCP5-DCV Exams are retiring by 31st March 2017

VCP5-DCV (VCP550) Exam and VCP5-DCV Delta Exam (VCP550D) exams are set to retire on 31st March 2017. Registration for the above exams will be halted on 15th March 2017.

So hurry up and get certified!

You should also note that VCAP5-DCA, VCAP5-DCD and VCIX-NV exams are already discontinued last exam appointment is on 30th November 2015. Last registrations for the VCAP exms and VCIX-NV exam was on 31st of October 2015.

http://blogs.vmware.com/education/2016/10/vcp5-dcv-retirement.html

VMware Horizon View 7 License Comparison

If  you are like me, I am not a fan of how VMware website shows the features and license comparison. I made a table that's visually appetizing.

So here you go,

Following components are bundled in a way so that license distinguishes from each other.

• VMware Identity Manager
• VMware Mirage
• VMware App Volumes
• RDS for Hosted Apps
• vSAN
• VMware vRealize Operations Manager for Horizon

It is evident that named user license is only available for Horizon Advanced and Horizon Enterprise Editions.

Also Linux desktops is only available as a separate license called "Horizon for Linux" and "Horizon Enterprise License".

Features	Sub-Component/Product	Horizon For Linux	Horizon Standard	Horizon Advanced	Horizon Enterprise
Concurrent User (CCU)		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Named User		No	No	Yes	Yes
Windows virtual desktops and session based desktops	VMware Horizon	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Linux Desktops	VMware Horizon for Linux	Yes	No	No	Yes
Unified workspace - XA, RDSH, SaaS, ThinApp	VMware Identity Manager Std	No	No	Yes	Yes
Hosted Applications (RDSH)	RDS Hosted Apps	No	No	Yes	Yes
Packaged Applications	VMware ThinApp	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
BLAST Performance (3D, UC, MMR, etc)	VMware Horizon	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Application and Desktop Access with Single-Sign-On	VMware Identity Manager Std	No	No	Yes	Yes
Image management for physical desktop	VMware Mirage	No	No	Yes	Yes
Real-time application delivery	VMware App Volumes	No	No	No	Yes
Just-in-Time Delivery with Instant Clone Technology	VMware Horizon	No	No	No	Yes
User, profile and policy Management	VMware User Environment Manager	No	No	No	Yes
Operations Dashboard – Health Monitoring & Performance Analytics	VMware vRealize Operations for Horizon	No	No	No	Yes
Capacity Management – Planning & Optimization	VMware vRealize Operations for Horizon	No	No	No	Yes
Virtual Storage	VMware vSAN Advanced for Desktop with all-flash	No	No	Yes	Yes
Cloud Infrastructure	VMware vSphere Desktop & VMware vCenter Desktop	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes