VCF 9 Technical Overview | Part 1 | Modernize Infrastructure

Summary

Kyle Glee from the Cloud Foundation technical marketing team introduces VMware Cloud Foundation 9, the first major release since the Broadcom acquisition. The presentation frames three core goals: modernize infrastructure, deliver a cloudlike operating model, and secure and protect private clouds. It highlights tools and capabilities—VCF installer, SDDC Manager automation, vSAN storage, NSX networking, VCF Automation and self-service catalogs—that simplify deployment across data centers, edge, and public cloud. The talk also addresses modern workloads (Kubernetes, private AI), new developer/platform-engineer personas, migration paths, centralized operations, and strategies for compliance, ransomware defense, and disaster resilience.

Takeaways

• 😀 VMware Cloud Foundation 9 (VCF9) is a major release, marking the first after the Broadcom acquisition, showcasing enhanced capabilities in private cloud solutions.
• 😀 The presentation will focus on three main business infrastructure initiatives: modernizing infrastructure, delivering a cloud-like experience, and ensuring security and resilience.
• 😀 Modernizing infrastructure involves updating both hardware and processes, including capabilities like VCF installer and automation with SDC manager for easy deployment.
• 😀 VCF9 integrates software-defined storage and networking to further modernize infrastructure, alongside providing an infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) model for end users via a self-service catalog.
• 😀 VMware Cloud Foundation aims to extend private cloud infrastructure to the edge and public cloud, supporting hybrid environments with centralized management.
• 😀 New personas like developers and platform engineers are integral to the modern cloud experience, enabling self-provisioning and API-driven deployment of Kubernetes and other modern workloads.
• 😀 A strong focus on security and resilience is key to protecting infrastructure from disasters, ransomware, and ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations.
• 😀 The presentation will dive into the architecture, topology, and deployment models of VCF9, including the core building blocks like compute, storage, and network virtualization (e.g., VSAN, NSX).
• 😀 Key tools for migrating legacy workloads to the modern cloud infrastructure will be discussed, enabling smooth transitions for organizations to adopt the private cloud.
• 😀 The unified cloud experience for developers emphasizes providing on-demand Kubernetes infrastructure and enabling private AI deployment on top of the private cloud, all supported through VCF automation.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the VMware Cloud Foundation 9 technical overview?

The VMware Cloud Foundation 9 technical overview focuses on modernizing infrastructure, delivering a public cloud operating model, securing and protecting private cloud environments, and introducing new capabilities, including add-on services and migration tools.

How is VMware Cloud Foundation 9 different from previous releases?

VMware Cloud Foundation 9 is the first major release since the Broadcom acquisition, showcasing new features and improvements aimed at providing the best possible private cloud infrastructure for customers.

What are the three key business infrastructure initiatives for VMware Cloud Foundation 9?

The three key business infrastructure initiatives are: 1) Modernizing infrastructure, 2) Providing a cloud-like experience with a true cloud operating model, and 3) Ensuring the security, protection, and resilience of the private cloud.

What does 'modernizing infrastructure' entail in VMware Cloud Foundation 9?

Modernizing infrastructure involves updating both the hardware and software infrastructure in data centers, incorporating software-defined storage and networking, and leveraging automation tools like the VCF installer and SDC manager to simplify deployment and management.

How does VMware Cloud Foundation 9 support infrastructure as a service (IaaS) for end-users?

VMware Cloud Foundation 9 provides an infrastructure as a service (IaaS) model through a self-service catalog, allowing end-users to provision and consume cloud resources easily. It also integrates with VCF automation to facilitate seamless resource management and consumption.

How does VMware Cloud Foundation 9 address the needs of developers and platform engineers?

VMware Cloud Foundation 9 is designed to cater to the needs of developers and platform engineers by providing a cloud operating model with support for Kubernetes orchestration, API-driven provisioning, and the ability to deploy and manage applications and services on their own infrastructure.

Why is security a critical component of VMware Cloud Foundation 9?

Security is crucial in VMware Cloud Foundation 9 because private cloud environments need to be resilient against threats like ransomware and natural disasters. The platform focuses on protecting data, ensuring compliance with local regulations, and maintaining a secure, disaster-resilient infrastructure.

How does VMware Cloud Foundation 9 enhance cloud operations and automation?

VMware Cloud Foundation 9 enhances cloud operations by centralizing management through VCF operations, automating processes with VCF automation, and enabling easy scaling and deployment of workloads across the private cloud infrastructure.

What new persona roles are introduced with modern application workloads in VMware Cloud Foundation 9?

With the shift towards modern application workloads, VMware Cloud Foundation 9 introduces new persona roles such as developers and platform engineers. These roles focus on Kubernetes orchestration, private AI, and self-provisioning capabilities for modern application management.

What measures are in place to ensure disaster resilience in VMware Cloud Foundation 9?

VMware Cloud Foundation 9 provides disaster resilience by enabling data protection, ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations, and implementing strategies to safeguard against ransomware and other threats that could impact the data center or cloud infrastructure.