Innovate Faster with VMware Cloud on AWS: An Overview

VMware Cloud on AWS is an integrated cloud offering developed by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and VMware. It enables organizations to seamlessly migrate and extend their on-premises VMware vSphere-based environments to the AWS Cloud running on next-generation Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) instances. This allows customers to leverage AWS's broad and deep services, including computing, databases, analytics, IoT, AI/ML, security, mobile, resource management, and application services to innovate faster and operate more securely.

VMware Cloud on AWS comprises three fundamental components for any virtualized infrastructure:

1. vSphere: Facilitating compute virtualization, vSphere is responsible for managing and allocating computing resources within the environment.

2. NSX: NSX creates and manages virtual networks, enhancing the platform's overall networking capabilities.

3. vSAN: vSAN provides a virtualized storage infrastructure, ensuring efficient storage management.

Alongside these components, the VMware vCenter Server plays a pivotal role in managing the vSphere infrastructure, overseeing authentication, authorization, and administration to provide a unified control point for the entire VMware Cloud on AWS environment.

Architecture

The VMware Cloud on AWS is built on a dedicated AWS infrastructure that is specifically designed for hosting VMware workloads. It includes dedicated bare-metal hosts, vSphere clusters, and a dedicated VMware SDDC manager to provide a highly secure and compliant environment for your workloads, ensuring optimal performance.

Use cases

VMware Cloud on AWS offers several use cases to customers, including :

1. Data center extension: With the scalability and global presence of AWS Cloud, customers can easily and cost-effectively expand their data center capacity and regional footprint. This provides a seamless and efficient solution to meet the growing demands of businesses.

2. AWS integrated applications: By leveraging AWS services, you can update your applications to meet modern requirements or provide a framework for designing hybrid applications.

3. Disaster recovery programs: You can take advantage of AWS Cloud-based disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) capabilities to enhance your existing VMware-based disaster recovery approach. This can help simplify, accelerate, and modernize your disaster recovery programs.

4. Cloud migration opportunities: One of the benefits of utilizing a common cloud infrastructure based on VMware Cloud Foundation is that it enables easier and faster migration of important production workloads to the AWS Cloud without requiring any major conversions or re-architecting efforts. This can be done at scale while maintaining consistency across on-premises data centers and the AWS Cloud.

Benefits

1. Simplified Hybrid Cloud Management:

• Manage your on-premises and cloud workloads with a single set of tools and interfaces: This can help you reduce administrative overhead and complexity.
• Leverage familiar vSphere tools and workflows: This can help you avoid the need to learn new tools and processes.

2. Increased Agility and Scalability:

• Quickly provision and scale your vSphere workloads in the cloud: This can help you respond to changing business demands.
• Easily add and remove resources as needed: This can help you avoid overprovisioning and optimize your costs.

3. Reduced Costs:

• Pay only for the resources you use: This can help you reduce your IT infrastructure costs.
• Take advantage of AWS discounts and promotions: This can further reduce your costs.

4. Enhanced Security and Compliance:

• Benefit from the security and compliance features of both VMware and AWS: This can help you protect your data and meet regulatory requirements.
• Take advantage of AWS's extensive security and compliance certifications: This can give you peace of mind knowing that your data is safe.

5. Additional Benefits:

• Faster time to market: With VMware Cloud on AWS, you can be up and running in the cloud quickly.
• Improved disaster recovery: VMware Cloud on AWS can help you create a reliable disaster recovery site in the cloud.
• Increased innovation: By leveraging the flexibility and scalability of the cloud, you can accelerate your innovation efforts.
• Enable Macie for your S3 Buckets: You can choose individual buckets or all buckets within a specific region.

VMware Cloud on AWS Getting Started

To start the deployment process, sign in to Cloud Services Portal (CSP).

1. 1. Log in to the VMC Console at https://vmc.vmware.com
2. 2. Choose VMware Cloud on AWS Service from the services listed.
3. 3. Choose Create SDDC.

Conclusion

VMware Cloud on AWS is a powerful and flexible solution for organizations looking to leverage the benefits of the AWS cloud while maintaining their existing vSphere environment. With its ease of use, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, VMware Cloud on AWS is a great choice for businesses of all sizes.