Technology Mapping
To build a hybrid cloud, a prescriptive set of technologies must be used to secure required compatibility and mobility of workloads with standardized API access.
vSphere together with VMware NSX® is the basis for the underlying compute and networking virtualization platform, which can use any compatible physical resources (servers, storage, network switches, and routers).
VMware Virtual SAN™ can optionally extend platform virtualization services as a hypervisor-converged, scale out alternative to traditional SAN or NAS storage systems.
vCloud Director is used for the cloud management plane. It natively supports, pools, and further abstracts the virtualization platform in terms of virtual data centers. It provides multitenancy features and self-service access for tenants through a native graphical user interface, or through the vCloud API, which allows programmable access both for the tenants (for consumption) and for the provider (cloud management). The vCloud API also provides the framework for extension services which enable VMware Cloud Providers or 3rd Independent Software Vendors to add additional services onto existing or new API objects. The vCloud API allows service providers to differentiate from others and to build their own or use a third-party user interface. The user side of vCloud API that is exposed to the tenants allows usage of the same VMware or third-party tools for management. As of vCloud Director 8.20, a separate vCloud Director API for VMware NSX® is used to expose networking services provided by the VMware NSX platform. It shares the authentication mechanism with vCloud API and acts as a proxy API for multitenant safe access to NSX APIs.
VMware vCloud Usage Meter collects consumption data of various VMware software components to provide per-usage licensing of VMware Cloud Provider Program bundles.
Additional VMware components can be optionally used for operations and business support systems integration:
• VMware vCloud Connector® for simplifying virtual machine, template, and ISO image migrations to and from the public cloud for customers as well as for the provider (public catalog management).
• VMware vCenter® Chargeback™ is the legacy tool for metering and usage reporting. The vCenter Chargeback API integrates with existing billing services.
• VMware vRealize® Business™ for Cloud is replacing vCenter Chargeback as the consumption metering, costing and reporting tool. It also provides an API for integration with existing billing services.
• VMware vRealize Operations Manager™ for performance and capacity monitoring and analysis with additional Management Packs that extend its monitoring capabilities.
• VMware vRealize Log Insight™ for centralized log management and analytics.
• VMware vRealize Orchestrator™ for extension services or for automation recurring tasks (tenant onboarding and lifecycle).
• VMware Site Recovery Manager™ for disaster recovery protection of cloud management components.