Information Technology Navigator

As VMware is wont to do, it has released a new brand of products that users may already be familiar with. Though I witnessed a number of complaints from users during the small group discussions at VMWorld, the vRealize rebranding really does go beyond simple marketing. Until a couple of days ago, the products that now make up the vRealize Suite came from very different origins, and had been positioned for very different use cases, from simple monitoring to justifying ROI. However, these products were also unique in how they integrate with VMware’s cloud offerings, thus the logic behind the mirrored vRealize Air product line.

 

vRealize is a culmination of VMware’s strategy to transition their products to the cloud and to show that they continue to deliver value once the user has made that transition.

 

By taking the products listed below and bundled them together, VMware is hoping to empower the user to go to the cloud, and once there, maximize their use of it.

 

(Another advantage of the rebranding is that arguments about how to pronounce vCAC can finally be settled. It will be pronounced vRealize Automation!) :) 

 

Making sense of vRealize

 

So what exactly is the vRealize Suite? Very broadly, it’s broken into 3 components; Operations, Automation, and Business:

 

 

Adding a layer of complexity, the different vRealize Suites offer different products:

 

 

vRealize Operations Insight:

• vCenter Operations Management Suite Advanced (vCops Advanced)
• vCenter Log Insight

vRealize Suite Advanced:

• vCloud Automation Center Advanced (vCAC Advanced)
• vCenter Operations Management Suite Advanced (vCops Advanced)
• vCenter Log Insight
• IT Business Management Suite Standard

vRealize Suite Enterprise:

• vCloud Automation Center Enterprise (vCAC Enterprise)
• vCenter Operations Management Suite Enterprise (vCops Enterprise)
• vCenter Log Insight
• IT Business Management Suite Standard

So what does this mean for you?

vRealize Operations Insight

This is likely going to be the starting point for anyone looking at the cloud. Operational insight is always important, but it is doubly so in the cloud, as you are paying for every resource that you consume. vRealize Operations (vCOps) is a great tool for trimming the fat from your VMs so that you’re only paying for what you need.

vRealize Suite Advanced

This is where automation starts coming into the picture with the inclusion of vRealize Automation (vCAC). This will be more helpful to enterprises that are looking to set up some sort of self-service portal for applications or infrastructure, but still maintain control of the entire IT environment. This is what a lot of people will think of when they think a cloud.

vRealize Suite Enterprise

This is the big kahuna, and includes everything you would need to run a cloud plus the kitchen sink. The main advantage this one has over the Advanced feature set is the ability to streamline compliance control and lifecycle management. Expect this in industries that are regulation heavy (Pharmaceuticals, Defense, Education), but still want to gain benefits of the cloud.