Know it All: Choosing Between vSphere Foundation and Cloud Foundation

Introduction

Are you seeking a reliable, scalable, and secure platform to handle your workloads efficiently? Look no further! In collaboration with Broadcom, VMware has introduced two groundbreaking subscription-based solutions – VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF) and VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF). These offerings simplify VMware’s portfolio and licensing model, allowing you to choose the best fit for your needs. In this blog post, we’ll delve into a detailed comparison of VVF and VCF, helping you make an informed decision for your business.

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VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF): Streamlined Workload Management

VVF is an enterprise-grade workload platform seamlessly integrating vSphere with intelligent operations management. Geared towards mid-sized to smaller businesses, VVF ensures optimal performance, availability, and efficiency while offering enhanced visibility and insights. The components of VVF include:

vSphere Enterprise Plus: A leading server virtualization platform for running, managing, connecting, and securing applications across hybrid clouds.
vCenter Server Standard: A centralized management tool that allows control of the entire vSphere infrastructure from a single console.
Aria Suite Enterprise: A comprehensive operations management solution providing self-driving IT operations management from applications to infrastructure across various environments.
Support Services: Standard support service offering access to technical support engineers, documentation, knowledge base articles, and online communities.

Optional add-ons for advanced features and capabilities are available, such as vSAN Enterprise, VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery (VCDR), and Tanzu Mission Control (TMC).

VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF): Enterprise-Class Hybrid Cloud Solution

VCF is the flagship hybrid cloud solution, tailored for large enterprises seeking secure, resilient, and cost-efficient management of business-critical and modern applications. Key components of VCF include:

SDDC Manager: An automated lifecycle management tool simplifying how to deploy, configure, patch, and upgrade the entire SDDC stack.
vSphere Enterprise Plus with Tanzu: An enhanced server virtualization platform enabling the coexistence of virtual machines and containers on the same infrastructure.
NSX Enterprise Plus: A network virtualization and security platform delivering a complete networking stack for your SDDC across multiple sites and clouds.
HCX Enterprise: An application mobility platform facilitating workload migration, rebalancing, and optimized disaster recovery across different vSphere versions and cloud environments.
Support Services: Production support provides 24/7 access to technical support, documentation, knowledge base articles, and online communities.

Optional add-ons for VCF encompass VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery (VCDR), VMware Ransomware Recovery (RWR), VMware Site Recovery (SRM), and more.

Conclusion

VVF and VCF cater to different customer segments and use cases. VVF offers an affordable and user-friendly platform with essential capabilities for running workloads on vSphere. On the other hand, VCF is a comprehensive solution, providing the full SDDC stack and hybrid cloud services for running workloads on any cloud. Both subscription-based solutions offer license portability to VMware-validated hybrid cloud endpoints running VMware Cloud Foundation.

To explore these innovative solutions further, visit vmwa.re/skus or contact your VMware by Broadcom representative or partner. Discover the perfect fit for your business and propel your workload management to new heights!

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FAQs

1. What is the main difference between vSphere Foundation and Cloud Foundation?

ANS: – VVF is a simpler and more affordable solution for managing workloads on vSphere, while VCF is a comprehensive hybrid cloud platform with advanced features and services for enterprise-grade deployments. VVF targets mid-sized to smaller businesses, while VCF focuses on large enterprises with demanding application requirements.

2. Which solution is right for me?

ANS: – Consider your requirements. Do you need a basic platform for running vSphere workloads with essential capabilities? Choose VVF. If you require advanced features like hybrid cloud management, workload mobility, and sophisticated security, VCF is the better option.

3. What are the licensing costs for VVF and VCF?

ANS: – Both solutions are subscription-based and priced per CPU core and TiB of vSAN storage. VVF is generally more affordable than VCF due to its limited scope. For specific pricing, contact your VMware by Broadcom representative or partner.

4. Can I migrate from VVF to VCF or vice versa?

ANS: – Yes, both solutions offer license portability. You can seamlessly migrate your workloads and licenses between VVF and VCF as your needs evolve.