Intelligent data infrastructure leader NetApp® announced that advanced features in NetApp ONTAP® have been tested and verified to support VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.1. The updated validation provides enterprise organizations with an optimized, highly secure data infrastructure layer for hybrid and private cloud environments. By combining VCF 9.1 with NetApp’s built-in cyber resilience and data management features including rapid recovery tools to mitigate ransomware risks mutual clients can lower operational expenses and speed up the production deployment of artificial intelligence applications.
VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1 provides an integrated private cloud solution designed to support traditional virtualized software as well as containerized application workloads. With instant compatibility testing, enterprises planning to migrate to VCF 9.1 are able to implement the upgraded version without affecting their existing operations or storage infrastructure.
Unifying Enterprise Data Estates Across Hyperscale Clouds
To maximize data utility, modern enterprises require flexible architectures capable of operating fluidly across on-premises data centers and public cloud environments. NetApp’s first-party cloud storage solutions represent the only external enterprise storage certified to support VMware Cloud Foundation across major hyperscale cloud providers. Supported by VCF license portability, organizations can deploy VCF in certified hyperscaler environments and migrate VMware workloads to the cloud without application refactoring.
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“To keep up with the rapid pace of innovation required to thrive in a competitive landscape, enterprises need flexibility to move and place workloads in the best environment to which they are suited,” said Alvaro Celis, Chief Partner and Ecosystem Officer at NetApp. “NetApp continues to innovate to ensure VCF customers can operate consistently and without disruption across cloud environments. Together with Broadcom, we are giving organizations the autonomy to optimize, protect, and scale their virtualized environments across any cloud on their own terms, safeguarding their existing operational investments while unlocking the future.”
Operational Benefits of NetApp ONTAP and VCF 9.1 Integration
Integrating the NetApp platform with VCF 9.1 delivers several operational and security advantages for hybrid cloud deployments:
Scalable Cost-Efficient Infrastructure: VCF 9.1 improves the density of virtual machine workloads and container-based AI engines, as well as automates many cloud infrastructure management processes. The use of NetApp ONTAP acts as a primary storage system in the VCF management and workload domain space without necessitating modifications to existing applications.
Cyber Resilience: Improvements such as NetApp Console Backup and Recovery and NetApp Console Data Services help defend against any ransomware attacks on data. Moreover, future ONTAP Tools for VMware will add data store-level replication and consistency groups within the vCenter UI and using REST APIs through the VCF Operations Orchestrator.
Kubernetes and DevOps Management: Validated support for VMware vSphere Kubernetes Service (VKS) in VCF 9.1 allows IT departments to run microservices, CI/CD workflows, and distributed apps in addition to VMs on the same data platform.
“Broadcom and NetApp have long collaborated on solutions that help organizations simplify operations, protect critical data, and innovate faster,” said Paul Turner, Chief Product Officer, VMware Cloud Foundation Division at Broadcom. “With VCF 9.1, we are delivering an AI- and Kubernetes-native private cloud platform that maximizes infrastructure efficiency and security. Because NetApp’s solutions are tested and validated to support VCF 9.1 environments, our mutual customers can adopt these innovations with a data infrastructure foundation that is proven and ready.”
Availability
NetApp‘s validated solutions for VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1 are available immediately to global enterprise customers. Cloud architects, IT infrastructure leads, and systems administrators can evaluate technical configurations or request deployment support by visiting the official NetApp digital portal.