VMware Cloud Foundation 9 (VCF 9) represents a significant leap forward in private cloud infrastructure, offering a unified platform designed to simplify deployment, operations, and the developer experience. This latest release integrates compute, storage, networking, automation, and operations into a single, cohesive product, realizing the long-standing vision for the VCF product.

Key Highlights of VCF 9:

• Unified User Experience: VCF 9 delivers a streamlined experience for building, operating, and securing a modern private cloud across on-premises data centers, in hyperscaler and VMware Cloud Service provider clouds, and at the edge. A new unified interface for cloud administrators offers a holistic view of private cloud operations, while a Quick Start App significantly reduces setup time and complexity.
• Compute Enhancements:
  • Advanced Memory Tiering: This innovative feature identifies infrequently used memory blocks and moves them to lower-cost NVMe devices. This software-based solution can reduce total costs by 35-50% by increasing VM density, with minimal performance overhead.
  • Confidential Compute: VCF 9 introduces a technology preview that encrypts the runtime environment, including data in memory, providing enhanced end-to-end data security. This is achieved through a partnership with Intel, leveraging their TDX in-memory encryption technology.
  • CPU Optimization: Continued enhancements to the core virtualization platform better leverage new generations of CPUs with higher core counts and density.
• Storage Innovations:
  • VSAN ESA Global Deduplication: This addresses a previous gap by providing deduplication at a cluster-wide and per-object level, leading to additional cost savings.
  • VSAN Native Replication: Building on previous releases, VCF 9 introduces native replication of snapshots to a remote site for disaster protection. This feature is integrated into VSAN workflows, allowing for per-VM replication and independent snapshot retention policies.
• Networking Strategy Shift:
  • Virtual Private Cloud (VPC): A major shift bringing VPCs into vCenter, providing isolation domains for VMs. This enables VI administrators to create and manage VPCs through vCenter, integrating with automation layers for provisioning workloads.
  • New Data Path/Switch in NSX: A new data path is introduced in NSX and BDS that increases network throughput significantly.

Additional Benefits:

• Improved Performance: VCF 9 delivers near bare-metal performance for virtualized AI/ML workloads, while retaining all virtualization benefits.
• Enhanced Security: Robust data control, compliance, and resilience features empower IT operations amidst regulatory complexities and geopolitical uncertainty.
• Cost Management: VCF Operations empowers users to monitor infrastructure-related costs and associated services or license expenses with greater precision.

VMware Cloud Foundation 9 offers a modern private cloud experience, combining the agility and scalability of public cloud with the security, performance, and cost benefits of an on-premises environment. It’s designed to remove friction between infrastructure and application teams, offering a unified interface for platform and development teams.