VMware Cloud Foundation
What is VMware Cloud Foundation?
VMware Cloud Foundation is the hybrid cloud platform for managing VMs and orchestrating containers, built on full-stack hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) technology. With a single architecture that is easy to deploy, VMware Cloud Foundation enables consistent, secure infrastructure and operations across private and public cloud. Increase enterprise agility and flexibility with the hybrid cloud that delivers it all.
Introducing VMware Cloud Universal
Our new multi-cloud offering introduces VMware Cloud Foundation-Subscription (includes Tanzu Standard), which adds a flexible term-based licensing option for on-premises deployments.
Discover VMware Cloud Universal
What’s New with VMware Cloud Foundation with Tanzu: The Industry’s Most Advanced Hybrid Cloud Platform
Now available with integrated container orchestration and VMware Tanzu management tools.
Read the Datasheet
VMware Cloud Foundation
The Simplest Path to Hybrid Cloud Also Has the Lowest TCO
A comparison of cloud infrastructures shows how deploying VMware Cloud Foundation saves money.
Benefits of VMware Cloud Foundation
Simplified Management
Optimize performance, resilience, and availability for your Kubernetes clusters with integrated container orchestration, delivered by VMware Cloud Foundation with Tanzu.
Flexible Deployment Options
Access the broadest deployment options across both private and public cloud, and choose from self-managed and as-a-service options for HCI.
Enhanced App Performance
Automate HCI delivery with the best-in-class compute, storage, networking and management tools that you use in your data center to deliver operational simplicity and lower TCO.
Standardized Architecture
Optimize performance, resilience, and availability for your Kubernetes clusters with integrated container orchestration, powered by vSphere with Tanzu.
Maximized Scale and IT Efficiency
Manage workloads on premises or in the cloud by extending the same infrastructure, operations, tools, and processes everywhere.
Intrinsic Security
Ensure enterprise-level security with our full-stack HCI platform that consolidates traditional VM and modern container workloads.
Spotlight on VMware Cloud Foundation with Tanzu
Announcing Project Monterey: Redefining Hybrid Cloud Architecture
Learn how VMware Cloud Foundation evolves for next-generation applications with advanced enhancements in hardware, performance, manageability, and security.
Read the Blog5 Stages for Application and Cloud Modernization
Leverage this 5-step framework to accelerate your cloud operating journey with hybrid cloud.
Get the eBookDiscover VMware Cloud Foundation with Tanzu
Learn how to modernize data centers and deploy modern apps with VMware Cloud Foundation with Tanzu.
Read the Solution BriefAnnouncing the vSAN Data Persistence Platform
Discover a new framework for software technology partners to integrate with VMware infrastructure.
Learn MoreUse Cases for VMware Cloud Foundation
Private Cloud and Hybrid Cloud
Provision infrastructure from a pool of virtualized resources on premises, at the edge, or in the cloud. Automation and orchestration simplify management of VM or container-based workloads that can scale to meet the needs of your business.
Modern Apps
Develop and deploy modern apps on premises or in the cloud through VMware Cloud Foundation Services, a new, integrated Kubernetes and RESTful API surface.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
Gain automated deployment of Horizon 7 virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to standardize, automate, and simplify virtual desktops.
What are VMware Cloud Foundation Services?
VMware Cloud Foundation Services are a new Kubernetes and RESTful API surface that enables developers to get self-service access to Kubernetes clusters and all core services.
- The Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Service allows developers to consume consistent, compliant and conformant Kubernetes clusters. IT admins can manage the TKG clusters using namespaces in vCenter Server.
Manage consistent, compliant and conformant Kubernetes clusters.
- The Network Service allows developers to configure Virtual Routers, Load Balancers and Firewall Rules. IT admins can manage the network service using namespaces in vCenter Server.
Manage virtual routers, load balancers and firewall rules.
- The vSphere Pod service extends Kubernetes with the ability to run pods directly on the hypervisor. When developers deploy containers using the vSphere Pod service, they get the same level of security isolation, performance guarantees and management capabilities that VMs enjoy.
Run containers directly on the hypervisor for improved security, performance, and manageability.
- The Registry Service allows developers to store, manage and secure Docker and OCI images using Harbor.
Store, manage and secure Docker and OCI images.
- The Storage Service allows developers to access persistent disks for use with container, Kubernetes and virtual machines.
Access persistent disks for use with container, Kubernetes clusters and virtual machines.
Customer Success with VMware Cloud Foundation
Lumen
Lumen (formerly CenturyLink) deployed full-stack HCI as the foundation of its cloud strategy.
Watch the Video (3:21)
Rackspace
Rackspace updated their entire stack with VMware Cloud Foundation for better performance, time savings, and security.
"We’ve evolved to a single stack of compute, network, storage and security together within one interface and that’s powerful. That power now allows us to build infrastructure in hours, where before you were talking about weeks and months.”
- Steve Nolen, Lead Product Manager, CenturyLink
"Having a software-defined platform deployed by VMware Cloud Foundation really allows us to grow and scale faster.”
- Luke Huckaba, Principal Architect, Rackspace
Get Started
Learn how simple it is to install.
Test drive the capabilities.
Review release notes and documentation.
Request a free HCI assessment.
Compare
Choose the VMware Cloud Foundation edition that works best for you.
Starter |
Standard |
Advanced |
Enterprise |
Automate infrastructure deployment and provisioning; includes lifecycle management for VMware’s core hyperconverged stack for traditional VM workloads |
Adopt cloud management capabilities in an on-premises data center with integrated Tanzu Kubernetes container orchestration and VM management. |
Evolve the VMware-based cloud operating model with advanced cloud management tools and integrated Tanzu Kubernetes container orchestration and VM workload automation. |
Implement a full enterprise cloud operating model with advanced management, networking, and storage, optimized with integrated Tanzu Kubernetes container orchestration and VM workload automation. |
Compare VMware Cloud Foundation Editions
For the complete vSphere features, please refer to the vSphere Licensing White Paper.
For the complete NSX Data Center features, please refer to the NSX Datasheet.
For the complete vSAN features, please refer to vSAN Licensing Guide.
For the complete vRealize Network Insight features, please refer to the vRNI Datasheet.
For the complete vRealize Suite features, please refer to vRealize Suite PnP White Paper.
For the complete VMware Tanzu Edition features, please refer to VMware Tanzu comparison chart.
FAQ
Find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about VMware Cloud Foundation.
Which editions of VMware Cloud Foundation include the integrated Tanzu Kubernetes Grid and Tanzu Management?
The Standard, Advanced, and Enterprise editions of VMware Cloud Foundation include the integrated Tanzu Kubernetes Grid functionality . The VMware Cloud Foundation Starter edition includes standard VM workload management.
When will upgrades be supported from previous versions of VMware Cloud Foundation?
VMware Cloud Foundation with Tanzu is limited to greenfield VCF environments. Upgrades for existing VCF deployments are not supported at this time. Existing VMware Cloud Foundation 3.x instances can currently upgrade to 3.10, and in future releases will also support upgrades to 4.x.
How can I use VMware Cloud Foundation for hybrid cloud?
Select service providers from the VMware Cloud Provider Program (VCPP) offer cloud services powered by VMware Cloud Foundation, including CenturyLink, OVH, and Rackspace. VMware Cloud on AWS is an on-demand service operated, managed, and sold by VMware, powered by VMware Cloud Foundation. Additional solutions include Azure VMware Solutions by CloudSimple and Google Cloud VMware Solution.
RESOURCES
Learn & Evaluate
- VMware Cloud Foundation 3.X Data Sheet
- VMware Cloud Foundation 4 Datasheet
- Lowest TCO for Hybrid Cloud Infographic
- Modern Apps on VMware Cloud Foundation Solution Overview
- Professional Services for Multi-Cloud Solution Overview
- Professional Services for Cloud Migration Solution Overview
- Analyst Spotlight: Integrating Kubernetes with VMware Cloud Foundation
- 451 Research:The Economic Case for Hybrid Cloud
- Free Hands-on Lab
Partners – Private Cloud
- VMware Cloud Foundation on Dell EMC VxRail - Solution Overview
- HPE Reference Architecture for VMware Cloud Foundation on HPE Composable Rack
- Fujitsu Integrated System PRIMEFLEX for VMware Cloud Foundation – Datasheet
- Fujitsu Integrated System PRIMEFLEX for VMware Cloud Foundation – White Paper
- Fujitsu Integrated System PRIMEFLEX for VMware Cloud Foundation – Infographic
- Hitachi Unified Compute Platform RS - Datasheet
- Hitachi Unified Compute Platform RS – Checklist
- Intel Reference Architecture: Modernize the Data Center for Hybrid Cloud
- Solution Brief: Deploying Oracle RAC on Dell EMC VxRail
- Cloud Provider Program: Architectural for VMware Cloud Foundation