VMware Doesn’t Make Many Mistakes, but It Is with Respect to Physical Networking

Mike Fratto

Summary Bullets:

• VMware dismisses physical networking as a mere forwarding plane, ignoring the benefits of integration.
• If that observation is inaccurate, then VMware needs to address its messaging on the importance of physical networking.

Fresh off VMworld 2014, I came away with the very distinct impression that the company – not any specific individuals – is quite dismissive of physical networking, to the point where it is detrimental to its own success. While I continue to be impressed at how well the company develops new products, maintains a practical engineering focus, and seems to handle partner co-opetition with aplomb, it is also making a rather big mistake with ignoring the importance of integration with the physical network.

VMware’s NSX Is an Opportunity to Innovate, Not a Declaration of War

Mike Fratto

Summary Bullets:

• VMware’s NSX is not a declaration of war on any networking vendor.  It is much more cooperative than competitive.
• Network vendors need to add value on top of NSX to remain relevant.  Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities to add value.

VMware’s NSX is a network virtualization platform that provides a number of benefits for interconnecting virtual machines to other virtual or physical resources.  The virtual network is independent from the underlying network; the virtual network is programmable and responds quickly to VM changes; and new physical or virtual services can be inserted or removed easily for scaling in/out or adding new services.  NSX is a technology that enables new capabilities and it is not a declaration of war as some commenters have excitedly said.  Network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) still have plenty of room to innovate and provide value outside of virtual networking.