VMware Edge Compute Stack is a highly sophisticated product portfolio that enables organizations to build, run, manage, connect, and protect edge-native applications across multiple clouds at both the near and far edge locations.
Available in different sizes that correspond to your business needs, VMware Edge Compute Stack:
Supports edge-native apps built on VMs, containers, or web assembly that leverage multi-cloud services
Runs standard OS or real-time OS, empowering IT and OT to deliver intelligent real-time solutions
Deploys securely across all types of wired and wireless networks
At VMworld 2021, VMware introduced our edge platform, VMware Edge Compute Stack. We have come a long way since then, adding more features and functionality optimized for the different customer use cases across different verticals and needs of the enterprise edge.
“Edge computing is essential to driving positive business outcomes, and it is critical to have the right technologies. With VMware Edge Compute Stack integrated with many of our solutions, including Dell VxRail, businesses can easily deploy, scale and secure edge technologies to high latency, low bandwidth locations. Customers, such as those with manufacturing plants and retail stores, are better prepared to harness key insights and make timely data-driven decisions.”
Gil Shneorson, senior vice president, edge computing solutions, Dell Technologies
What’s new with VMware Edge Compute Stack 2.0?
Optimizing the edge stack: Tanzu Kubernetes Grid 2.0 supports smaller cluster sizes, 1 control node and 1 worker node to run containers more efficiently on smaller commercial off the shelf hardware. These enhancements to TKG 2.0 included in Edge Compute Stack bring simplicity and scale to the enterprise edge.
Extending AI/ML, computer vision, and inferencing edge-native applications to containers: In TKG 2.0 release, containerized edge-native applications for AI/ML use cases are enabled with GPU passthrough.
Increased density of real-time workloads: Virtual hyperthreading introduced in vSphere 8 enables more real-time workloads per CPU.
Enabling the device edge: At the edge there are many types of non-x86 IT/OT hardware that can be consolidated and streamlined. VMware will extend support for ARM, Atom, and Core (i3/i5/i7/i9) processor-based device edge hardware allowing you to simultaneously run IT and OT workloads and workflows on a single stack.
“Customers require superior performance, resiliency and security to run their edge-native applications in some of the most remote locations around the world. The collaboration between Lenovo ThinkEdge hardware and VMware Edge Compute Stack (ECS) software offers an efficient way to deploy edge computing from retail stores to manufacturing plants and everything in between. By integrating Lenovo xClarity hardware manager into VMware ECS, Lenovo customers can easily deploy and seamlessly manage the hardware and software from the edge to the cloud.”
Charles Ferland, VP & GM Edge Computing and Communication Service Providers
With all these capabilities, we still believe that this industry conversation about the edge has just started. It requires not just one vendor but a partner ecosystem to build a successful edge story for our customers.
Key partnerships at the edge
VMware has key partnerships across the broad edge ecosystem to deliver seamlessly integrated solutions. Its broad partner ecosystem spans public cloud providers, service providers, edge-native app developers, network services providers, system integrators, network equipment providers, near-edge hardware manufacturers, and far-edge hardware manufacturers.
For example, VMware Edge Compute Stack is compatible with Dell EMC PowerEdge and VxRail platforms. Dell EMC VxRail provides an efficient and agile IT infrastructure that enables automated operations capable of stretching from data centers to cloud and edge environments.
Similarly, VMware Edge Compute Stack runs on top of Lenovo’s ThinkSystem SE350 Edge Servers. The integrated solution, previously announced by Lenovo, is ideal for remote sites that need to be able to process data closer to its creation and closer to users, including retail stores, manufacturing sites, and schools, to name a few. By integrating Lenovo xClarity hardware manager into VMware ECS, customers can easily deploy and seamlessly manage the hardware and software from the edge to the cloud.
We see the edge to be as exciting for innovation and value creation in the next decade as the cloud was in the past decade.
