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Monthly Archives: August 2012

vCAT Enablement

vCAT is a reference library of design considerations, decisions, and patterns. It includes examples and theory.

With vCAT we have taken a VCDX approach to provided justifications, impact, and success criteria. You will also find in this release an update to vCloud maximums to help with determining sizing.

To enable you we have activities at VMworld including:
– Theater Presentations (10 minute sessions at the VMware booth)
– vCAT Overview
– Architecting
– Operating
– Consuming
– Breakout Sessions
– vCAT card with details on the release and supporting breakout sessions
– Demo booth where we will
– show the contents,
– answer questions,
– demonstrate the Webworks and reverb interfaces
– online web based access
– global search across all nine documents
– translation capabilities
– PDF generation
– Related Hands On Labs that are covered in the vCAT Overview breakout session

We are also planning on VMware TV broadcasts to get you up to speed on how to use vCAT and the contents.

With the 700+ pages across nine documents, there is a lot of valuable information. With the search and translate capabilities we have extended accessibility. We have received requests to offer printed versions of this material and would like to know if you would be interested in this being offered through VMware Press.

We also look for your feedback to help us enable you and to continue to expand our audience.

Thank you
John Arrasjid, Principal Architect, VCDX-001

Feedback on the vCAT releases

The vCAT team is interested in hearing your feedback. We are here to further enable VMware vCloud planners, architects, implementors, admins, operators, and consumers.

How have you used vCAT?
How do you plan to use vCAT?
What would you like added?
Do you agree with the scope of technologies and level of coverage?
What technologies do you use in your cloud deployment(s)?
What technologies would you like to see added future releases?
Would you be interested in providing a quote in support of vCAT?
What are the challenges and successes you have encountered in cloud or VMware vCloud design, deployment, and operations?

These are some of the areas we would like to see you, our customers and partners, help us with as we further develop this tool to support you.

—-
John Arrasjid. Principal Architect, VCDX-001

VCAT scope

We have expanded the scope across the current 700+ pages to include the following sections:

Core Documents
– Introduction
– VMware vCloud Service Definitions
– Architecting a VMware vCloud
– Operating a VMware vCloud
– Consuming a VMware vCloud
– Implementation Examples

Add-ons and Tools
– Workflow Examples
– Software Tools
– Cloud Bursting

We have also taken a step to simplify access and use. You will continue to be able to download PDF versions of the document. We have also implemented Webworks and Reverb. These technologies allow all docs to be served up online with global search and translation. The translation technology is Google Translate. Although this is not full localization, it makes vCAT documents more accessible to our wide audience around the work.

The current release of vCAT 2.0.1 and the new vCAT 3.0 will be available at www.vmware.com/go/vCAT. Further details on when vCAT 3.0 will be available is overed in the upcoming press release on Monday.

Third party solutions that are integrated with VMware vCloud technologies and that are vCAT ready can be found on the VMware Solutions Exchange.

Thank you to internal and external contributors and reviewers of this release.
———–
John Arrasjid, Principal Architect. VCDX-001

vCloud Architecture Toolkit (vCAT) at VMworld 2012

Continuing on its emphasis on relevance, vCAT 3.0 is VMware’s newest vCloud Architectural Toolkit, enhanced with new material to enable architects, operators, and consumers of a VMware vCloud. You will see new designs, considerations and methodologies supporting today’s hottest technologies.

Learn how vCloud Architecture Toolkit 3.0 will benefit you and your company at VMworld 2012 San Francisco:

Visit the vCAT demo station within the VMware booth at Solutions Exchange on Sunday evening, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. See first-hand what 3.0 has to offer. Leave your contact information to be among the first to receive it once made available.

Talk one on one with vCAT authors at the Expert Bar also at Solutions Exchange on Sunday evening, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. View the release with Apple iBooks on iPads.

Theater presentations in the VMware booth at Solutions Exchange will start on Sunday at 5:30pm. Joe Sarabia and I will kick off a series on vCAT with an overview. Check the schedule each day for the additional presentations on architecting, operating and consuming a VMware vCloud.

Back by popular demand, the vCAT team will deliver three 60-min break-out sessions in the infrastructure and operations tracks.

OPS-CIM 1307 – vCAT 3.0 Overview. Includes details on what’s included in vCAT 3.0 and how to use it for planning, designing, building and operating a VMware vCloud.

INF-VSP 129 – vCAT 3.0, Architecture to Implementation in 5 Easy Steps. Demonstrates why you need vCAT 3.0 to assist in architecting and implementing your VMware vCloud via a five step methodology.

OPS-CIM 1309 – vCAT 3.0, Operating a vCloud. Illustrates the new approach for IT Operations to support and operate a VMware vCloud.

Please join the fun and cheer-on VMware’s vCAT team while we play in a “v0dgeball” charity tournament to support our veterans through the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).

John Arrasjid, Principal Architect, VCDX-001

vCAT 3.0 Availability

vCAT 3.0 Will be available for download September 10, 2012!!!!

We are planning a release at end of day California time.

This release continues to offer individual PDF and zipped PDF versions for download. We have now added a WebWorks and Reverb interface for online viewing with search and translate capabilities.

If you are interested in a print version as well, please comment. VMware Press is interested in doing this if there is demand for it. Our goal is the electronic version to be the primary source, but we also recognize from initial feedback that many would also like a printed hardcover reference copy. We will listen to your feedback and provide back to VMware Press.

Thank you
John