virtualizationvelocity - VMware Explore 2025

Real-World Lessons in Rightsizing AI Workloads with VMware Cloud Foundation

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 18:10:56 GMT

At VMware Explore 2025, I sat in on one of the most practical and eye-opening technical sessions of the week: Real-World Lessons in Rightsizing VMware Cloud Foundation for On-Premises AI Workloads (INVB1300LV), led by Frank Denneman (Chief Technologist AI, Broadcom) and Johan van Amersfoort (Chief Evangelist & AI Lead, ITQ).

This Technical 300-level breakout wasn’t about flashy demos or abstract strategy — it was about the nuts and bolts of running real AI workloads on VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) with NVIDIA GPUs, and how to right-size infrastructure to meet the growing demands of developers and enterprises alike.

Speakers and Session Context

Session: Real-World Lessons in Rightsizing VMware Cloud Foundation for On-Premises AI Workloads (INVB1300LV), presented by Frank Denneman (Broadcom) and Johan van Amersfoort (ITQ).

Developers vs. IT Admins: Two Worlds, One Reality

Frank and Johan started by illustrating a cultural tension that’s shaping AI adoption:

Modern Developers: trained to consume cloud-native services with the assumption that resources are unlimited and build times are measured in seconds.
IT Admins: responsible for CapEx-heavy private clouds, where resources feel finite, build times stretch longer, and every GPU allocation must be justified.

IT Admins view cloud through the lens of private infrastructure — finite, resource-heavy, and CapEx-driven.

Modern Developers expect infinite resources and cloud-speed build times measured in seconds.

Bridging this gap requires FinOps for AI and early conversations about sizing, scalability, and the impact of model choices on infrastructure.

The RAG Baseline: Why Most Enterprises Start Here

The presenters made it clear: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is the most common enterprise AI workload today.

Ingestion Pipeline: Data sources flow through a CPU-driven framework, enriched by GPU-based embedding models, and stored in vector databases.
Retrieval Pipeline: User prompts are transformed by embeddings, searched against the vector DB, and routed through LLMs and optional reranker models for precision.

RAG Ingestion: Data frameworks, embeddings, and vector DBs form the backbone of enterprise AI pipelines.

RAG Retrieval: User prompts flow through embeddings, LLMs, and reranker models for accuracy and precision.

The lesson: RAG spans CPUs and GPUs, and right-sizing requires a holistic view of both ingestion and retrieval stages.

Understanding Memory: Static vs. Dynamic

One of the most important takeaways was the distinction between static and dynamic memory consumption in AI models:

Static Memory: The baseline cost of loading model weights into GPU memory (e.g., a 70B parameter model at FP16 = ~140 GB).
Dynamic Memory: Scales with context window size, architecture, and key-value caches (KVCache). At scale, KVCache can dwarf static memory requirements.

Static load is only the beginning — dynamic memory usage (KVCache) grows with context size and can dwarf baseline requirements.

👉 For example: a LLaMA 70B model with a 32K context window can require up to 860 GB of dynamic memory — far beyond the static footprint.

This is why GPU sizing must account for peak usage, not just model parameters.

Scale Up or Scale Out?

The session provided a clear framework:

Scale Up (more GPUs per model):
- Complex workloads (e.g., Mixture of Experts).
- Long context windows.
- Latency-sensitive use cases.
- Requires NVLink or NVSwitch interconnects.
Scale Out (more model replicas):
- High user concurrency.
- Short to moderate context windows.
- Load-balanced architectures.
- Works without GPU interconnects.

A practical guide: scale up with more GPUs per model for complex workloads and long context windows; scale out with replicas for high concurrency.

GPUs and Interconnects Matter

Choosing the right GPU (and interconnect) can make or break performance:

L40S (48 GB PCIe): Great for small models, notebooks, and testing.
H100 SXM (80 GB): Standard in 4–8 GPU HGX servers with NVLink/NVSwitch.
H100 NVL (94 GB): PCIe with NVLink — standard for large LLM clusters.
H200 NVL (141 GB): Flagship 2025 option for long-context models.
AMD MI300X (192 GB OAM): Powerful, but not supported under VMware VCF/vGPU today.

GPU selection isn’t just about memory size — interconnect bandwidth determines efficiency at scale.

NVLink and NVSwitch interconnects dramatically increase bandwidth for scale-up LLM clusters.

Tooling: Model-to-GPU Sizing Toolkit

A highlight of the session was VMware’s GPU Sizing Toolkit, which connects to Hugging Face to pull model specs and calculate:

Static vs. dynamic memory requirements.
Tokens/sec throughput.
GPU recommendations based on context windows and session concurrency.

The GPU Memory Calculator provides quick insights into static and dynamic model requirements.

The Model-to-GPU Sizing Toolkit helps map Hugging Face models to real infrastructure decisions.

The roadmap includes support for gated models (Nemotron), advanced KVCache calculations, and coverage for more workflows like training, computer vision, and agentic AI.

Bridging the Gap & Key Takeaways

Bridging the cultural divide: sizing and scaling decisions require Dev experience + IT discipline.

RAG is where most enterprises start — and it requires balancing CPU and GPU workloads.
GPU sizing must account for both static and dynamic memory, especially KVCache growth.
Scale Up vs. Scale Out depends on workload type: complex long-context LLMs vs. high concurrency, short-context applications.
Interconnects are critical — NVLink and NVSwitch unlock scale-up efficiency.
Tools like the GPU Sizing Toolkit help translate model specs into real infrastructure decisions.
Bridging the Dev vs IT gap is as important as technical right-sizing. Developers want instant cloud-like experiences; IT leaders must balance budgets and capacity.

This session delivered exactly what the title promised: real-world lessons. If you’re architecting AI workloads on VMware Cloud Foundation, the message is clear: get sizing right, or you’ll pay for it in performance, cost, or both.

References:

GPU Memory Calculator

VMware Explore 2025 – Day 2 Recap

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 20:37:49 GMT

Private Cloud is Back — and It’s Better Than Ever

Day 2 of VMware Explore 2025 wasn’t just about product announcements; it was about VMware’s bold new vision for the private cloud. The message was clear: private cloud is no longer a compromise. It’s more secure, more cost-effective, and more controllable than public cloud alternatives.

At the heart of this vision is VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 (VCF 9), now delivered as a single SKU. That means no more piecing together separate licenses or tools — one package covers compute, networking, storage, and security. For IT leaders, it simplifies procurement and operations, while giving developers the modern, integrated environment they need.

Real Stories, Real Impact

Grinnell Mutual
For Grinnell Mutual’s small 17-person IT team in rural Iowa, VCF wasn’t just another upgrade — it was a lifeline. By replacing discrete storage with vSAN, they saved nearly $1M at renewal. More importantly, VCF unified their siloed teams and gave them the same platform power as global enterprises. “It’s not too big for us,” their IT director shared, “VCF scaled perfectly to our small but mighty team.”

Barclays
For Barclays, the story was about developer velocity. With VCF 9, their engineers can spin up cloud environments on demand, tearing them down just as quickly. This elasticity means they can now host AI workloads on-prem, with the same agility they’d expect from public cloud. “For the first time, our engineers will have a public cloud-like experience on private infrastructure,” said their CTO.

Walmart
Walmart confirmed it is standardizing on VCF globally, naming Broadcom its strategic virtualization partner. This isn’t just about consolidation — it’s about creating a consistent cloud operating model across thousands of distributed sites.

What’s New in VCF 9

To accelerate developers and AI adoption, VMware announced new features:

Native Kubernetes (fully CNCF-compliant) with lifecycle management.
Database-as-a-Service for Postgres, MySQL, and SQL Server.
Built-in GitOps with ArgoCD for CI/CD pipelines.
Istio service mesh + policy-as-code for governance and security.
Ubuntu integration with chisel containers — lightweight, hardened, GPU-ready images for AI workloads

These capabilities are what VMware means by AI-native: the ability to build, run, and secure AI workloads on-prem, keeping sensitive data and models under enterprise control.

Security and Compliance Without Slowing Down

Enterprises don’t just need speed — they need trust. VMware announced the Advanced Cyber Compliance SKU, powered by SaltStack:

Continuous compliance enforcement (detect and fix drift automatically).
Proactive analysis to spot risks before they spread.
Built-in ransomware recovery with clean snapshot hydration.

This makes VCF one of the few platforms that can balance developer agility with regulator-grade compliance.

Expanding the Ecosystem

Canonical partnership → Ubuntu as the enterprise container OS for VCF, complete with GPU drivers and long-term support.

AMD Instinct GPUs → extending VMware’s long CPU partnership into the AI GPU space.

NVIDIA partnership → continued deep integration for GPU + networking in AI-native data centers.

Key Takeaways

Day 2 delivered a clear message:

Private Cloud 2.0 is here — integrated, elastic, and AI-ready.
AI-native by design → from hardened containers to Private AI services.
Compliance at speed → no more trade-offs between agility and governance.
Proven in the real world → from Grinnell’s 17-person team to Barclays’ global AI push to Walmart’s massive retail footprint.

What do you think — is private cloud really back and better than ever?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

VMware Explore 2025 – Day 1 Recap

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 23:11:24 GMT

Good morning, Las Vegas — VMware Explore 2025 kicks off with energy against this iconic backdrop.

There’s something electric about waking up in Las Vegas knowing you’re about to join thousands of peers, partners, and innovators at VMware Explore.

Day 1 at VMware Explore 2025 started with a rush of excitement. From early badge pickup and bustling hallways to packed labs and a late-night hackathon, the event lived up to its reputation as the place where innovation meets community.

Morning: Kickoff and Keynotes
The day began early with registration check-in. The lines moved quickly, but not before offering the perfect opportunity to bump into familiar faces, reconnect with colleagues, and swap stories about what we were most excited to see.

Industry analysts, influencers, and practitioners checking in early to kick off Explore.

The Spring Spotlight session soon set the tone for the entire week. This wasn’t just another update — it was a clear statement that VMware, now under Broadcom, is laser-focused on making cloud productive, predictable, and private.

The vision: “Cloud as It Should Be — Productive. Predictable. Private.”

And of course, no Explore is complete without a little swag to start things off. This year’s backpack was not only functional but also a symbol of the journey we’re all on together.

This year’s backpack swag: bold, functional, and Explore-ready.

Midday: Breakouts, Labs, and The Hub
With the opening sessions behind us, the conference floor came alive. The Hub acted as the central heartbeat of Explore — guiding attendees to breakout rooms, sponsor booths, the expo floor, and, of course, the Hands-on Labs.

The Hub — central to everything at Explore.

The Hands-on Labs were buzzing from the moment they opened. Whether it was exploring VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0, testing out new security features, or walking through advanced vSphere operations, the labs gave attendees the chance to learn by doing.

Welcome to Hands-on Labs, powered by IBM — the heartbeat of VMware Explore.

The Top Labs board displayed just how much momentum the community was driving — from Cloud Foundation to Kubernetes operations.

Everywhere you looked, people were locked into lab modules, collaborating with VMware experts, or simply exploring new tools they could bring back to their organizations.

Rows of labs, guided sessions, and real-world VMware scenarios in action.

Afternoon: Partner Insights and Deep Dives
The Partner Keynote at 1:00 PM in Venetian Ballroom F spotlighted how VMware’s ecosystem is evolving. The message was clear: partners are central to driving customer transformation, and collaboration will be the engine that accelerates adoption of next-gen infrastructure and AI.

Sessions across the afternoon zeroed in on AI workloads — sizing them effectively, designing secure private AI architectures, and understanding how VMware Cloud Foundation is evolving to support AI-driven operations at scale.

Cloud, AI, and security-focused labs dominated interest on Day 1

Walking the expo floor was just as enlightening. With heavyweights like AWS, Intel, Dell, and Pure Storage showcasing their latest innovations, the conversations reinforced how AI and hybrid cloud are becoming the defining themes of this decade.

Directional signs made sure you didn’t miss a single opportunity on the expo floor.

Evening: Reception and Hackathon Energy
After a full day of learning, the Modern-Day Explorer Showcase and Welcome Reception at The Hub provided the perfect balance of networking and fun. This is where Explore shines — conversations that start with “What did you think of that session?” quickly evolve into real ideas, collaborations, and even partnerships.

And then came the Hackathon — part technical deep dive, part social gathering, part arcade night. Teams huddled over keyboards, solving challenges and prototyping creative solutions, while the surrounding games and activities kept the energy high.

This mix of work and play is what makes Explore so unique. The Hackathon isn’t just about the code — it’s about collaboration, imagination, and pushing technology in unexpected ways.

Key Takeaways from Day 1

VMware Explore isn’t just about announcements — it’s about doing. With so many labs, workshops, and technical sessions, the emphasis is clearly on applied learning and hands-on experiences.
AI is front and center. From accelerated workloads to designing private AI solutions, the influence of AI was woven through nearly every track and vendor conversation.
Community drives everything. Whether at The Hub, in the labs, or at the reception, the strength of this community continues to shine — open, collaborative, and ready to share knowledge.
On a personal note, I’m proud to be celebrating 13 years as a VMware vExpert. This recognition reflects not just individual contributions, but the power of a community that thrives on sharing, mentoring, and pushing each other forward.

Celebrating 13 years as a VMware vExpert at Explore 2025.

That’s a wrap for Day 1 at VMware Explore 2025. From keynotes to labs to late-night hacking, the first day proved that VMware and its ecosystem are charging full steam into the future of AI, cloud, and innovation. Can’t wait to see what Day 2 brings.

You Won’t Believe What VMware Just Did for GPU Virtualization at Explore 2025

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 18:38:03 GMT

At VMware Explore 2025, one of the most talked-about technical deep dives was Accelerating AI Workloads: Mastering vGPU Management in VMware Environments, led by Shawn Kelly, Principal Architect at Broadcom, and Justin Murray, Product Marketing Engineer at Broadcom.

A vGPU (virtual GPU) allows a single physical GPU to be split into multiple virtual instances so that different virtual machines or workloads can share its power. This makes it possible to maximize GPU usage, reduce costs, and run AI workloads more efficiently across enterprise environments. As organizations scale AI initiatives, mastering vGPU management is quickly becoming essential.

Model Store, AI Gateway, and Deployment Made Simple

Kelly and Murray began with a look at Model Store and AI Gateway, new services designed to simplify how enterprises deploy AI models.

Model Store acts as a local repository for managing and versioning AI models.
AI Gateway provides a streamlined deployment workflow, aligning with the OpenAI API specification so existing applications built for public APIs can be seamlessly redirected to on-premises GPUs.

This ensures that sensitive data stays secure while still giving developers the same agility they’ve come to expect from cloud providers.

Time Slice vs MIG: Two Paths to Smarter GPU Sharing

The session then explored how GPUs can be shared among workloads, highlighting two different approaches:

Time Slice vGPUs: A round-robin model that allocates 100% of the GPU to a VM for short bursts. This maximizes utilization and is great for workloads that spike intermittently.
MIG (Multi-Instance GPU): A hardware-based method of splitting GPUs into fully isolated slices. MIG ensures predictable performance and stronger isolation, making it ideal for multi-tenant scenarios.

Both methods have clear advantages: Time Slice drives efficiency, while MIG ensures consistency and security.

Scaling Beyond One GPU with NVLink & Device Groups

For large language models (LLMs) or compute-heavy training tasks, one GPU isn’t enough.

VMware showed how NVIDIA NVLink and HGX architectures expand scalability:

Run 70B+ parameter models across 8x H100/H200 GPUs.
Use device groups to split or pool GPU resources flexibly.
Scale to 56 vGPU slices per host when combining MIG with VMware’s virtualization stack.

This level of scalability is what makes VMware environments capable of powering enterprise-grade AI workloads.

GPU-Aware vMotion: A Game Changer in vSphere 9.0

One of the biggest breakthroughs announced was GPU-enabled vMotion in vSphere 9.0.
Historically, migrating GPU-backed VMs was difficult. VMware solved this by pre-copying static model weights (about 70% of GPU memory) while the VM stays live, and only transferring the dynamic cache during stun time.

The results are impressive:

3x faster vMotion stun times.
Seamless migration for even 70B parameter models across multiple GPUs.
Greater resiliency without locking workloads to a single host.

This is a huge win for AI operations teams looking to balance performance with flexibility.

Monitoring & Operational Visibility

To round out the session, VMware revealed new GPU monitoring dashboards that help admins ensure GPUs are being fully utilized and protected.

Key capabilities include:

Real-time GPU and memory usage insights.
Thermal and hardware health tracking to prevent failures.
Cluster-level visibility into which workloads are consuming GPUs.

For enterprises investing in high-value GPUs, this level of operational control ensures ROI and prevents idle resources.

Why This Matters

Accelerating AI Workloads: Mastering vGPU Management in VMware Environments demonstrated that VMware is extending its leadership in virtualization to the GPU era.

With Time Slice and MIG vGPUs, NVLink scaling, GPU-aware vMotion, and powerful monitoring, VMware vSphere 9.0 is now one of the most AI-ready platforms in the enterprise market.

At VMware Explore 2025, the message was loud and clear: the next frontier of virtualization isn’t just about CPUs, memory, or storage; it’s GPUs.

Top 5 VMware Explore 2025 Sessions (AI + Spring Edition)

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 01:13:34 GMT

VMware Explore 2025: Why This Year Feels Different

VMware Explore 2025 is more than just a tech event, it's where infrastructure meets innovation, and where architects and developers alike shape the next generation of cloud and AI-powered applications.

This year, I'm laser-focused on three tracks: Spring, Tanzu AI Solutions, and the VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA. These technologies are transforming how we build, scale, and secure intelligent enterprise platforms. Below, I’ve curated my top five must-attend sessions, all designed to help you turn big ideas into real-world, production-ready outcomes.

My Top 5 Session Picks for Explore 2025

1. Bootiful Spring AI [SPRB1964LV]
📅 Tuesday, Aug 26 | 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM PDT

Join this fast-paced, code-heavy session to explore how Spring AI enables portable, multi-model integration across inference engines. You’ll see how to build agentic systems, leverage Model Context Protocol (MCP), and modernize your enterprise AI app stack—all through Spring Boot. Perfect for developers and architects ready to go from prompt to production.

2. A Path to Production for AI Agents with VMware Tanzu Platform [MODB1510LV]
📅 Wednesday, Aug 27 | 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM PDT

AI agents aren’t just hype—they’re operational now. This session walks through everything needed to deploy your own AI agents using Tanzu Platform: LLMs, vector databases, agent registries, and Spring AI for orchestration. You’ll see a live demo of an AI agent interacting with the platform itself—proving it’s not just theory, it’s shipping code.

3. Building Secure Private AI Deep Dive [INVB1432LV]
📅 Wednesday, Aug 27 | 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM PDT

Security matters more than ever as enterprises move from pilot to production with GenAI. Learn how VMware vDefend and the Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA work together to provide deep segmentation, policy-based isolation, and runtime threat detection for AI workloads—all within your existing VCF environment.

4. Spring Into MCP [SPRB1965LV]
📅 Tuesday, Aug 26 | 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM PDT

This session is pure gold for Spring developers integrating AI. Get hands-on with the official Java SDK for Model Context Protocol, learn how to expose and consume MCP services, and build AI-enabled clients and servers inside Spring Boot apps. A true deep-dive on how AI becomes part of your software—not an afterthought.

5. Real-World Lessons in Rightsizing VMware Cloud Foundation for On-Premises AI Workloads [INVB1300LV]
📅 Wednesday, Aug 27 | 10:15 AM – 11:00 AM PDT

Frank Denneman and Johan van Amersfoort bring practical experience and tactical design knowledge to this session. Learn how to size VCF 9.0 environments for GPU-hungry workloads, how inference latency and concurrency affect infra design, and how to communicate AI sizing trade-offs with business leaders and ISVs. This is one of my most anticipated sessions.

Final Thoughts

If you’re attending VMware Explore 2025 and your focus is AI, cloud-native development, or infrastructure modernization, these five sessions will ground you in what’s next. The convergence of Spring, Tanzu, and Private AI isn't coming, it’s already here. These sessions offer the roadmap.

If you can’t make it in person, follow along on VirtualizationVelocity.com or on Twitter/X during the show, I’ll be blogging and sharing insights live from the Venetian show floor.

How to Get the Most Out of VMware Explore 2025: Insider Tips from a 13-Year Veteran

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:26:37 GMT

Whether it’s your first time attending or you’re a seasoned explorer, here’s how to navigate VMware Explore 2025 like a pro — from session strategy to networking goldmines.

Before You Go: Planning Like a Pro

Build a Smart Session Schedule (Not a Full One)
Don’t try to attend everything. Use the content catalog to filter by tracks that matter most to your business — AI, Automation, VCF upgrades, Tanzu, Security. Pick a few “can’t miss” sessions, then leave room for spontaneous discoveries and hallway chats. Prioritize:

Keynotes and roadmap previews
Hands-on labs
Anything tied to your current initiatives

Book the Right Accommodations
If you're staying on the Strip but not at the Venetian, factor in walking/shuttle time. Stay close if you want to maximize morning sessions or attend after-hours events.

What to Pack:

Power bank
Water bottle & snacks
Comfortable shoes
Business cards or QR code for LinkedIn
Extra bag for swag

Navigating Sessions: Less Is More

Go Deep, Not Wide
Focus on 1–2 themes that align with your organization’s 12-month goals. For me, that’s VCF 9.0 automation and Private AI. Your time is better spent going deep in a few areas than skimming too many.

Save Your Spot (or Have a Backup)
Popular sessions like INVB1432LV – Secure Private AI Workloads will fill up fast. Reserve your seat early or identify a lab session nearby.

Pro Tip: Don’t underestimate smaller breakout rooms — some of the best architectural insights come from 30-person deep dives.

Network Like It’s Your Job (Because It Kind Of Is)

Leverage the Community Energy
This is where VMUG, vExperts, and solution engineers all converge. Whether you’re meeting in the Community Hub or over coffee, this is where new ideas and partnerships are born.

Say hi to a speaker after a session
Visit the VMware and partner booths with specific questions
Attend an unofficial meetup (Twitter/X or LinkedIn will guide you)

Not Sure What to Say?
Start with: “What brought you to Explore this year?” It’s simple, and it works.

Certifications, Giveaways & Value

Use the Free VCF Exam Voucher
Full conference passes often include a free VMware certification exam. Schedule it early in the week while your brain’s still fresh.

Hit the Hands-on Labs
Explore VCF 9.0 automation, NSX security, or Tanzu AI workflows in a risk-free sandbox. This is where concepts become real.

Vendor Booths = Real-World Insight
Don’t just grab swag — ask booth staff for architecture diagrams, reference guides, or success stories. Some of the best whitepapers I’ve used came from casual vendor chats.

What to Bring Home to Your Boss

Build a Slide Deck While You Attend
Capture 1–2 slides per session with takeaways like:

“What did we learn?”
“What should we do differently?”
“Who should we follow up with?”

Final Words From a 13-Year Explorer

After 13 years of attending (since back when it was VMworld), I’ve learned that the magic isn’t just in the sessions — it’s in the in-between moments. Say hello to the person next to you. Ask the tough question during Q&A. Visit that Tanzu or NSX booth. Explore isn’t just a conference — it’s a catalyst.

Bonus:

What Is a VMware vExpert and How to Become One – A practical guide to joining the community that changed mine
vExpert: My 13-Year Career Game-Changer – How VMware's community shaped my career

VMware Explore 2025: The Private AI Secrets Nobody Else Is Telling You

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 03:48:55 GMT

AI is no longer theoretical. It's now a real architectural priority for enterprise IT. Over the past few years, AI has become a growing focus for me and many of the customers I support. From deploying on-prem LLMs to enforcing data privacy in regulated environments, the demand for secure, scalable AI infrastructure is only accelerating.

That’s why I’ll be on the ground at VMware Explore 2025 in Las Vegas, zeroing in on the sessions that don’t just talk about AI. They show you how to build it. Here are the three most important Private AI sessions from the Explore Content Catalog, and why they should be on your schedule if you care about turning strategy into infrastructure.

INVB1432LV – Building Secure Private AI Deep Dive

Why it matters:
This breakout session focuses on how to design and deploy a secure Private AI architecture using VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA and VMware vDefend. If you're responsible for protecting data while enabling GenAI inside your private cloud, this session offers critical guidance. It walks through policy-based controls, real-time threat detection, and secure model deployment frameworks that align with both infrastructure and security teams.

Highlights:

Building a Private AI environment with workload isolation, automated policy enforcement, and real-time segmentation using vDefend
Enhancing AI model security through distributed firewalling and data protection
Managing LLMs and inference workloads with Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA
Designed for IT practitioners, architects, and security teams supporting regulated workloads

Key takeaway:
This session provides a practical and scalable reference architecture for securely operationalizing GenAI in the enterprise. If you're building AI-ready infrastructure on VCF, this is essential.

INVB1158LV – Accelerating AI Workloads: Mastering vGPU Management in VMware Environments

Why it matters:
NVIDIA GPUs are the foundation of AI performance, but mismanaging them can lead to poor utilization and project delays. This session offers tactical guidance for optimizing virtualized GPU resources within VMware Cloud Foundation.

Highlights:

Real-world performance benchmarks using vGPU profiles, time-slicing, and Multi-Instance GPU (MIG)
Best practices for DRS-based GPU placement and minimizing stun-time during vMotion
Tools for monitoring GPU utilization, reservation planning, and advanced scheduling
Optimizing both small-scale AI projects and large-scale LLM inference infrastructure

Key takeaway:
Whether you’re experimenting with AI or scaling enterprise inference pipelines, this session gives you the knowledge to fully unlock your GPU investment inside the VMware ecosystem.

CODEQT1641LV – Tales from Production: Debugging LLMs and GenAI Apps on VMware Tanzu

Why it matters:
GenAI is everywhere, but running it in production is a different challenge. This technical quick talk shares real-world experiences operating GenAI applications at scale using VMware Tanzu Platform and VMware Cloud Foundation.

Highlights:

Operational tips on model selection, governance alignment, and platform fit
Lessons learned from using inference engines like Ollama and vLLM
Managing context window size, response time performance, and infrastructure bottlenecks
Strategies to confidently deploy intelligent apps across private infrastructure

Key takeaway:
This session is a rare behind-the-scenes look at the infrastructure and DevOps practices that make GenAI sustainable in production. It’s not theory, it’s battle-tested advice from the field.

Putting It All Together

Private AI is no longer aspirational, it’s actionable. VMware Explore 2025 is delivering the technical depth, real-world guidance, and enterprise tooling needed to securely scale AI from the data center to the edge.

These sessions INVB1432LV, INVB1158LV, and CODEQT1641LV, offer proven frameworks and insights that are immediately applicable for IT leaders, architects, and practitioners. Whether you're optimizing GPU usage, enforcing AI data policies, or debugging production LLM workloads, these sessions will elevate your AI infrastructure strategy.

I’ll be attending VMware Explore 2025 in person and will continue sharing insights right here on Virtualization Velocity. If you're attending too, let’s connect, I’d love to trade notes and hear how you’re building real-world Private AI.

For related information on these topics:

The Top 10 Sessions That Will Define VMware’s Future—#7 Is a Game-Changer

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:46:46 GMT

With over 400 sessions in the newly released VMware Explore 2025 catalog, it’s tempting to just scroll endlessly and hope for the best. But if you're serious about staying ahead in the VCF 9.0, Private AI, and automation era, this guide will save you time—and position you to lead.

"Miss these sessions and you’ll play catch-up all year."

Why These Sessions Matter

This year isn’t about incremental updates. It’s about a platform shift—and if you miss it, you’ll be playing catch-up for the next 12 months. Here’s what’s driving the change:

VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0 becomes the core operating model.
Private AI goes from hype to hands-on implementation.
Broadcom’s influence is streamlining portfolios, accelerating cost efficiency, and doubling down on infrastructure and app modernization.

Whether you're modernizing infrastructure, building AI platforms, or enabling developers with Tanzu and Spring, these sessions give you the blueprints, real-world case studies, and deployment tactics to drive real outcomes.

Top 10 Must-Attend Sessions at VMware Explore 2025

1. 10 Amazing Facts That Prove VCF Is the Right Single Platform for Kubernetes, Containers and VMs
Session ID: CLOB1209LV
Discover how VCF simplifies the chaos of mixed workloads by unifying Kubernetes, containers, and VMs under a single operating model—perfect for hybrid environments.

2. Building Secure Private AI Deep Dive
Session ID: INV1432LV
Ready to run AI in your data center? Learn how to secure and scale AI with NVIDIA and vDefend, including data segmentation, model protection, and automated policy enforcement.

3. Design and Architect: Best Practices for Deploying VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0
Session ID: CLOB1427LV
Get a detailed walkthrough of greenfield deployment using the new Unified Installer. Packed with tips on automation, architecture, and design for VCF 9.0.

4. Bootiful Spring AI
Session ID: SPRB1964LV
See how Spring AI and MCP help developers build intelligent, agentic apps with model portability and secure service orchestration—live demos included.

5. A Real-World Path to VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0: Customer Journey
Session ID: CLOB1217LV
No marketing fluff—just customer stories showing what it really takes to migrate to VCF 9.0. Get insights on planning, obstacles, and business impact.

6. Accelerating AI Workloads: Mastering vGPU Management in VMware Environments
Session ID: INVB1158LV
Learn the vGPU tuning secrets that squeeze every dollar from your NVIDIA investment—complete with benchmarks, vMotion tips, and DRS best practices.

7. Consuming the Private Cloud: Deep Dive into Blueprinting and Catalogs
⭐Session ID: CLOB1754LV
The Game-Changer: Learn how to build drag-and-drop blueprints, publish reusable catalogs, and offer self-service VMs and K8s clusters across your org.

8. Tales from Production: Debugging LLMs and GenAI Apps on VMware Tanzu Platform
Session ID: CODEQ1641LV
Behind-the-scenes stories of running LLMs in production. From inference engine tuning to observability to platform governance—you’ll walk away prepared.

9. From Virtualization to Modern Private Cloud – Learn How VCF 9.0 is the New vSphere
Session ID: CLOB1160LV
If you're still managing “vSphere + extras,” it’s time to reframe. Learn how VCF delivers agility, security, and control—without patchwork complexity.

10. Garage to Boardroom: Scaling AI Innovation from Homelab to Enterprise Success
Session ID: CODEQ1700LV
An inspiring journey from scrappy AI experimentation to full-scale enterprise deployments—with tooling, pipelines, and productivity tips you can reuse.

What to Do Next

Explore the full catalog → VMware Explore 2025 Content Catalog
Favorite these sessions now to save your spot—scheduling opens July 15
Register if you haven’t → Explore 2025 Registration Page

VMware is no longer just about virtualization. Explore 2025 is your launchpad into a new era—built on VCF 9.0, Private AI with NVIDIA, and automation with Tanzu and Spring. These 10 sessions represent the strategies that matter most, and attending them could define your success in the year ahead.

Heading to Las Vegas? Consider this your unofficial roadmap to the future of cloud infrastructure.

Author

Brandon Seymour is an Enterprise Architect at CDW, specializing in private cloud strategy, AI infrastructure, and VMware modernization. A long-time VMware Explore (formerly VMworld) attendee and VMware User Group (VMUG) leader, Brandon brings over a decade of hands-on experience helping enterprise clients navigate digital transformation—from virtualization to AI-enabled platforms. Through his blog VirtualizationVelocity.com, he shares real-world insights on VMware Cloud Foundation, Tanzu, NVIDIA AI, and the tools shaping the future of enterprise IT.

Why VMware Explore 2025 Is a Must-Attend Event for IT Pros — And Why I Keep Coming Back

Wed, 28 May 2025 16:03:08 GMT

If you work in virtualization, cloud infrastructure, or enterprise IT, chances are you’ve heard of VMware Explore — formerly known as VMworld. I've been attending since 2014, and every year I walk away with not just technical insights, but inspiration, certifications, connections, and new career momentum.

This year, VMware Explore 2025 will take place August 25–28 at The Venetian Convention and Expo Center in Las Vegas, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most impactful events yet.

What to Expect at VMware Explore 2025

VMware Explore 2025 is not just another tech conference. It’s where you go to immerse yourself in the future of:

Private Cloud and Hybrid Infrastructure
AI & ML integrations with VMware and partner ecosystems
Modern Applications & DevOps
Networking & Security (with NSX and HCX deep dives)
Load Balancing and Edge Technologies

Attendees can access:

Hands-on Labs for real-world, interactive learning
Certifications – including a complimentary VCF certification exam with Full Event Pass
Keynotes from VMware, Broadcom, and industry leaders
Breakout Sessions across dozens of verticals and technical levels
The Hub – a one-stop community space with vendors, VMUG, vExperts, and live demos
The Party – where fun meets networking after dark

Pricing Breakdown

Pass Type	Early-Bird Price (Until June 16)	Regular Price	Inclusions
Full Event Pass	$1,795	$1,995	All sessions, hands-on labs, VMware Cloud Foundation exam voucher, The Hub, The Party, collector’s backpack
Essentials Pass	N/A	$1,195	General session, select breakout sessions (onsite queue), The Hub, Meeting Center
Meetings+ Pass	N/A	$695	Access to The Hub and Meeting Center only (optional add-on: The Party)

Pro tip: If you register before June 16, 2025, you’ll save $200 on the Full Event Pass.

Why I’ve Attended Every Year Since 2014

Back when it was called VMworld, I went to my first event in 2014. Since then, the tech has evolved, the venue has changed, but the value has only grown. Here’s why I keep coming back:

Access to Roadmaps & Product Strategy: Direct from VMware PMs and engineers
Certifications that matter: I’ve earned credentials that helped me advance
Networking with peers and vendors: Nothing beats in-person conversations
Getting ahead of the curve: I’ve returned from these events with ideas that translated into real ROI for my team

And if you’re attending on behalf of your company? There’s even a Justify Your Trip Template to help.

New for 2025: Explore on Tour

If Las Vegas isn’t an option, VMware is expanding its reach with “Explore on Tour” events in London, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, Mumbai, and Frankfurt later this fall. These regional events distill the best of the Vegas experience into one or two days closer to home.

Final Thoughts

If you're serious about IT infrastructure, cloud transformation, or future-proofing your career — VMware Explore 2025 is the place to be. I’ll be there, as I have for over a decade, and I encourage you to join me and thousands of others who are shaping what’s next.

Save the Date: VMware Explore 2025 Is Headed to Las Vegas!

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:11:13 GMT

Mark your calendars! VMware Explore 2025 is coming to Las Vegas from August 25–28, 2025, and it’s shaping up to be the can't-miss tech event of the year.

Join thousands of technologists, architects, cloud builders, developers, and IT leaders from around the globe at The Venetian Convention and Expo Center for four unforgettable days of innovation, education, and networking.

Why Attend?

Whether you're modernizing infrastructure, exploring cloud-native applications, automating network operations, or leading your organization’s digital transformation—VMware Explore is where it all connects.

Explore 2025 content will span four core tracks:

Cloud Infrastructure
Networking, Security & Load Balancing
Modern Applications
Innovation

Want to Speak at Explore?

The Call for Proposals (CFP) opens March 18 and runs through April 25 at 5:00 PM PT. This is your opportunity to share your expertise with a global audience.

Whether it’s a technical deep dive, a customer case study, or an innovation showcase—your voice matters.

Learn more and prepare to submit: vmware.com/explore

Stay Connected

Follow VMware Explore on social to get the latest news, speaker reveals, and behind-the-scenes content:

Save the Date

Subscribe to updates, become an insider, and start planning your Explore experience today. We’ll see you under the bright lights of Las Vegas in August 2025!

Save the Registration Date

virtualizationvelocity - VMware Explore 2025

Real-World Lessons in Rightsizing AI Workloads with VMware Cloud Foundation

Speakers and Session Context

Developers vs. IT Admins: Two Worlds, One Reality

The RAG Baseline: Why Most Enterprises Start Here

Understanding Memory: Static vs. Dynamic

Scale Up or Scale Out?

GPUs and Interconnects Matter

Tooling: Model-to-GPU Sizing Toolkit

Bridging the Gap & Key Takeaways

References:GPU Memory Calculator

VMware Explore 2025 – Day 2 Recap

Private Cloud is Back — and It’s Better Than Ever

Real Stories, Real Impact

What’s New in VCF 9

Security and Compliance Without Slowing Down

Expanding the Ecosystem

Key Takeaways

VMware Explore 2025 – Day 1 Recap

You Won’t Believe What VMware Just Did for GPU Virtualization at Explore 2025

Model Store, AI Gateway, and Deployment Made Simple

Time Slice vs MIG: Two Paths to Smarter GPU Sharing

Scaling Beyond One GPU with NVLink & Device Groups

GPU-Aware vMotion: A Game Changer in vSphere 9.0

Monitoring & Operational Visibility

Why This Matters

Top 5 VMware Explore 2025 Sessions (AI + Spring Edition)

VMware Explore 2025: Why This Year Feels Different

My Top 5 Session Picks for Explore 2025

Final Thoughts

How to Get the Most Out of VMware Explore 2025: Insider Tips from a 13-Year Veteran

Before You Go: Planning Like a Pro

Navigating Sessions: Less Is More

Network Like It’s Your Job (Because It Kind Of Is)

Certifications, Giveaways & Value

What to Bring Home to Your Boss

Final Words From a 13-Year Explorer

Bonus:

VMware Explore 2025: The Private AI Secrets Nobody Else Is Telling You

INVB1432LV – Building Secure Private AI Deep Dive​

INVB1158LV – Accelerating AI Workloads: Mastering vGPU Management in VMware Environments

CODEQT1641LV – Tales from Production: Debugging LLMs and GenAI Apps on VMware Tanzu

Putting It All Together

For related information on these topics:

The Top 10 Sessions That Will Define VMware’s Future—#7 Is a Game-Changer

Why These Sessions Matter

Top 10 Must-Attend Sessions at VMware Explore 2025

What to Do Next

Author

Why VMware Explore 2025 Is a Must-Attend Event for IT Pros — And Why I Keep Coming Back

​What to Expect at VMware Explore 2025

Pricing Breakdown

Why I’ve Attended Every Year Since 2014

New for 2025: Explore on Tour

Final Thoughts

Save the Date: VMware Explore 2025 Is Headed to Las Vegas!

Why Attend?

Explore 2025 content will span four core tracks:

Want to Speak at Explore?

Stay Connected

Save the Date

References:

GPU Memory Calculator

INVB1432LV – Building Secure Private AI Deep Dive

What to Expect at VMware Explore 2025