Brad Hedlund

Author Archives: Brad Hedlund

VMware NSX, Convergence, and Reforming Operational Visibility for the SDDC

Note: This article was originally written for and published at the VMware Network Virtualization Blog. The following is a verbatim re-post of the original content.


Through convergence, VMware NSX will substantially reform operational visibility for the era of the software-defined data center.

Executive Summary

Since the launch at VMworld 2013, much of the discussion about VMware NSX has been focused on its core properties of agile and fully automated network provisioning; the ability to create fully functional L2-L7 virtual networks in a software container with equivalent speed and mobility of virtual machines. And while these are very important capabilities of VMware NSX, we believe there is yet another and perhaps equally significant dimension to be discovered. That is, how network virtualization and VMware NSX, through convergence and instrumentation of virtual networks, virtual compute, and the physical network, will substantially reform operational visibility for the era of the software defined data center.

With convergence comes new visibility

Convergence of network and compute is made possible by a platform ideally positioned at the first point in the architecture where these different yet closely related services can reliably coexist. A less obvious yet significant consequence of this is that convergence inherently provides more Continue reading

Real world SDN: VMware NSX on Packet Pushers

If you like to listen to geeky networking podcasts on your way to the office, this is surely one not to miss. Scott Lowe and I appeared as guests on the Packet Pushers podcast, sponsored by VMware, and hosted by Ethan Banks and Greg Ferro to discuss the technical details of VMware NSX, and the […]

Seven reasons VMware NSX, Cisco UCS and Nexus are orders of magnitude more awesome together

Note: This article was originally written for and published at the VMware Network Virtualization Blog. The following is a verbatim re-post of the original content. “VMware NSX, Cisco UCS and Cisco Nexus, TOGETHER solve many of the most pressing issues at the intersection of networking and virtualization.” Executive Summary VMware NSX brings industry-leading network virtualization capabilities to […]

Video interview: Network Virtualization and VMware NSX

Video interview at VMworld 2013 on network virtualization, VMware NSX, and why it’s awesome: Summary New virtual network abstraction  Complete with switching, routing, security, load balancing, and more  Non disruptive, works on existing hardware  Deploy virtual networks like you deploy virtual machines  Realize the full potential of virtualization Cheers, Brad