You're reading from VMware Cloud on AWS Blueprint

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Published inFeb 2024

PublisherPackt

ISBN-139781803238197

Edition1st Edition

Concepts

Cloud Computing

Authors (3):

Oleg Ulyanov

Michael Schwartzman

Harsha Sanku

View More author details

VMware Cloud on AWS Outposts

Organizations running on-premises vSphere workloads looking to modernize their workloads and migrate to the cloud use VMware Cloud on AWS to migrate applications into the cloud in a fast and seamless manner, without having to refactor or change any application code or logic.

While most vSphere workloads are a good fit for VMC on AWS, there are still specific workloads that need to stay on-premises or at the edge to ensure low latency, meet local data processing requirements, or maintain compliance with data sovereignty regulations. To address these requirements, VMware and Amazon Web Services (AWS) introduced VMC on AWS Outposts, which enables organizations to deploy a fully managed VMware Cloud on AWS service on-premises, enabling them to run their vSphere workloads locally while benefiting from the features of the VMC on AWS platform.

The following are the main topics that will be covered in this chapter:

VMware Cloud on AWS Outposts architecture...

What is VMware Cloud on AWS Outposts?

VMC on AWS Outposts is a jointly engineered and fully managed service that runs VMware’s enterprise-grade Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) software on next-generation dedicated Amazon Nitro-based EC2 bare-metal instances provisioned in an AWS Outposts instance that resides in a organization’s on-premises location. VMC on AWS Outposts provides a deeply integrated hybrid cloud environment that can access regional native services in the AWS Region. This enables organizations to seamlessly migrate their workloads to VMC on AWS without re-platforming their virtual machines. The following diagram shows an overview of VMC on AWS Outposts:

Figure 10.1 – VMC on AWS Outposts overview

Both VMC on AWS and VMC on AWS Outposts share the same infrastructure architecture and operational models, providing a unified hybrid experience. This enables organizations to accelerate their innovation by being able to...

How does VMC on AWS Outposts work?

VMC on AWS Outposts enables AWS to extend the boundaries of an AWS Availability Zone (AZ) to bring VMware’s SDDC stack from the AWS Region to the on-premises or edge location. Using cloud operating models, organizations can now leverage on-premises hardware to run vSphere workloads.

VMC on AWS Outposts runs VMware’s SDDC stack on the AWS Outposts infrastructure. It’s important to note that AWS Outposts can only be paired with a single AZ within an AWS Region that offers the VMC on AWS service. AWS Outposts is designed to work as an extension of an AZ and hence cannot work in disconnected mode without connectivity back to the AWS Region it is homed to.

The underlying hardware infrastructure that runs the SDDC is fully managed by AWS, while VMware is responsible for managing all SDDC constructs on the rack.

The logical deployment of an AWS Outposts service is depicted in Figure 10.2:

Figure 10...

AWS Outposts connectivity to AWS Region

VMC on AWS Outposts requires a persistent connection to a nearby AWS Region designated as the home region. A service link connection is set up between the Outposts rack and the home region for management and control plane traffic. The service link can also be used for data plane traffic between AWS Outposts and AWS Region workloads. Continuous service link connectivity with a minimum bandwidth of 500 Mbps (1 Gbps is recommended) is required, which can be established using either of the following options:

Public connectivity to the AWS Region:
- Via the internet on-premises
- Via the internet using an AWS Direct Connect Public Virtual Interface (VIF)
Private connectivity to the AWS Region:
- Using an AWS Direct Connect private VIF

Public connectivity

VMC on AWS Outposts public service link connectivity is established using an internet connection at the on-premises organization location. The AWS Outposts rack connects to service link...

VMC on AWS Outposts configuration

VMC on AWS Outposts streamlines IT operations by providing a fully managed solution. AWS takes care of delivering, installing, monitoring, patching, updating, and maintaining the Outposts hardware at the organization’s on-premises location. In addition, VMware ensures continuous LCM of VMware SDDC and provides direct first-party support. The following components are included with VMC on AWS Outposts:

Standard 42U rack hosting AWS Outposts components
Amazon Nitro-based EC2 bare-metal servers with local SSD storage
VMware SDDC software including vSphere, vSAN, NSX-T, and vCenter Server
VMware Hybrid Extension (HCX) Enterprise license
VMware global support

While VMware Cloud on AWS supports a variety of EC2 bare-metal instance types including i3.metal, i3en.metal, and I4i.metal, VMware Cloud on AWS Outposts supports only the i3en.metal instances.

Multi-rack network connectivity

A VMC on AWS Outposts multi-rack configuration can accommodate multiple racks, with a maximum capacity of four racks within a single Outposts logical unit. The classification of a logical Outposts unit may vary based on its size and scale, with different categorizations to suit various deployment scenarios.

In a VMC on AWS Outposts multi-rack environment, note the following:

The ONDs in each rack are redundantly interconnected with the ONDs in the other racks to provide highly available network connectivity between them. AWS is responsible for ensuring network availability within the Outposts infrastructure.
Both ONDs in each rack are also connected with a pair of CNDs.
A single service link is established for connectivity back to the AWS Region.

The following diagram shows the VMC on Outposts multi-rack architecture that spans four racks, offering greater capacity and scalability.

VMC on AWS Outposts support

VMC on AWS Outposts provides organizations with first-party support through VMware. Organizations can take advantage of the 24/5 in-service chat support available in English across all global Regions. Moreover, organizations can contact VMware’s enterprise support personnel. Regular updates, upgrades, and patching of the VMware SDDC software are performed by VMware, while AWS carries out software upgrades and patches on the hardware. AWS handles the monitoring of the AWS infrastructure, publishing Outposts health metrics, and notifying VMware proactively about units that require maintenance. VMware will inform organizations of scheduled maintenance. The modular design of AWS Outposts allows for hardware replacement, as necessary. In the case of physical maintenance, VMware will coordinate with organizations to schedule a visit to their site. The following process diagram illustrates the sequential stages of the support process, commencing with a organization...

Summary

This chapter covered VMC on AWS Outposts’s architecture, connectivity, and rack components, along with details of the underlying network connectivity for single-rack and multi-rack environments. It also covered both service link options: public and private. The chapter also covered scalability aspects and reviewed the available configuration options, as well as how VMware provides first-party support for VMC on AWS Outposts.

In the next chapter, we will learn how to right-size the infrastructure for VMC on AWS using VMware’s sizing tools and how to estimate and manage costs to run workloads on VMC on AWS.

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Authors (3)

Oleg Ulyanov

Oleg Ulyanov is a Staff Cloud Architect with more than 15 years of experience. He is a Subject Matter Expert in VMware Hybrid Cloud, cloud migration, networking, and storage. He has experience as a VMware professional services architect, helping customers achieve their technical and business goals through IT transformation and migrating to VMware Hybrid Clouds. He holds various industry certificates, including VMware VCP, VCAP6/7-DCV, SNIA, and Microsoft.
Read more about Oleg Ulyanov

Michael Schwartzman

Michael Schwartzman, a Senior Azure Application Innovation Specialist at Microsoft, has over a decade of experience in cloud infrastructure, cloud security, and hybrid cloud solutions. Prior to his current role, Michael served as a Lead Cloud Solution Architect specializing in VMware Cloud on AWS. He has played a pivotal role in assisting Global ISVs with the development and sale of SaaS solutions on Azure. Additionally, Michael's broad expertise encompasses support for both digital natives and traditional enterprises, optimization of their cloud systems. His dedication to remaining at the forefront of the rapidly evolving tech landscape establishes him as a go-to expert for businesses seeking to leverage cutting-edge cloud technology.
Read more about Michael Schwartzman

Harsha Sanku

Harsha Sanku is a Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services, specializing in AWS Hybrid Cloud and Edge Computing services. His expertise lies in Cloud Infrastructure including Networking & Security. He has been a VMware Cloud on AWS Specialist for the last four years. Harsha has a strong background in designing and implementing data center infrastructure and private clouds, with a particular focus on VMware technologies. In his current role at AWS, he collaborates with customers to migrate and modernize their hybrid cloud infrastructure, ensuring they remain competitive in the ever-evolving business and IT landscape.
Read more about Harsha Sanku

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