EDITIONS
VMware vSphere can be purchased in the following editions:

 

VMware vSphere Enterprise Plus includes the full range of vSphere features for transforming data centres into dramatically simplified cloud computing environments providing the next generation of flexible, reliable IT services.

VMware vSphere Enterprise provides key features for minimising downtime, protecting data and automating resource management.

VMware vSphere Advanced provides a strategic consolidation solution that protects all applications against planned and unplanned downtime to provide superior application availability.

VMware vSphere Standard provides an entry level solution for basic consolidation of applications to slash hardware costs while accelerating application deployment.

VMware vSphere Essentials Plus provides an all-in-one solution for small offices to virtualise three physical servers, reducing hardware costs while ensuring superior high application availability and data protection.

VMware vSphere Essentials provides an all-in-one solution for small offices to virtualise three physical servers for consolidating and managing applications to reduce hardware and operating costs with a low upfront investment.

Building Cloud Infrastructures

With the arrival of vSphere 4, VMware has launched the industry's first cloud operating system

VMware vSphere leverages the power of virtualisation to transform data centres into dramatically simplified cloud computing infrastructures and enables IT organisations to deliver the next generation of flexible and reliable IT services, using internal and external resources, securely and with low risk.

Building on the proven power of the VMware Infrastructure platform, used by more than 130,000 customers, VMware vSphere dramatically reduces capital and operating costs, and increases control over delivery of IT services while preserving the flexibility to choose between any type of OS, application and hardware, hosted in-house or using external resources.

With VMware vSphere providing the foundation for internal and external clouds, using federation and standards to bridge internal and external cloud infrastructures, organisations of all sizes can achieve the full benefits of cloud computing.

KEY BENEFITS
VMware vSphere abstracts applications and information from the complexity of underlying infrastructure, creating internal cloud infrastructure so IT can focus on the support and enablement of business value. Benefits of VMware vSphere include:

• Reduced costs and maximum IT efficiency - VMware vSphere helps organisations deliver IT services more efficiently by eliminating unnecessary investments and reducing the cost and complexity of managing and maintaining IT infrastructure
  
  
• Increased IT control through service level automation - VMware vSphere 4 automates the delivery of service-level agreements (SLAs) covering availability, security and scalability - shifting the paradigm of data centre management from infrastructure to service delivery
  
  
• Empowered IT departments with choice - VMware vSphere futureproofs IT environments while delivering business services on demand, with the freedom to choose the right industry standard hardware, application architecture, operating system, in-house or external infrastructure for changing business requirements
  
  

HOW IS VMWARE vSPHERE USED?
VMware vSphere is used to:

• Consolidate and continuously optimise server, storage and network hardware - VMware vSphere eliminates server sprawl by running applications inside virtual machines on fewer servers and with more efficient use of storage and network resources
  
  
• Improve business continuity through simple, cost effective high availability and disaster recovery - VMware vSphere helps create a secure, unbreakable infrastructure that keeps organisations running despite hardware failures or even entire data centre outages
  
  
• Streamline IT operations - the VMware vSphere platform simplifies operational management of test, development and production environments, across many locations, remote and branch offices and including all types of applications and operating systems.

WHAT ARE THE KEY COMPONENTS?
VMware vSphere comprises the following groups of components:

Infrastructure Services
This set of components comprehensively virtualises server, storage and network resources, aggregating them and allocating them precisely on demand to applications based on business priority.

Application Services
This set of components provides built-in service level controls to all applications running on VMware vSphere, regardless of application type or operating system.

Administration of infrastructure and application services, automation of day-to-day operational tasks with deep visibility into every aspect of large and small VMware vSphere environments is provided by VMware vCenter *

* VMware vCenter Server is an essential requirement for management of VMware vSphere environments and is purchased separately.

FIND OUT MORE
For further information and pricing, contact your Phoenix Account Manager on 0845 265 1265 or email info@phoenixs.co.uk