Unexplored Territory

VMware Explore 2024 in Las Vegas is a wrap. The team was present and will give you the opportunity to get an idea what the show was like. You will hear large number of guests covering some of the announcements, some specific aspects of the conference (like the Hands-on Labs), but also some of the vendors on the expo. The episode contains the following topics:

• The future of VMUG with Brad Tompkins
• A hands-on labs tour with Brandon Bazan and Joshua Schnee
• Spring One and Spring AI with DaShaun Carter
• VCF and AI at VMware Explore with Stephen Wagner
• EUC and 10zig with Kevin Greenway
• Google Cloud with Simon Long
• Microsoft AVS with Rene van den Bedem
• OVH Cloud with Pascal Jailon
• Pure & Stretched vVols with Cody Hosterman

If you like to watch one of the sessions mentioned, check out William Lam's Github page:

https://github.com/lamw/vmware-explore-2024-session-urls/blob/master/vmware-explore-us.md

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

VMware Explore 2024 in Las Vegas is a wrap. The team was present and will give you the opportunity to get an idea what the show was like. You will hear large number of guests covering some of the announcements, some specific aspects of the conference (like the Hands-on Labs), but also some of the vendors on the expo. The episode contains the following topics:

• The future of VMUG with Brad Tompkins
• A hands-on labs tour with Brandon Bazan and Joshua Schnee
• Spring One and Spring AI with DaShaun Carter
• VCF and AI at VMware Explore with Stephen Wagner
• EUC and 10zig with Kevin Greenway
• Google Cloud with Simon Long
• Microsoft AVS with Rene van den Bedem
• OVH Cloud with Pascal Jailon
• Pure & Stretched vVols with Cody Hosterman

If you like to watch one of the sessions mentioned, check out William Lam's Github page:

https://github.com/lamw/vmware-explore-2024-session-urls/blob/master/vmware-explore-us.md

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

Arvind Jagannath, a platform product manager at Broadcom, discusses memory tiering and its benefits for customers with Duncan. He explains that enterprise applications are becoming more memory-bound and require better performance. Memory tiering helps address the CPU to memory imbalance that many customers face, allowing for better CPU utilization and reducing costs. Arvind also mentions the challenges of expanding memory and the need for a solution like memory tiering. He introduces Project Capitola, which has evolved into NVMe-based memory tiering, and discusses the benefits and recommendations for using NVMe devices. Arvind also touches on the integration of memory tiering with advanced vSphere features like DRS and HA, and hints at future developments with Project Peaberry and CXL. 

Takeaways

• Enterprise applications are becoming more memory-bound and require better performance.
• Memory tiering helps address the CPU to memory imbalance and improves CPU utilization.
• NVMe-based memory tiering provides additional memory capacity and reduces costs.
• Integration with advanced vSphere features like DRS and HA is being developed.
• Future developments include Project Peaberry and the use of CXL for intelligent devices.

Links

• Explore Session - Memory Tiering: Power Your Server Infrastructure With Memory Innovations [VCFB1198LV]
• Yellow-Bricks.com - Memory Tiering Blog
• SNIA Recording on Memory Tiering and CXL accelerators 

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

In this conversation, Katarina Brookfield discusses her career trajectory and her current role at Broadcom. She shares defining moments in her career, including her experience working on the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology project. The conversation then shifts to the newly announced vSphere IaaS control plane and its benefits. Katarina explains that the control plane provides a comprehensive solution for deploying workloads, including additional services like storage provisioning and load balancing. The conversation also covers the self-service nature of the control plane, the different interfaces for consumers and admins, and the integration of HashiCorp Packer for building and customizing VM images. The TKG service, which allows for the deployment of managed Kubernetes clusters, is also discussed, highlighting its ease of use and integration with vSphere. The conversation concludes with a discussion of the new features in the latest version of the TKG service, including cluster auto-scaling and the decoupling of TKG from vCenter.

Takeaways

• The vSphere IaaS control plane provides a comprehensive solution for deploying workloads, including additional services like storage provisioning and load balancing.
• The control plane offers a self-service experience for consumers, allowing them to easily deploy the services they need.
• Different interfaces, including APIs, CLI, and UI, cater to the preferences of different users, making it accessible to both admins and consumers.
• The integration of HashiCorp Packer allows for the building and customization of VM images, providing flexibility and automation.
• The TKG service simplifies the deployment of managed Kubernetes clusters, making it accessible to users with little Kubernetes experience.
• The latest version of the TKG service decouples it from vCenter, allowing for faster delivery of new Kubernetes versions.
• New features in the TKG service include cluster auto-scaling and the integration of HashiCorp Packer for building and customizing VM images.

Chapters

00:00 - Kat's Career Trajectory and the Role of Defining Moments

09:20 - The Comprehensive Solution of the vSphere IaaS Control Plane

11:02 - Enabling Self-Service and Catering to Different User Preferences

18:14 - Flexibility and Automation with HashiCorp Packer Integration

22:47 - Simplifying Kubernetes Deployment with the TKG Service

29:14 - Decoupling TKG from vCenter for Faster Delivery of Kubernetes Versions

38:36 - New Features in the Latest Version of the TKG Service

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

In this conversation, Katarina Brookfield discusses her career trajectory and her current role at Broadcom. She shares defining moments in her career, including her experience working on the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology project. The conversation then shifts to the newly announced vSphere IaaS control plane and its benefits. Katarina explains that the control plane provides a comprehensive solution for deploying workloads, including additional services like storage provisioning and load balancing. The conversation also covers the self-service nature of the control plane, the different interfaces for consumers and admins, and the integration of HashiCorp Packer for building and customizing VM images. The TKG service, which allows for the deployment of managed Kubernetes clusters, is also discussed, highlighting its ease of use and integration with vSphere. The conversation concludes with a discussion of the new features in the latest version of the TKG service, including cluster auto-scaling and the decoupling of TKG from vCenter.

Takeaways

• The vSphere IaaS control plane provides a comprehensive solution for deploying workloads, including additional services like storage provisioning and load balancing.
• The control plane offers a self-service experience for consumers, allowing them to easily deploy the services they need.
• Different interfaces, including APIs, CLI, and UI, cater to the preferences of different users, making it accessible to both admins and consumers.
• The integration of HashiCorp Packer allows for the building and customization of VM images, providing flexibility and automation.
• The TKG service simplifies the deployment of managed Kubernetes clusters, making it accessible to users with little Kubernetes experience.
• The latest version of the TKG service decouples it from vCenter, allowing for faster delivery of new Kubernetes versions.
• New features in the TKG service include cluster auto-scaling and the integration of HashiCorp Packer for building and customizing VM images.

Chapters

00:00 - Kat's Career Trajectory and the Role of Defining Moments

09:20 - The Comprehensive Solution of the vSphere IaaS Control Plane

11:02 - Enabling Self-Service and Catering to Different User Preferences

18:14 - Flexibility and Automation with HashiCorp Packer Integration

22:47 - Simplifying Kubernetes Deployment with the TKG Service

29:14 - Decoupling TKG from vCenter for Faster Delivery of Kubernetes Versions

38:36 - New Features in the Latest Version of the TKG Service

Links

Check Katarina's sessions at VMware Explore in Las Vegas here

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

In this conversation, Katarina Brookfield discusses her career trajectory and her current role at Broadcom. She shares defining moments in her career, including her experience working on the Black Sea Maritime Archaeology project. The conversation then shifts to the newly announced vSphere IaaS control plane and its benefits. Katarina explains that the control plane provides a comprehensive solution for deploying workloads, including additional services like storage provisioning and load balancing. The conversation also covers the self-service nature of the control plane, the different interfaces for consumers and admins, and the integration of HashiCorp Packer for building and customizing VM images. The TKG service, which allows for the deployment of managed Kubernetes clusters, is also discussed, highlighting its ease of use and integration with vSphere. The conversation concludes with a discussion of the new features in the latest version of the TKG service, including cluster auto-scaling and the decoupling of TKG from vCenter.

Takeaways

• The vSphere IaaS control plane provides a comprehensive solution for deploying workloads, including additional services like storage provisioning and load balancing.
• The control plane offers a self-service experience for consumers, allowing them to easily deploy the services they need.
• Different interfaces, including APIs, CLI, and UI, cater to the preferences of different users, making it accessible to both admins and consumers.
• The integration of HashiCorp Packer allows for the building and customization of VM images, providing flexibility and automation.
• The TKG service simplifies the deployment of managed Kubernetes clusters, making it accessible to users with little Kubernetes experience.
• The latest version of the TKG service decouples it from vCenter, allowing for faster delivery of new Kubernetes versions.
• New features in the TKG service include cluster auto-scaling and the integration of HashiCorp Packer for building and customizing VM images.

Chapters

00:00 - Kat's Career Trajectory and the Role of Defining Moments

09:20 - The Comprehensive Solution of the vSphere IaaS Control Plane

11:02 - Enabling Self-Service and Catering to Different User Preferences

18:14 - Flexibility and Automation with HashiCorp Packer Integration

22:47 - Simplifying Kubernetes Deployment with the TKG Service

29:14 - Decoupling TKG from vCenter for Faster Delivery of Kubernetes Versions

38:36 - New Features in the Latest Version of the TKG Service

Links

Check Katarina's sessions at VMware Explore in Las Vegas here

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

Summary:

Ala Dewberry introduces Project Marigold, a plugin that aims to make GPUs a first-class citizen on vSphere by providing visibility and observability of GPU metrics at the cluster and data center level. The plugin helps infrastructure administrators manage GPUs more strategically and enables data scientists and application developers to have a frictionless experience. Ala also discusses the use cases for private AI and encourages users to give feedback on the plugin.

Takeaways

• Defining moments in our careers can shape our trajectory and open up new opportunities for growth and learning.
• Project Marigold aims to make GPUs a first-class citizen on vSphere by providing visibility and observability of GPU metrics at the cluster and data center level.
• The plugin helps infrastructure administrators manage GPUs more strategically and enables data scientists and application developers to have a frictionless experience.
• Private AI allows organizations to leverage their data centers for AI workloads that require data privacy, security, and compliance.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

Summary:

Ala Dewberry introduces Project Marigold, a plugin that aims to make GPUs a first-class citizen on vSphere by providing visibility and observability of GPU metrics at the cluster and data center level. The plugin helps infrastructure administrators manage GPUs more strategically and enables data scientists and application developers to have a frictionless experience. Ala also discusses the use cases for private AI and encourages users to give feedback on the plugin.

Takeaways

• Defining moments in our careers can shape our trajectory and open up new opportunities for growth and learning.
• Project Marigold aims to make GPUs a first-class citizen on vSphere by providing visibility and observability of GPU metrics at the cluster and data center level.
• The plugin helps infrastructure administrators manage GPUs more strategically and enables data scientists and application developers to have a frictionless experience.
• Private AI allows organizations to leverage their data centers for AI workloads that require data privacy, security, and compliance.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

VMware recently released vSphere and vSAN 8.0 Update 3, and of course, we had to invite Feidhlim, Jason, and Pete back on the show to discuss what's new in these releases. There's awesome new functionality released and some great enhancements, so make sure to listen to the full episode.

Key Takeaways:

• vSphere 8.0 update 3 introduces the vSphere Live Patch Update Path, which allows for patching ESXi hosts without evacuating VMs or entering full maintenance mode.
• Improvements in GPU functionality include the ability to use two DPUs in an ESXi host for availability, better support for VGPUs with different profiles and memory sizes, and simplified activation of GPU mobility with DRS.
• The vSphere cluster service (VCLS) has been re-architected to reduce resource consumption and improve rollback mechanisms.
• The 8.0 update 3 introduces stretched VVols, which customers have been asking for, and support for stretched fault tolerance.
• There are enhancements in VVols, including unmapped support for NVMe over fabrics.
• The updates in NVMe over Fabrics provide faster data migration and cloning.
• NFS enhancements include VMK port binding and support for NFS version 4.1.
• vSAN 8.0 U3 introduces new features and enhancements in flexible topologies, agile data protection, and enhanced management.
• The support for stretch cluster arrangement in VCF allows customers to take full advantage of ESA and improve performance, storage efficiency, and resilience.
• The full support of vSAN Max as principal storage within a workload domain enables customers to maintain a centralized shared storage model while leveraging the capabilities of vSAN.
• vSAN data protection allows users to create snapshots based on groups of VMs, set snapshotting schedules, and easily recover VMs without them being part of the inventory.
• Enhancements in alerting capabilities for NVMe storage devices and proactive hardware management provide better visibility and intelligence about the health and wellbeing of storage devices.

Follow us on Twitter for updates and news about upcoming episodes: https://twitter.com/UnexploredPod.

Last but not least, make sure to hit that subscribe button, rate wherever possible, and share the episode with your friends and colleagues!

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

Summary

The conversation explores the features and benefits of the Tanzu Platform, which accelerates application delivery and simplifies the development process. The platform abstracts the complexities of Kubernetes, allowing developers to focus on writing code and creating business value. It offers four golden commands: build, bind, deploy, and scale, which streamline the development process. The platform also reduces administrative overhead for IT teams, with a developer-to-platform engineer ratio of up to 1,000 to 1. The Tanzu Platform is used in various industries, including automotive, finance, healthcare, and retail, to develop and run mission-critical applications.

Keywords

Tanzu Platform, application delivery, Kubernetes, developer experience, administrative overhead, use cases

Takeaways

• The Tanzu Platform accelerates application delivery and simplifies the development process.
• It abstracts the complexities of Kubernetes, allowing developers to focus on writing code.
• The platform reduces administrative overhead for IT teams, with a high developer-to-platform engineer ratio.
• The Tanzu Platform is used in various industries to develop and run mission-critical applications.

Sound Bites

• "The safest developer experience must also be the easiest."
• "You can repair very quickly and even in an automated way without any manual intervention or without even downtime."
• "Imagine doing this without golden paths. It's not practical to try and repave if you have hundreds of different ways of deploying your apps to production."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background

07:20
Overview of the Tanzu Platform

12:21
The Develop, Operate, Optimize Philosophy

28:00
Integration with the VCF Platform

37:27
Use Cases of the Tanzu Platform

50:04
Impact on AI Workloads

53:25
Closing Remarks

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

In this conversation, Duncan and Cormac Hogan discuss VMware's Data Services Manager (DSM) and its role in offering data services in a full-stack private cloud. They cover topics such as the use cases for DSM, the integration with Kubernetes, the support for different databases, the automation capabilities, and the licensing model. Cormac highlights the features of DSM, including lifecycle management, backups, scaling, monitoring, and advanced settings. He also mentions the upcoming release of new features and additional data services. 

Takeaways

• Data Services Manager (DSM) is a VMware product that offers data services in a full-stack private cloud.
• DSM integrates with Kubernetes and allows VI administrators to maintain control of vSphere resources while offering data services.
• DSM supports databases such as Postgres and MySQL, with support for other data services like AlloyDB in tech preview.
• DSM provides features such as lifecycle management, backups, scaling, monitoring, and advanced settings.
• DSM is included in VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) and support can be added through the Private AI Foundation add-on.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

In this conversation, Myles Gray discusses the AI workflow and its personas, the responsibilities of data scientists and developers in deploying AI models, the role of infrastructure administrators, and the challenges of deploying models at the edge. He also explains the concept of quantization and the importance of accuracy in models. Additionally, he talks about the pipeline for deploying models and the difference between unit testing and integration testing. Unit testing is used to test the functionality of a single module or function within an application. Integration testing involves testing the interaction between different components or applications. MLflow and other tools are used to store and manage ML models. Smaller models are emerging as a solution to the resource constraints of large models. Collaboration between different personas is important for ensuring security and governance in AI projects. Data governance policies are crucial for maintaining data quality and consistency.

Takeaways

• The AI workflow involves multiple personas, including data scientists, developers, and infrastructure administrators.
• Data scientists play a crucial role in developing AI models, while developers are responsible for deploying the models into production.
• Infrastructure administrators need to consider the virtualization layer and ensure efficient and easy consumption of infrastructure components.
• Deploying AI models at the edge requires quantization to reduce model size and considerations for form factor, scale, and connectivity.
• The pipeline for deploying models involves steps such as unit testing, scanning for vulnerabilities, building container images, and pushing to a registry.
• Unit testing focuses on testing individual components, while integration testing ensures the compatibility and functionality of the entire system. Unit testing is used to test the functionality of a single module or function within an application.
• Integration testing involves testing the interaction between different components or applications.
• MLflow and other tools are used to store and manage ML models.
• Smaller models are emerging as a solution to the resource constraints of large models.
• Collaboration between different personas is important for ensuring security and governance in AI projects.
• Data governance policies are crucial for maintaining data quality and consistency.

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding the AI Workflow and Personas
• 03:24 The Role of Data Scientists and Developers in Deploying AI Models
• 08:47 The Responsibilities of Infrastructure Administrators
• 15:25 Challenges of Deploying Models at the Edge
• 20:29 The Pipeline for Deploying AI Models
• 24:45 Unit Testing vs. Integration Testing
• 28:22 Managing ML Models with MLflow and Other Tools
• 32:17 The Emergence of Smaller Models
• 39:58 Collaboration for Security and Governance in AI Projects
• 46:32 The Importance of Data Governance

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

Summary
For this special edition of the podcast Duncan invited Michael Roy to discuss the latest VMware Workstation and VMware Fusion announcements. VMware Workstation and Fusion are desktop hypervisor products that allow users to run virtual machines on their PC or Mac. Starting today, Workstation and Fusion commercial licenses will only be available through annual subscriptions. The price for both products is now $199 per year. The free versions of Fusion Player and Workstation Player are being discontinued, but the Pro versions will be available for free for personal use. Support for personal use products will be community-based, while commercial users will have support included in their subscription. The focus of future innovation will be on the integration between vSphere and Workstation/Fusion, providing a local virtual sandbox for learning, development, and testing.

Takeaways

• VMware Workstation and Fusion are desktop hypervisor products for running virtual machines on PC and Mac.
• Commercial use of Workstation and Fusion is shifting from perpetual licenses to annual subscriptions.
• The free versions of Fusion Player and Workstation Player are being discontinued, but the Pro versions will be available for free for personal use.
• Support for personal use products will be community-based, while commercial users will have support included in their subscription.
• Future innovation will focus on integrating vSphere with Workstation and Fusion to provide a local virtual sandbox for learning, development, and testing.

Links

• Announcement Blog
• The Register article

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

• The CNCF aims to make cloud native technology ubiquitous by providing support and resources to cloud native projects.
• Using CNCF projects allows IT admins and platform engineers to build integrated and efficient platforms.
• Platform engineering and AI/ML workloads are future trends within the CNCF.
• Calculating the return on investment for platform engineering practices is important.
• William Rizzo is working on a project to simplify the calculation of return on investment for platform engineering practices.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

In episode 073 Duncan and Pete discuss various updates and changes related to vSAN, including ReadyNode configurations, licensing, vSAN Max, capacity reporting, and compression ratios. They highlight the improvements in compression ratios with vSAN ESA, which can result in significant space efficiency gains. They also discuss the use cases for vSAN Max and vSAN HCI, as well as the flexibility in making changes to ReadyNode configurations. Overall, they emphasize the ongoing development and exciting future of vSAN and VMware Cloud Foundation.

Takeaways

• vSAN ESA offers improved compression ratios, with an average of 1.5x and some customers achieving 1.7x or better.
• vSAN Max is a centralized shared storage solution for vSphere clusters, providing storage services to multiple vSphere clusters.
• Customers can choose between vSAN Max and vSAN HCI based on their needs, such as independent scaling of storage and compute, separate lifecycle management, extending the life of existing vSphere clusters, or specific application requirements.
• Changes in ReadyNode configurations for vSAN Max have reduced the minimum number of hosts required and lowered the hardware requirements, making it more accessible for smaller enterprises.
• Capacity reporting in vSAN has been improved with the introduction of L0FS overhead, providing more accurate information on capacity usage.
• vSAN ESA's improved compression ratios, combined with RAID 5 or RAID 6 erasure coding, can result in significant space efficiency gains compared to the original storage architecture.
• Ongoing development and updates are expected in vSAN and VMware Cloud Foundation, with exciting new capabilities on the horizon.

Links

• https://core.vmware.com/blog/smaller-vsan-esa-readynodes-accommodate-vmware-vsphere-foundations-trial-capacity-capability
• https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/8.0/rn/vsphere-esxi-80u2b-release-notes/index.html
• https://core.vmware.com/blog/improved-capacity-reporting-vmware-cloud-foundation-51-and-vsan-8-u2 
• https://core.vmware.com/blog/greater-flexibility-vsan-max-through-lower-hardware-and-cluster-requirements 

Follow us on X for updates and news about upcoming episodes: https://x.com/UnexploredPod.

Last but not least, make sure to hit that subscribe button and share the episode with your friends and colleagues!

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

Summary
Chris Gully discusses his current role in the new Broadcom organization and highlights of his career. He emphasizes the importance of staying relevant in the technology industry and the value of working with cool and smart people. The conversation then shifts to the topic of small language models (SLMs) and their role in the landscape of gen AI applications. Gully explains that SLMs offer a more progressive approach to working with large language models (LLMs) and enable more efficient and scalable deployments. The discussion also touches on the components of gen AI applications, the need for right-sizing models, and the challenges of scalability and efficiency. Gully highlights the importance of data and its role in driving business outcomes through AI. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the benefits and limitations of fine-tuning LLMs and the potential future of SLMs. The conversation explores the concept of SLMs (Small Language Models) and their role in AI development. It discusses the advantages of SLMs over LLMs (Large Language Models) regarding efficiency, optimization, and governance. The conversation also touches on the challenges of infrastructure management and resource allocation in AI deployments. It highlights the importance of right-sizing workloads, distributing workloads across data centers, and maximizing resource utilization. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the future trends in machine learning and AI, including advancements in math and the need for accessible and efficient technology.

Links

• VMware's Approach to Private AI
• Microsoft Phi-2 - The surprising power of small language models
• Mixtral
• Mixtral on HuggingFace

Takeaways
Staying relevant in the technology industry is crucial for career success.

• Small language models (SLMs) offer a more efficient and scalable approach to working with large language models (LLMs).
• Data is the most important and untapped asset for organizations, and leveraging it through AI can drive business outcomes.
• Scalability and efficiency are key challenges in deploying gen AI applications.
• Fine-tuning LLMs can enhance their precision and reduce the need for extensive training.
• The future of SLMs may involve dynamic training and efficient distribution to support evolving business needs. SLMs offer advantages in terms of efficiency, optimization, and governance compared to LLMs.
• Infrastructure management and resource allocation are crucial in AI deployments.
• Right-sizing workloads and maximizing resource utilization are key considerations.
• Future trends in machine learning and AI include advancements in math and the need for accessible and efficient technology.

Follow us on X for updates and news about upcoming episodes: https://x.com/UnexploredPod.

Last but not least, make sure to hit that subscribe button and share the episode with your friends and colleagues!

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

In this new episode of the Unexplored Territory Podcast, DaShaun Carter, a Spring Developer Advocate at VMware Tanzu and Broadcom, discusses his career highlights, his home lab setup, and his passion for Spring. He explains the concept of developer experience and how Spring and Tanzu contribute to it. DaShaun also highlights the innovations in Spring, such as AOT processing and native images, and their impact on use cases. He discusses the relationship between the open source aspect of Spring and the closed source solutions in the Tanzu portfolio. Finally, he explores the importance of developer experience in platform engineering. In this conversation, DaShaun and Johan discuss the importance of collaboration between developers and platform engineers, the value of Spring for platform engineers, the role of AI in developer experience and Spring, interesting topics for the VMware Explore conference, and where to learn more about Spring and open source.

Takeaways

• Spring and Tanzu provide an easy and efficient developer experience, allowing developers to focus on solving problems and delivering software.
• Innovations in Spring, such as AOT processing and native images, enable the deployment of enterprise-grade workloads on low-cost devices and at scale.
• The open source aspect of Spring allows flexibility and choice for customers, while the commercial solutions in the Tanzu portfolio provide additional support and 24/7 access to experts.
• Developer experience plays a crucial role in platform engineering, as it attracts developers to the platform and enables efficient onboarding and deployment processes. Collaboration between developers and platform engineers is crucial for successful software delivery.
• Platform teams should build relationships with developers and continuously iterate on meeting their needs.
• Spring provides enterprise-grade, production-ready tools and frameworks that make the life of platform engineers easier.
• AI is becoming increasingly important in the developer experience, and Spring AI provides an abstraction layer for consuming AI models.
• Interesting topics for the VMware Explorer conference include overcoming obstacles in software delivery, cost-saving solutions, and success stories.
• To learn more about Spring and open source, connect with DaShaun on X, YouTube, and LinkedIn, and check out the Spring Office Hours show.

Follow us on X for updates and news about upcoming episodes: https://x.com/UnexploredPod.

Last but not least, make sure to hit that subscribe button and share the episode with your friends and colleagues!

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

In episode 070, we spoke with Patryk Wolsza about vSAN performance. Patryk wrote some great whitepapers on the topic of vSAN OSA vs ESA, vSAN on AMD vs vSAN on Intel, and vSAN with RDMA and 100GbE. In this episode, we discuss the benefits of ESA, Intel CPUs, and RDMA/100GbE.

Some links to topics discussed:

• vSAN and RDMA/100GbE
• How Server Consolidation with VMware vSAN 8 Boosts Performance by more than 7.4x!
• VMware vSAN and 4th Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors Outpace AMD Genoa
• Boost Performance and Lower Latency with VMware vSAN 8 and 4th Gen Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors — Solution Design Brief
• System Health Inspector Tool

Follow us on X for updates and news about upcoming episodes: https://x.com/UnexploredPod.

Last but not least, make sure to hit that subscribe button and share the episode with your friends and colleagues!

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions shared in this podcast are our own/guest(s), and not necessarily those of Broadcom or VMware by Broadcom.

In episode 69, we spoke with Earl Ruby on running AI and ML workloads on CPUs. Earl is an R&D engineer at VMware by Broadcom focusing on AI/ML accelerators. He provides us with an overview of the do's and don't of successful deployments of AI-enabled applications on CPUs.

Some links to topics discussed:

• earlruby.org/
• AI without GPUs: Accessing Sapphire Rapids AMX instructions on vSphere
• Earl Ruby on Linkedin

Follow us on X for updates and news about upcoming episodes: https://x.com/UnexploredPod.

Last but not least, make sure to hit that subscribe button and share the episode with your friends and colleagues!

In episode 067, we invited Niels Hagoort back to the show to talk about the latest VMC on AWS announcements.

Topics we discussed:

• The new M7i instance, including its use cases and specs
• The Cloud Management Add-on for VMC on AWS and how Aria can add value
• The differences between the M7i instance and the other instance types, and the deployment considerations.

More about these announcements can be found here:
https://vmc.techzone.vmware.com/closer-look-m7i-instance-vmware-cloud-aws

Follow us on X for updates and news about upcoming episodes: https://x.com/UnexploredPod.

Last but not least, make sure to hit that subscribe button and share the episode with your friends and colleagues!