GCP VMware Engine in Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a fully managed service that enables running VMware workloads natively on the cloud. In this overview, we’ll cover the definition, how to use, commands (if applicable), use cases, examples, costs, and pros and cons of Cloud VMware Engine in GCP.
Definition:
GCP VMware Engine is a managed service that allows organizations to migrate or extend their on-premises VMware workloads to GCP seamlessly. It provides dedicated, scalable, and secure VMware private clouds, enabling businesses to leverage the benefits of the cloud while maintaining their existing VMware-based infrastructure and tools. Cloud VMware Engine is built on VMware Cloud Foundation, which includes vSphere, vCenter, vSAN, and NSX-T.
How to use:
1. Set up a Cloud VMware Engine private cloud: Create a new private cloud by selecting a region and specifying the number of nodes (minimum of 3 nodes) and the network settings.
2. Connect to the VMware vCenter: Once the private cloud is deployed, you can access the VMware vCenter management console through the GCP Console or a VPN connection.
3. Migrate workloads: Leverage VMware HCX (Hybrid Cloud Extension) to migrate your on-premises VMware workloads to the Cloud VMware Engine private cloud. You can perform live or bulk migrations, depending on your requirements.
4. Manage workloads: Use the familiar VMware vCenter interface to manage your workloads, create virtual machines, configure networks, and set up storage, just as you would in your on-premises VMware environment.
Commands:
Cloud VMware Engine does not have specific command-line tool support, as it is primarily designed for use through the VMware vCenter management console. However, you can manage Cloud VMware Engine private clouds using the `gcloud` command-line tool:
– To create a private cloud: `gcloud beta vmware privateclouds create PRIVATE_CLOUD_NAME –region REGION –node-type NODE_TYPE –node-count NODE_COUNT`
– To list private clouds: `gcloud beta vmware privateclouds list –region REGION`
– To delete a private cloud: `gcloud beta vmware privateclouds delete PRIVATE_CLOUD_NAME –region REGION`
Use cases:
– Migrating on-premises VMware workloads to the cloud with minimal disruption
– Extending on-premises VMware environments with additional capacity in the cloud
– Disaster recovery and high availability for VMware-based applications
– Hybrid cloud deployments that require a consistent infrastructure across on-premises and cloud environments
Examples:
1. A financial institution with a large on-premises VMware environment can use Cloud VMware Engine to migrate some of its workloads to the cloud, reducing its data center footprint and taking advantage of GCP’s scalability and cost benefits.
2. A retail company with seasonal workload fluctuations can use Cloud VMware Engine to extend its on-premises VMware infrastructure into GCP during peak periods, providing additional capacity when needed without investing in permanent hardware.
Costs:
Cloud VMware Engine pricing is based on the number of nodes in the private cloud, node types, and the duration of usage. There are also additional charges for network traffic, VPN connectivity, and VMware HCX licenses. Detailed pricing information can be found on the Cloud VMware Engine pricing page.
