====== VMware vSphere ======

[[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:start|Go up to Terms and Definitions]]

===== Discussion =====

VMware vSphere is an enterprise virtualization platform for creating, running, and managing virtual machines and related workloads on pooled computing, storage, and networking resources.

VMware vSphere includes a virtualization layer provided by ESX or ESXi and centralized management capabilities provided by vCenter.

Within Crucible, VMware vSphere can serve as a [[dido:99_annexes:annex-b-terms-and-definitions:d:deployment_platform|Deployment Platform]] on which Crucible creates and manages virtualized Infrastructure Environments.

VMware vSphere provides platform-specific interfaces, resource models, configuration formats, image formats, and operational mechanisms. A Crucible Provider Implementation can isolate those platform-specific dependencies from provider-independent Crucible Descriptions and Infrastructure Baselines.

===== Definition =====

*enterprise virtualization platform for creating, running, and managing workloads on virtualized infrastructure resources*

===== Source =====

  * [[https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/vmware-cis/vcf/vcf-9-0-and-later/9-1/overview-of-vmware-cloud-foundation-9/what-is-vmware-cloud-foundation-and-vmware-vsphere-foundation/vsphere.html|Broadcom, vSphere Overview]]
  * [[https://www.vmware.com/products/cloud-infrastructure/vsphere|VMware, VMware vSphere]]

===== Note =====

**VMware** identifies a vendor and product family. **VMware vSphere** identifies the virtualization platform used as the Crucible Deployment Platform.

A VMware vSphere environment can operate in a Connected Environment, Disconnected Environment, or Air-Gapped Environment, depending on its network connectivity and operational controls.

===== Example =====

A Crucible Provider Implementation creates virtual machines, virtual networks, storage assignments, resource pools, and security configurations within a VMware vSphere environment.

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