VMware

VMware, Inc. is a software company that provides cloud computing and virtualization software and services. Founded in 1998, VMware is a subsidiary of Dell Technologies. The company is known for its hypervisor technology, which allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical server as virtual machines.

History

VMware was founded in 1998 by Diane Greene, Mendel Rosenblum, Scott Devine, Edward Wang, and Edouard Bugnion. The company released its first product, VMware Workstation, in 1999. In 2001, VMware introduced VMware ESX, a server virtualization product that became the foundation for its data center solutions.

In 2004, VMware was acquired by EMC Corporation, which later became part of Dell Technologies in 2016. VMware has continued to expand its product offerings and has become a leader in the cloud computing and virtualization markets.

Products and Services

VMware offers a wide range of products and services, including:

• VMware vSphere: A suite of server virtualization products that includes the ESXi hypervisor and vCenter Server for managing virtual environments.
• VMware NSX: A network virtualization and security platform.
• VMware vSAN: A software-defined storage solution that integrates with vSphere.
• VMware Horizon: A desktop and application virtualization solution.
• VMware Cloud on AWS: A hybrid cloud service that allows customers to run VMware workloads on Amazon Web Services infrastructure.

Technology

VMware's core technology is its hypervisor, which allows multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server. The hypervisor abstracts the underlying hardware, enabling each virtual machine to operate independently with its own operating system and applications.

VMware also offers software-defined data center (SDDC) solutions, which extend virtualization to networking, storage, and management. This approach allows for greater flexibility, scalability, and efficiency in data center operations.

Partnerships and Acquisitions

VMware has formed strategic partnerships with major technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, and IBM. These partnerships have enabled VMware to integrate its products with other leading cloud and virtualization platforms.

Over the years, VMware has also acquired several companies to enhance its product portfolio. Notable acquisitions include Nicira (network virtualization), AirWatch (enterprise mobility management), and Pivotal Software (cloud-native platform).

Community and Ecosystem

VMware has a large and active community of users, developers, and partners. The company hosts an annual conference, VMworld, which brings together industry experts to share knowledge and discuss the latest trends in virtualization and cloud computing.

The VMware Technology Network (VMTN) is an online community where users can find resources, participate in forums, and collaborate on projects. VMware also offers certification programs for IT professionals to validate their skills and expertise in VMware technologies.

See Also

• Virtualization
• Cloud computing
• Hypervisor
• Data center
• Dell Technologies
• EMC Corporation