If your plans include the transformation of your current data center with disparate technologies and processes towards a software-defined data center, consider that VxRail can be positioned as a building block towards that eventual outcome. The physical compute, network, and storage resources from built VxRail clusters can be allocated to VMware’s cloud management and virtual desktop software solutions, and managed as a logical pool for end-user consumption. By using VxRail clusters as the underlying foundation, the software-defined data center can be designed and deployed to meet specific business and operational requirements.

Figure 32.    VxRail as the foundation for the software-defined data center

The path starts with a structured discovery and planning process that focuses on business use cases and strategic goals, and that will drive the selection of software layers that will comprise the software-defined data center. Dell implements the desired software layers in a methodical, structured manner, where each phase involves incremental planning and preparation of the supporting network.

The next phase after the deployment of the VxRail cluster is to layer the VMware Cloud Foundation software on the cluster. This phase enables assigning cluster resources as the underpinning for logical domains, whose policies align with use cases and requirements.

The information that is outlined in this guide covers networking considerations for VxRail. For more information about the architecture of VMware Cloud Foundation on VxRail, and to plan and prepare for a deployment of VMware Cloud Foundation on VxRail, go to Dell VxRail Technical Guides.