Introduction of Azure VMware Solution

Azure VMware Solution

Azure VMware Solution (AVS) is a service that brings together VMware computing, networking, and storage on dedicated, bare-metal hosts within Microsoft Azure. This integration provides customers with the full VMware Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC) experience as a service managed and operated by Microsoft. AVS is designed to be seamlessly integrated with the Azure Portal and Resource Manager, and it can be managed using familiar VMware interfaces.

One of the key advantages of AVS is that it runs vSphere on bare metal, ensuring customers experience the same level of performance and resilience they are used to on-premises, without any performance degradation from nested virtualization. AVS hosts utilize vSAN, which offers both all-flash and hybrid storage options, providing performance and reliability that scales as more hosts are added to the environment. Additionally, NSX-T is used for software-defined networking within the AVS private cloud, ensuring easy compatibility with on-premises networks. All VMware components are managed from vCenter, which runs in the AVS private cloud.

AVS is a collaboration between Microsoft and VMware, with Microsoft acting as the service operator. This means that Microsoft is responsible for delivering the initial environment, providing regular updates and fixes, remediating any hypervisor, server, or network failures, and offering support. Furthermore, the service is fully integrated with Azure native services, enhancing its capabilities and compatibility within the Azure ecosystem.

In this article, we will guide you through the necessary steps to prepare for a private cloud deployment using AVS. This includes deploying the private cloud, connecting it to an Azure virtual network, accessing vCenter from the Azure virtual network, connecting your on-premises data center to the private cloud, and accessing vCenter from an on-premises virtual machine.

It's important to note that before planning an Azure VMware Solution deployment, it is essential to have a working understanding of core Azure and Azure VMware Solution concepts.

Create an Azure resource group

To start, we'll create an Azure resource group to house our resources.

Click "Create a resource"
Click the search bar
Type "resource group" and press enter.
Select the "Resource group" icon.
Click "Create"
Enter the name "AVS-Deployment-Demo-RG" in the "Resource group" text field
Select "(US) West US" from the "Region" drop-down menu
Click "Review + create"
Click "Create"
Once the "Resource group created" pop-up appears, click "Go to resource group"

Create the Azure VMware Solution private cloud

Now, let's create the Azure VMware Solution private cloud in the new resource group.

Click "Create"
Click the search bar
Type "Azure VMware Solution" and press enter.
Select the "Azure VMware Solution" icon
Review the terms and click "Create"
Click "Next : Basics"
Enter "AVS-SDDC" in the "Resource name" field
Select "(US) West US" from the "Location" drop-down menu
Select "AV36 Node" from the "Size of host" drop-down menu
Enter "192.168.92.0/22" in the "Address block for private cloud" field
Click "Review and Create"
Review the summary and click "Create"

The deployment will commence, and while it typically takes three to four hours in real-time, we have accelerated this for the simulation.

Once you see the "Your deployment is complete" message, click "Go to resource"

Your AVS private cloud has now been successfully deployed.

Subscriptions

In Azure, a Subscription serves as a billing boundary for services, requiring users to have access to a valid Azure Subscription to deploy any Azure resources. Azure VMware Solution is specifically supported in subscriptions associated with a Microsoft Enterprise Agreement or a Cloud Solution Provider Azure plan.

Regions

An Azure region comprises data centers connected by a dedicated, low-latency network hosting Azure services. It's important to note that not all Azure services are available in all regions. As of the latest information available, Azure VMware Solution is supported in 15 regions. For an up-to-date list of supported regions, refer to the Azure website.

Resource Groups

A Resource Group acts as a container object for grouping other Azure resources, making it easier to manage multiple resources. Policies and lifecycle actions can be applied to the group, affecting all resources within it.

Virtual Networks (VNets) and Virtual Network Gateways

Azure Virtual Networks form the basis for private network communication within Azure, allowing Azure resources to securely communicate with each other, the internet, and on-premises resources. Virtual Network Gateways enable VNets to exchange routes and route traffic between each other.

ExpressRoute and ExpressRoute Global Reach

An ExpressRoute circuit provides a private connection to the Microsoft Azure global backbone. Customers can connect to an ExpressRoute location via an ExpressRoute connectivity provider, accessing all regions within a geopolitical region via that connection.

ExpressRoute Global Reach allows linking ExpressRoute circuits together to create a private network between them. This configuration can be established between an existing ExpressRoute circuit supporting on-premises to Azure connectivity and the Microsoft-managed ExpressRoute circuit supporting an Azure VMware Solution private cloud, enabling full connectivity between on-premises resources and AVS-hosted resources.