How to get started with Performance Cloud powered by VMware
Warning: Canadian tenants created since 2023, July 24th & US tenants created since 2023, August 26th are now built using the newer network virtualization platform named VMware NSX-T. If you are looking for the latest guide for Performance Cloud VMware (NSX-T), please see the following link: https://helpdesk.sherweb.com/en/support/solutions/articles/67000720632
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Look around you. More and more organizations are making their journey to the cloud for a plethora of reasons—reduced IT costs, increased efficiency, data security, innovation, scalability—just to name a few.
By utilizing the cloud, you have easy access to technologies that enable you to build anything. You can spin up the resources you need when you need them, such as storage, data backup, virtual desktops, software development and other functionalities to help your business grow.
Built with performance and reliability in mind, Performance Cloud combines the best of VMware and Sherweb to support any workload in a secure infrastructure compliant to the highest standards, so you can innovate faster.
We’ve created this beginner’s guide to help you get up and running with your new cloud platform! It’s not hard, and the payoff is huge.
Migration
Migrating to Performance Cloud powered by VMware is quick and easy. We do the heavy lifting for you to ensure your cloud environment is set up correctly. If you’re running your workloads on-premises, we can move your servers, databases, data and applications to Performance Cloud powered by VMware.
Please see this article to help you migrate your VMware virtual machines to Performance Cloud powered by VMware.
Once your cloud environment is set up, you can start benefitting from high performance, all-inclusive plans based on flat-rate pricing, highly available, redundant and compliant infrastructure, built-in security and dedicated support.
Two easy migration options
Migrate and extend your existing VM or on-premises environments to our cloud.
Upload OVF files directly Free | Use Veeam Backup & Replication to replicate your servers and limit cutover time* Free 30-day license provided by Sherweb |
VM source formats: VMware Natively supports files to OVF Hyper-V or physical Use a converter tool (e.g., VMware vCenter Converter Standalone) to export files to OVF format | VM source formats: VMware Veeam Cloud Connect Replication Failover |
*Other Veeam products can also be used for migrations from Hyper-V or other cloud environment. However, the backup + restore option would need to be used instead of the replication + failover option working with VMware. Contact us for more details.
Definitions
Before we get started, we thought we’d give you a quick overview about some components mentioned in our online articles.
What is a virtual datacenter?
In a nutshell, a virtual datacenter provides cloud infrastructure resources for your organization. This service allows you to store, deploy and operate your virtual systems in a dynamic environment.
What is a vApp?
A virtual application, or vApp, is a group of pre-configured virtual machines that combine software applications into a single unit. It provides a convenient way to access and use apps. For example, a web application could be a vApp composed of an IIS server and a SQL server. Both components are needed for the application to work.
vApps can be configured to be powered on or off in the right sequence, cloned, suspended or shut down.
What is an edge gateway?
An edge gateway connects a routed organization vDC network to external networks. It provides services such as load balancing, network address translation, and a firewall.
Important notes
Following updates performed by Sherweb on the infrastructure, we also encourage you to update VMware tools in your virtual machines and update your edge gateway appliance. Please follow this article to get guidance to update VMware tools to the latest version available. Please follow this article to help you redeploying your edge gateway appliance to the latest version available.
Using the full storage quota can cause some features to not work, the inability to add memory (RAM) to virtual machines, and even the need to add additional storage and backups addons, thereby increasing monthly fees.
It is strongly recommended to limit the use of the storage quota to 80% because all the elements below, in addition to the virtual disks, count against the total storage quota of your virtual datacenter:
- Virtual machine templates
- ISO files
- Snapshots created manually or automatically by the backup system
- Virtual machine memory swap files (.vswp file)
Main articles
Here are links for main articles to get started with Performance Cloud powered by VMware.
- Performance Cloud VMware - How to create a vApp
- Performance Cloud VMware – How to create a virtual network
- Performance Cloud VMware – How to create a virtual machine using a prebuilt template and a vApp
- Performance Cloud VMware – How to configure the Edge Gateway (Firewall & NAT rules)
- Performance Cloud VMware - Configure virtual machine backups
- How to manage resources inside the virtual datacenter for Performance Cloud powered by VMware
- Understand how the retention policy works and how the backup storage quota is affected for Performance Cloud powered by VMware
For a complete access to our Performance Cloud VMware articles, please visit our Performance Cloud powered by VMware support site at https://helpdesk.sherweb.com/en/support/solutions/folders/67000454885