VMware Hybrid Cloud “Test Drive” Proves Troublesome

There has been difficulty in VMware’s attempt to meet demand for its Hybrid Cloud Evaluation, which was initially launched in August 2012. It allows users to take a “test drive” on a VMware-powered public cloud run which is operated through an anonymous partner and paid for by credit card.

A 90-day free trial was launched earlier this month and the offering was given a different name; it was known formerly as vCloud Service Evaluation. A choice of Windows or Linux is on offer, and there is access to two virtual machines, 2 CPUs, 2 GB of RAM and a 50 GB disk.

According to some sources, when attempts were made to sign up to the trial, it was difficult to log in, and the following message appeared: “[The] vCloud service has not completed provisioning. If you recently signed up for service please wait at least 15 minutes for this to complete.”

Another source noted that the Hybrid Cloud took an “unacceptable” five hours to be provisioned, especially when compared to Amazon and Microsoft Windows Azure, who provide a faster service.

According to VMware, the provisioning issue is currently being resolved, and a spokesperson stated: “We experienced a spike in sign-ups for the evaluation service with the introduction of the free 90 day trial, which led to a backlog of requests. We are actively working to resolve this and regret that some customers had to wait longer for their service to be provisioned.”

The managing director at New York-based VMware partner, System Solutions, Frank Basanta, commented that the Hybrid Cloud Evaluation technical solutions will not enable the company to compete successfully with Google, Amazon and Microsoft in the public cloud space. Basanta stated: “In order for this to work, VMware has to make it easier for individuals and companies to purchase cloud capacity.”

When the vCloud Service Evaluation beta was released last August, it stated that the service was not operating on its own public infrastructure, but that of its vCloud service provider partners, which was not named. VMware noted on its Hybrid Cloud Evaluation site that users who seek a production environment should talk with a VMware partner.

At present, some of the virtual machines used are on the Hybrid Cloud Evaluation, and are hosted at Sterling, Virginia-based Vitacore Systems, a VMware service provider partner. There was no comment from VMware regarding Vitacore’s role and if there were other service providers involved in the operation of the service.

The approach which the company has taken to the public cloud has been to direct customers and channel partners towards its service provider partners. However, VMware is now taking a more active role in its public cloud business.

A vCloud Hybrid Service was released by VMware last week, a move into the public cloud space. It will own its own service, but will be operated in partners’ data centers. The involved partners have not yet been named.

Although the Hybrid Cloud Evaluation and vCloud Hybrid Service have similar names, they are not related. One source stated: “What VMware will be introducing later in the year is nothing like the Hybrid Cloud Evaluation.”

Networking, security and other public cloud challenges will be targeted through the vCloud Hybrid Service, and this is what has kept other enterprises on the sidelines. The COO of VMware, Carl Eschenbach, stated that the service was “a safe landing pad in the public cloud” and will mean that customers can move on-premise workloads back and forth.

Service providers of VMware may be familiar with this notion already, particularly as it echoes the targets similarly set out by the vCloud ecosystem. The managing partner at Denver, Colorado-based Bit Refinery (a VMware service provider), Tom Nats, said: “There were all these certified providers ready and willing to migrate your VMs back and forth if needed. They seem to have just abandoned that I guess.” (CY) Link