Key announcements from VMwareExplore in San Francisco

At its annual conference in San Francisco this week, VMware announced a set of networking and security innovations centered around the "multi-cloud universe," including the release of vSphere 8 and vSAN 8, its flagship compute and storage solutions.

“Whether you’re a challenger born in the cloud or an established player, the ultimate destination for customers is a multi-cloud environment that empowers teams to accelerate their digital innovation,” said Raghu Raghuram, CEO, VMware. 

Highlights:

vSphere 8 DPUs:  The new release brings data processing units (DPUs) into the fold along with CPUs and GPUs to help supercharge workload performance. vSphere on DPUs, previously known as Project Monterey, was developed in partnership with  AMD, Intel and NVIDIA as well as OEM system partners Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Lenovo. It enables the offloading and acceleration network and security infrastructure functions onto DPUs from CPUs. Customer applications that need high network bandwidth and fast cache access such as in-memory databases can expect better efficiency in CPU cores and higher transaction rates with lower latency. Running infrastructure services on DPUs and isolating them from the workload domain,  will also benefit infrastructure security. 

vSphere 8 GPUs: the new release doubles the virtual GPU devices per VM, delivering a 4x increase of passthrough devices, and supporting vendor device groups which enable binding of high-speed networking devices and the GPU. For DevOps teams, vSphere 8 will include VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid 2.0(3)—expanding Kubernetes capabilities to include multi-availability zones for improved resilience as well as simplified cluster lifecycle and package management. 

VMware vSAN 8: a new vSAN Express Storage Architecture is designed to enhance the performance, storage efficiency, data protection and management of vSAN running on the latest generation storage devices. vSAN 8 promises up to a 4x performance boost and increased availability due to a new storage pool construct that provides smaller fault domains, faster resync times, and native snapshots delivering up to 100x faster operations.

VMware Edge Compute Stack 2: new support for smaller cluster sizes to run containers efficiently on smaller COTS (commercial, off the shelf) hardware. Additionally, the release will also offer higher performance with GPU passthrough support to enable AI/ML use cases. In a future release, VMware, for the first time, will introduce initial support for non-x86 processor-based specialized small form factor edge platforms to simultaneously run IT/OT workloads and workflows on a single stack.

VMware Private Mobile Network (Beta): a new managed service from VMware that provides enterprises with private 4G/5G mobile connectivity in support of edge-native applications. VMware will empower partners with a single PMN orchestrator to operate multi-tenant private 4G/5G networks with an enterprise-grade solution. Building on VMware Edge Compute Stack, the service is seamlessly integrated with existing IT management platforms and incorporates VMware’s compute, network, security and edge intelligence solutions.

Project Northstar for multi-cloud networking, security and end-to-end visibility: Representing an advancement of its NSX platform, Project Northstar aims to transform how enterprises consume networking and security in a multi-cloud world. Project Northstar offers a centralized cloud-console for consistent and simplified software-as-a-service (SaaS) consumption. This family of services includes network & security policy management, network detection and response (NDR), network visibility and analytics (NSX Intelligence), advanced load balancing (ALB), and workload mobility (HCX) for private cloud environments and VMware Cloud deployments.

Expanded Carbon Black Cloud endpoint protection.  VMware is strengthening its lateral security capabilities by embedding network detection and visibility into Carbon Black Cloud's endpoint protection platform, which is now available to select customers in early access. This extended detection and response (XDR) telemetry adds network detection and visibility to endpoints with no changes to infrastructure or endpoints, providing customers with extended visibility into their environment across endpoints and networks leaving attackers nowhere to hide.

Project Trinidad: extends and advances VMware’s API security and analytics by deploying sensors on Kubernetes clusters. Project Trinidad uses machine learning with business logic inference to detect anomalous behavior in east-west traffic between microservices.

Project Watch: a new approach to multi-cloud networking and security that provides advanced app to app policy controls.  In technology preview, Project Watch will help network security and compliance teams to continuously observe, assess, and dynamically mitigate risk and compliance problems in composite multi-cloud applications. 

VMware NSX Gateway Firewall: adds a stateful active-active edge scale-out capability that significantly increases network throughput for stateful services. VMware now offers advanced threat prevention capabilities with IDPS, malware analysis, sandboxing, URL filtering, TLS proxy, stateful firewall, and stateful Network Address Translation (NAT) that extend centralized security controls to physical and virtual workloads at the data center and cloud edge.

VMware NSX Advanced Load Balancer: brings new bot management capabilities, while enhancing the security capabilities of its web application firewall, malware detection, security analytics, and DDoS protection. VMware NSX ALB’s ability to enforce API security policies in line with application delivery traffic helps customers in protecting their north-south APIs.

https://news.vmware.com/vmware-explore-2022-media-kit#inside

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Lumen opens online marketplace and portal for SASE

Lumen Technologies launched an all-digital experience for the purchase, configuration and management of enterprise SASE.

The Lumen Marketplace now allows enterprise to learn about SASE, select from multiple vendors, and purchase a solution based on their needs. Customers have the option to manage their own SASE solution, or have Lumen fully manage the deployment, implementation, and ongoing management of their customized SASE product.

Through the Lumen SASE Manager within the Control Center portal, customers configure their solution by location and user; add new sites, users, and services; and receive alerts and manage tickets.

SASE solutions from VMware and Fortinet are currently listed.

"The combination of Lumen SASE Solutions on the Marketplace and the Lumen SASE Manager is a game changer for enterprises looking for a simplified solution to upgrade their network and cybersecurity posture," said Darren Wolner, senior director of SASE product management for Lumen. "Feeling confident in the reliability and security of the network is critical, but for companies with distributed or hybrid workforces, this new reality has created unique security challenges. Lumen SASE Solutions provides customers with a product that is customized to their needs and enables them to securely connect to applications on any device, at any time, from virtually any location."

https://www.lumen.com/en-us/marketplace.html

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Corning to build fiber factory in Arizona with AT&T commitment

Corning will build a new cable manufacturing facility in Gilbert, Arizona, based on a long-term relationship with AT&T. 

The new facility, located in the Greater Phoenix region, will add approximately 250 jobs and is expected to open in 2024. It will be the industry’s western-most U.S. manufacturing site for optical cable – allowing Corning to serve growing demand in the western U.S. and Canada.

Corning said the expansion represents the latest in a series of investments in fiber and cable manufacturing totaling more than $500 million since 2020. These investments, supported by customer commitments, nearly double Corning's ability to serve the U.S. cable market and connect more people and communities. Public and private investments in broadband, 5G, and the cloud are accelerating a large, multi-year wave of growth for fiber-based networks – and Corning, as the world leader in passive optical communications, is uniquely positioned to support these network builds.

“This investment is a significant step forward for our country and building world-class broadband networks that will help narrow the nation’s digital divide,” said AT&T Chief Executive Officer John Stankey. “This new facility will provide additional optical cable capacity to meet the record demand the industry is seeing for fast, reliable connectivity. We are also working with Corning to create training programs to equip the next generation of technicians with the skills to build the networks that will expand high-speed internet access to millions of Americans.”

Separately, AT&T announced today that it is deploying fiber internet service to the Mesa, Arizona, area, with service expected to be available to Mesa residents in 2023.

http://www.corning.com

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Dell rolls out multicloud and edge infrastructure for VMware

 Dell Technologies is rolling out new multicloud and edge infrastructure solutions co-engineered with VMware, including:

• Dell VxRail boosts application and networking performance with industry-first jointly engineered HCI solution support for Data Processing Units (DPUs) while new models expand VMware edge capabilities with smallest-ever systems
• Dell APEX adds managed VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid services to help improve developer productivity, and new compute-only options support more workloads and offer greater efficiency when scaling infrastructure at the edge
• Dell Validated Designs for AI adds AutoML, helping make it easier and faster for organizations to create and deploy AI-powered applications with automated machine learning

"The increasing demand for software-defined infrastructure services for networking, storage and security places more demands on already-strained CPUs. As more distributed, resource intensive applications are onboarded, there is a need to reimagine data center architecture to fully support the requirements of these applications," said Krish Prasad, senior vice president & general manager, Cloud Platform Business, VMware. "Dell VxRail with VMware vSphere 8 will deliver a foundation for next generation data center architecture by running infrastructure services on the DPU. This will enable greater network and application performance and a new level of sophistication in adopting Zero Trust security strategies to protect modern enterprise workloads."

https://www.dell.com/en-us/blog/realize-your-multicloud-reality-with-dell-and-vmware-innovations/

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HPE sees strength with Intelligent Edge and HPC solutions

Hewlett Packard Enterprise reported net revenue of $7.0 billion for its third quarter, ended July 31, 2022, up 1% and 4% adjusted for currency compared to a year earlier. GAAP diluted net EPS was $0.31, up 7% from the prior-year period and up 63% sequentially. Non-GAAP diluted net EPS was $0.48, up 2% from the prior-year period and up 9% sequentially. 

“Our continued innovation and focus on execution resulted in revenue and profit growth, which are particularly noteworthy in such a dynamic market. Our growth in recurring revenue this fiscal year is evidence of customers’ strong response to our HPE GreenLake platform,” said Antonio Neri, president, and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “Customers continue to prioritize investments in IT and are finding HPE’s industry-leading edge-to-cloud portfolio to be particularly relevant in today’s complex macroeconomic environment, where technology innovation is critical to accelerate business transformation and deliver important business outcomes.”

“We executed well in Q3, delivering revenue above our guidance while growing backlog sequentially to another record level,” said Tarek Robbiati, EVP and CFO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise. “We are also pleased with the expansion of our gross margins despite the inflationary headwinds and challenged supply environment."

Highlights:

• Intelligent Edge revenue was $941 million, up 8% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and 12% when adjusted for currency, with 16.5% operating profit margin, compared to 16.1% in the prior-year period. Aruba Services revenue was up double-digits from the prior-year period and Intelligent Edge as-a-Service ARR(3) was up more than 60% from the prior-year period.
• High Performance Computing & Artificial Intelligence (“HPC & AI”) revenue was $830 million, up 12% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and 15% when adjusted for currency, with 3.4% operating profit margin, compared to 3.8% from the prior-year period. HPC market share expanded to 39% and includes four of the global top 10 supercomputers.
• Compute revenue was $3.0 billion, down 3% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and down 1% when adjusted for currency, with 13.3% operating profit margin, compared to 11.2% from the prior-year period. Margin expansion was driven by strategic pricing actions, more than offsetting input cost increases.
• Storage revenue was $1.2 billion, down 2% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and up 1% when adjusted for currency, with 14.7% operating profit margin, compared to 15.1% from the prior-year period, and up 210 basis points sequentially, with favorable mix shift.
• Financial Services revenue was $817 million, down 3% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and up 1% when adjusted for currency, with 11.8% operating profit margin, compared to 11.1% from the prior-year period.

https://investors.hpe.com

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Fujitsu adds IP Infusion’s OcNOS software and whitebox hardware

Fujitsu Network Communications will augment its optical and packet networking portfolio with IP Infusion’s bundle of OcNOS software and whitebox hardware.

IP Infusion’s OcNOS networking software platform expands the Fujitsu Network Communications transport toolbox to support any 5G mobile xHaul and aggregation configuration.

Fujitsu Network Communications’ transport portfolio additions, powered by IP Infusion’s OcNOS software, provide an open, cost-effective and scalable edge transport system to network operators and service providers. The offering leverages the latest in open whitebox hardware, open optics, and the Fujitsu Network Communications Virtuora Network Control Solution. 

“IP Infusion’s OcNOS networking software platform expands the Fujitsu Network Communications transport toolbox to support any 5G mobile xHaul and aggregation configuration,” said Paul Havala, Head of the Optical Business Division at Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. “This newest offering combined with our Smart xHaul solutions toolbox delivers up to 70% reduction in total cost of ownership for mobile operators, while positioning them to provide transport for emerging private 5G, enterprise, and i4.0 applications.”

“IP Infusion’s strategic alliance with Fujitsu Network Communications opens up mobile networks to accelerate innovation,” said Atsushi Ogata, President and CEO of IP Infusion. “Fujitsu Network Communications’ strong market presence in North America expands the market for OcNOS, while clearly differentiating Fujitsu Network Communications’ transport offering.”

http://www.IPInfusion.com

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ZTE's revenue rises 12.7% in 1H2022 to US$8.65 billion

ZTE reported operating revenue of RMB 59.82 billion (approximately US$8.65 billion) for the first half of 2022, 12.7% higher than a year earlier. Net profit reached RMB 4.57 billion, an increase of 12.0%, and net profit after extraordinary items attributable to holders of ordinary shares of the listed company amounted to RMB 3.73 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 65.8%. Basic earnings per share was RMB 0.96. 

Despite the challenge of the pandemic, supply chain issues, and a complex external environment, the company operating revenue in both domestic and international markets and its three major businesses (carriers' networks, government and enterprise, and consumer business) all achieved double-digit increase year on year.

Highlights:

• For the domestic market (China), operating revenue reached RMB 40.60 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12.9%, accounting for 67.9% of the total operating revenue.
• For the international market, operating revenue amounted to RMB 19.22 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12.3%, covering 32.1% of the total operating revenue.
• In terms of carriers' networks, ZTE achieved an operating revenue of RMB 38.72 billion , an increase of 10.5%, compared with a year earlier. 
• ZTE has entered into 5G cooperation with over 110 operators across the globe.
• In terms of government and corporate business, ZTE’s operating revenue increased by 18.3% year on year to RMB 6.71 billion during the period. 
• In consumer business, revenue reach RMB 14.39 billion, a year-on-year increase of 16.5% in the first half of 2022. 
• R&D spending reached RMB 10.15 billion, accounting for 17.0% of its total operating revenue.

https://res-www.zte.com.cn/mediares/zte/Investor/20220826/E1.pdf

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