Virtually Speaking Podcast

VMware & Canonical Join Forces: Ubuntu Optimized for VCF

At VMware Explore 2025, hosts Pete Flecha and John Nicholson sit down with Himanshu Singh to discuss the expanded partnership between VMware and Canonical—bringing together the world’s #1 private cloud and the #1 cloud OS.

 

Himanshu explains how Ubuntu OS with Canonical’s 10-year enterprise support is now bundled as part of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) entitlement, simplifying operations for enterprise customers. A key highlight is the introduction of “chisel containers”—lightweight Ubuntu images optimized for specific workloads. These minimal containers reduce image size from ~200MB to ~50MB, improving efficiency and dramatically lowering vulnerabilities (their demo dropped CVEs from 16 to just 1).

 

The conversation also explores how the partnership addresses air-gapped environments by delivering pre-compiled virtualized GPU drivers, enabling faster, more secure AI deployments.

 

Whether you’re running Kubernetes, modern applications, or AI workloads, this partnership delivers a more secure, efficient, and enterprise-ready private cloud platform.

 

👉 Subscribe to the Virtually Speaking Podcast for more VMware Explore 2025 coverage!

 

VCF as a Service: How Expedient Delivers Private Cloud Simplicity

In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast recorded at VMware Explore 2025, hosts Pete Flecha and John Nicholson sit down with Jon Rosenson, President & COO at Expedient, to explore how Expedient is delivering VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) as a Service.

 

Expedient, a full-stack cloud services provider with over 25 years of experience and a VMware partner since 2008, helps clients simplify IT by managing VCF on their behalf. Jon explains how Expedient delivers:

☁️ Multi-tenant and dedicated private cloud environments powered by VCF

⚙️ End-to-end infrastructure and expertise so clients only need to subscribe

🏥 Real-world use cases in healthcare and other industries, where organizations rely on Expedient to handle IT infrastructure so they can focus on core business

🔄 Hybrid IT solutions that bridge public cloud and private cloud, including client data center acquisitions converted into multi-tenant facilities

 

The conversation also highlights how the Expedient–VMware by Broadcom partnership is evolving, with program changes opening the door for more customers to benefit from VCF as a Service.

 

👉 Watch now to learn how Expedient is helping customers rethink their cloud strategies with VMware Cloud Foundation.

 

#VirtuallySpeakingPodcast #VMwareExplore #VCF #CloudServices #HybridCloud #Expedient

 

Evolving Kubernetes: VMware’s Vision for Modern Apps

In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast from VMware Explore 2025, hosts Pete Flecha and John Nicholson sit down with Dilpreet Bindra, Sr. Director of Engineering at VMware by Broadcom, to talk about the evolution of Kubernetes and VMware’s latest innovations.

 

Dilpreet explains how Kubernetes has moved from niche adoption to the mainstream, with 80–90% of new applications now being built on Kubernetes. He highlights how VMware Kubernetes Service (VKS) stands out by empowering application teams to own and manage their own clusters—avoiding the bottlenecks of centralized “pet” clusters.

 

The conversation also explores:

⚡ VMware’s commitment to delivering new Kubernetes versions within eight weeks of upstream releases

🤝 VMware’s ongoing contributions to the Kubernetes ecosystem

📦 Argo CD support for Git-based deployments across both Kubernetes and VMs

📊 New monitoring capabilities in VCF 9 for tenant-specific and admin-level visibility

💬 Customer feedback, with many praising VMware for “delivering the cloud on premise” and enabling them to rethink infrastructure strategies

 

If you’re building modern applications or driving cloud-native transformation, this episode shows how VMware is helping organizations deliver Kubernetes with the agility of public cloud—on-premises.

 

👉 Watch now and subscribe to the Virtually Speaking Podcast for more insights from VMware Explore!

 

#VirtuallySpeakingPodcast #VMwareExplore #Kubernetes #VMwareCloudFoundation #VKS #ArgoCD

 

Sizing GPUs for AI Made Simple: ITQ’s Tool for VMware Private AI Foundation

In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast recorded at VMware Explore 2025, hosts Pete Flecha and Dave Linthicum sit down with Johan van Amersfoort from ITQ to discuss ITQ’s long-standing partnership with VMware by Broadcom and their latest innovation for AI.

 

Johan introduces ITQ’s new GPU Sizer tool for VMware Private AI Foundation, designed to make GPU infrastructure sizing for AI workloads simple and accurate. By connecting directly to HuggingFace to retrieve model parameters, the tool requires only the model name and expected concurrent sessions — automating what was once a complex process.

 

The discussion also covers:

🤝 ITQ’s 15-year journey as one of VMware’s top five global partners

🧠 How ITQ has been implementing AI solutions since 2018

👥 Parallels between AI adoption and end-user computing experiences

🔧 The potential for GPU Sizer to integrate into automation workflows for more efficient resource management

📢 The announcement that ITQ is now an official partner for VMware Private AI Foundation

 

If you’re exploring how to size, deploy, and manage GPU resources for AI applications, this conversation is packed with practical insights.

 

👉 Watch now and subscribe to the Virtually Speaking Podcast for more expert discussions from VMware Explore!

 

#VirtuallySpeakingPodcast #VMwareExplore #PrivateAI #GPU #ITQ #VMwareCloudFoundation

 

Telco Cloud Platform 5.1 & VCF Convergence | VMware Explore 2025

In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast from VMware Explore 2025, host Pete Flecha is joined by Anupama Mahabhashyam and Odded Solomon to discuss the latest innovations transforming the telecommunications industry.

 

The conversation covers:

📡 The shift from physical network functions to cloud-native, containerized applications

⚙️ The launch of Telco Cloud Platform 5.1 with enhanced GitOps capabilities

☁️ How telcos can position themselves as sovereign cloud providers

🔄 Dynamic infrastructure policies that auto-configure VMs when apps are deployed, reducing cross-team coordination

🛡️ Why critical telco networks require rigorous validation cycles before production

🤝 The convergence roadmap between Telco Cloud Platform (TCP) and VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), with VCF 9.2 set to integrate telco capabilities (more details coming at VMware Explore London)

 

If you’re in the telecom space, this episode highlights how VMware is helping CSPs modernize operations, increase agility, and prepare for sovereign cloud demands.

 

👉 Don’t miss this deep dive from VMware Explore. Subscribe to the Virtually Speaking Podcast for more expert insights!

 

#VMwareExplore #VirtuallySpeakingPodcast #Telco #CloudNative #VMwareCloudFoundation #SovereignCloud

 

Inside NetApp’s Disaster Recovery Solution for VMware Workloads

In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast, hosts Pete Flecha and John Nicholson sit down with Glenn Sizemore from NetApp live at VMware Explore 2025 to discuss NetApp Disaster Recovery, a SaaS service within the BlueXP portfolio designed specifically for VMware workloads.

 

Glenn explains how the service delivers disaster recovery that feels a lot like Site Recovery Manager (SRM) — but built exclusively for NetApp systems. Leveraging SnapMirror for data transport and array-based offloads, the service provides:

• A guided wizard for building replication plans

• Easy configuration of mappings between data centers

• Support for existing or new SnapMirror relationships

• Non-disruptive test failovers using FlexClone technology

• Fast failover execution in as little as 5–10 minutes

 

Pricing is capacity-based (about $0.03 per GB/month, or ~$368 per TB/year) — avoiding traditional per-VM licensing.

 

Currently, NetApp Disaster Recovery supports on-prem to on-prem, and on-prem to EVS or VMC on AWS, with Azure and Google Cloud support in development.

 

👉 Learn how this service simplifies disaster recovery for VMware environments while reducing costs and complexity.

 

🎧 Subscribe to the Virtually Speaking Podcast for more VMware Explore conversations and insights!

 

#VMwareExplore #VirtuallySpeakingPodcast #VMware #NetApp #DisasterRecovery

 

Strategic Partnerships Powering VCF: Canonical, NVIDIA & AMD at VMware Explore 2025

At VMware Explore 2025, host Pete Flecha speaks with Prashanth Shenoy, VP of Product Marketing at Broadcom, about the strategic partnerships shaping the future of VMware Cloud Foundation.

The conversation dives into key announcements, including:

🤝 Canonical + VMware – Ubuntu OS integration with full enterprise support for VCF customers

⚡ NVIDIA + VMware – Expanded collaboration bringing Private AI Foundation directly into VCF, enabling near-bare-metal GPU performance and improved ROI on expensive GPU investments

🔥 AMD + VMware – Support for AMD accelerators to broaden choice and flexibility for AI and HPC workloads

Prashanth explains how these partnerships deliver operational efficiency, stronger security, and AI readiness—positioning VCF as the platform of choice for modern private cloud and GPU-driven workloads.

👉 Don’t miss this strategic deep dive from VMware Explore 2025. Subscribe to the Virtually Speaking Podcast for more exclusive conversations!

From vSphere to VCF 9.0: GCI’s Journey to a Modern Private Cloud

At VMware Explore 2025, host Pete Flecha sits down with Dave Linthicum, Rick Walsworth, and James Schorr, Sr. Director of Enterprise Cloud Platforms at GCI—Alaska’s largest telecom provider—to discuss GCI’s journey from vSphere to VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0.

James shares how GCI moved from managing disparate vSphere clusters with complex patching requirements to a standardized and streamlined private cloud platform with VCF. The shift has delivered:

• Faster and easier cluster upgrades
• Simplified patching and lifecycle management
• More time for innovation instead of maintenance

The conversation also explores the massive infrastructure changes GCI made during the pandemic, including upgrades to firewalls, network design, compute platforms, storage, and infrastructure-as-code. James highlights the OpEx savings driven by reduced labor requirements, as well as how VCF 9 testing in their labs is shaping decisions on greenfield vs. upgrade paths.

For other organizations considering VMware Cloud Foundation, James offers practical advice: design carefully but don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis—start with the resources you have, and lean on your architects and engineers to guide the path forward.

👉 Subscribe to Virtually Speaking Podcast for more customer stories and insights from VMware Explore!

Krish Prasad on VCF 9.0, Private AI, and VMware’s Future Under Broadcom

In this VMware Explore 2025 episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast, hosts Pete Flecha and John Nicholson sit down with Krish Prasad, SVP and General Manager of the VMware Cloud Foundation division at Broadcom.

Krish shares how VMware, now under Broadcom, has delivered on its long-standing vision of a truly integrated private cloud platform with VCF 9.0. He explains how the new organizational structure has accelerated innovation, resulting in positive feedback from customers across industries from large enterprises to smaller organizations.

The conversation covers:

• Why regulated industries like healthcare and banking are rapidly adopting VCF 9.0
• How Private AI is now embedded directly into VCF as a core capability
• New compliance and security features, including automatic drift detection and remediation
• Broadcom’s increased R&D investment driving faster innovation and customer excitement

Whether you’re an IT leader, architect, or business strategist, this episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at VMware’s direction under Broadcom and what it means for the future of private cloud.

Chris Wolf on Private AI, GPU Partnerships, and the Future of VCF 9

At VMware Explore 2025, the Virtually Speaking Podcast sat down with Chris Wolf, Global Head of AI and Advanced Services at Broadcom, alongside hosts Pete Flecha and guest co-host David Linthicum, to unpack VMware’s latest Private AI announcements.

Chris details the expanded partnership with NVIDIA, including support for B200s, RTX Pro 6000s, DirectPath I/O, and pass-through capabilities, plus a new partnership with AMD to virtualize MI350 GPUs. He also breaks down how Private AI Services are now included as part of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), delivering:

• A model runtime supporting GPUs and CPUs
• A secure model store for governance
• Data indexing and retrieval services
• An agent builder service

The discussion explores why enterprises are leaning into private AI—from data privacy to economic advantages (up to 3x cost benefits) to sovereign AI requirements. Chris also introduces secure model sharing, allowing multiple tenants to use one model while keeping datasets protected.

The episode wraps with real-world customer use cases across industries, with a spotlight on strong adoption in the public sector.

Tune in for insights on how VMware is shaping the next chapter of Private AI in the cloud with VCF 9.