Identifying what's new in vSphere 6.7

vSphere 6.7 is the latest release of VMware's virtual data center platform. This release includes features that provide increased scalability, enhanced security, increased availability, and simplified management of the virtual data center infrastructure. A few of the new features and enhancements include the following:

• Support for an embedded Platform Services Controller (PSC) with Enhanced Linked-Mode (ELM), which simplifies the vCenter architecture
• vSphere Quick Boot, which reduces ESXi upgrade times by rebooting only ESXi and not the server hardware
• 95% feature parity of the HTML5 vSphere Client versus the Flash-based Web Client
• Encrypted vMotion across vCenter Servers and versions, easing cloud or data center migrations
• Persistent Memory (PMEM), increasing storage performance capabilities
• Hybrid Linked Mode (HLM), enabling ease of management between an on-premises vCenter and VMware Cloud on AWS
• Per-VM Enhanced vMotion Compatibility (EVC), enabling easier cloud migrations
• Instant Clones, formerly known as Project Fargo and vSphere vmFork
• Storage enhancements to UNMAP vStorage APIs for Array Integration (VAAI) primitive, Virtual Volumes (VVOLs), and more
• With 6.7 Update 1, the new vSphere Health feature in the HTML5 client

These are just a few of the new features and enhancements introduced with the release of vSphere 6.7. A new version of vSphere, with the new features and enhancements, does not directly change the design process of methodology. The enhancements and features provide an architect with more tools and options for meeting requirements, but can also introduce complexity into the design.

How to do it…

It is important for the architect to understand all the new features and enhancements available. This is a simple, but important, process that includes the following:

1. Access the vSphere 6.7 release notes here: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.7/rn/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-67-release-notes.html
2. Access the vSphere documentation sets found here: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/index.html

How it works…

Reading the vSphere 6.7 release notes gives the architect a summary of the additional features, bug fixes, and known issues. There is also information on the upgrade process and workarounds for known issues.

Reviewing the vSphere documentation, including the Installation and Setup Guide, Upgrade Guide, and Administration Guides, gives the architect a deeper look at new features and how to implement new functionality. The documentation also provides specific requirements that must be satisfied in order to enable a new feature or function. These documentation sets are available online or can be downloaded in PDF, EPUB, or MOBI formats.

There's more…

In the VMware communities, https://communities.vmware.com/, there are forums available to discuss vSphere Upgrade and Install at https://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/vsphere/upgradecenter, and ESXi 6.7 located at https://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/vsphere/esxi, along with other communities dedicated to each vSphere product. In these forums, an architect or administrator can find real-world issues encountered by other vSphere administrators and architects. Questions and discussions can be posted related to features and issues related to all vSphere products. If you run into issues, or have questions about a specific feature, there are people in the community who are always happy to help.