VMware’s latest release of vCenter Operations Manager 5.6 has brought about some significant changes, especially in terms of licensing. The new foundation edition is now included free of charge with every licensed vSphere edition, making it more accessible to users. This blog post will delve into the different editions of vCenter Operations Manager and their features, as well as compatibility with the new vCenter 5.1 Web Client.
vCenter Operations Manager Foundation Edition
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The foundation edition is the new entry-level edition of vCenter Operations Manager, which is now included free of charge with every licensed vSphere edition. This edition offers a range of features such as performance monitoring, alerting, and reporting. It also includes support for up to 3 hosts and 3 virtual machines, making it suitable for small to medium-sized environments.
vCenter Operations Management Suite
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The management suite is designed for larger environments and offers more advanced features such as capacity planning, resource pooling, and business service management. The suite comes in three editions: standard, advanced, and enterprise. Each edition has its own set of features and limitations, so it’s essential to choose the right edition based on your specific needs.
Compatibility with vCenter 5.1 Web Client
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vCenter Operations Manager 5.6 is compatible with the new vCenter 5.1 Web Client, which offers a more streamlined and intuitive user interface. The integration between the two products allows for seamless monitoring and management of your virtual infrastructure.
Other New Features and Fixes
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The What’s New section of the official release notes provides details on other new features and fixes in vCenter Operations Manager 5.6. Some of the notable changes include improved performance monitoring, enhanced alerting capabilities, and better support for VMware vSphere 4.0 and later.
Upgrade Path from Previous Versions
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If you have an active Software Maintenance and Support (SnS) contract with VMware, you are entitled to run the new foundation edition even if you haven’t upgraded your infrastructure to v5.1 just yet. This means that you no longer have any excuse to not have a current health status for your critical virtual infrastructure.
Conclusion
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The latest release of vCenter Operations Manager 5.6 brings about some significant changes, especially in terms of licensing. The new foundation edition is now included free of charge with every licensed vSphere edition, making it more accessible to users. With improved performance monitoring, enhanced alerting capabilities, and better support for VMware vSphere 4.0 and later, this release offers a range of benefits for users. So, what are you waiting for? Upgrade to vCenter Operations Manager 5.6 today and start enjoying the benefits of a more streamlined and efficient virtual infrastructure management experience.