VMware NSX
The Platform for Network Virtualization

Key Features:

Switching	Enable logical layer 2 overlay extensions across a routed (L3) fabric within and across data center boundaries. Support for VXLAN-based network overlays.
Routing	Dynamic routing between virtual networks performed in a distributed manner in the hypervisor kernel, scale-out routing with active-active failover with physical routers. Static routing and dynamic routing (OSPF, BGP) protocols supported.
Distributed Firewalling	Distributed stateful firewalling, embedded in the hypervisor kernel for up to 20Gbps of firewall capacity per hypervisor host. Support for Active Directory and activity monitoring. Additionally, NSX can also provide north-south firewall capability via NSX Edge™.
Load Balancing	L4-L7 load balancer with SSL offload and pass- through, server health checks, and App Rules for programmability and traffic manipulation.
VPN	Site-to-site and remote-access VPN capabilities, unmanaged VPN for cloud gateway services.
NSX Gateway	Support for VXLAN to VLAN bridging for seamless connection to physical workloads. This capability is both native to NSX and delivered by top-of-rack switches from an ecosystem partner.
NSX API	RESTful API for integration into any cloud management platform or custom automation.
Operations	Native operations capabilities such as central CLI, traceflow, SPAN, and IPFIX to troubleshoot and proactively monitor the infrastructure. Integration with tools such as VMware vRealize® Operations™ and vRealize Log Insight™ for advanced analytics and troubleshooting.
DynamicSecurity Policy	NSX service composer enables the creation of dynamic security groups. Beyond just IP address and MAC, membership of security groups can be based on VMware vCenter™ objects and tags, operating system type, and Active Directory roles to enable a dynamic security enforcement capability.
Cloud Management	Native integration with vRealize Automation™ and OpenStack.
3rd Party Partner Integration	Support for management, control plane, and data plane integration with third-party partners in a wide variety of categories such as next-generation firewall, IDS/IPS, agentless antivirus, application delivery controllers, switching, operations and visibility, advanced security, and more.
Cross vCenter Networking and Security	Extend networking and security across vCenter and data center boundaries irrespective of underlying physical topology-enabling capabilities such as disaster recovery and active-active data centers.
LogManagement	Help resolve problems faster with added visibility from vRealize Log Insight for NSX. Visualize event trends, trigger alerts, and more, all in real-time.

Use Cases:

Security

NSX enables organizations to divide the data center into distinct security segments logically, down to the level of the individual workload-irrespective of the workload's network subnet or VLAN. IT teams can then define security policies and controls for each workload based on dynamic security groups, which ensures immediate responses to threats inside the data center and enforcement down to the individual virtual machine. Unlike in traditional networks, if an attacker gets through data center perimeter defenses, threats can't move laterally within the data center.

Automation

NSX addresses the challenge of lengthy network provisioning, configuration errors, and costly processes by automating labor-intensive, error-prone tasks. NSX creates networks in software, eliminating bottlenecks associated with hardware- based networks.

Native integration of NSX with cloud management platforms such as vRealize Automation or OpenStack enable further automation.

Application Continuity

Since NSX abstracts networking from the underlying hardware, networking and security policies are attached to their associated workloads. Organizations can easily replicate entire application environments to remote data centers for disaster recovery, move them from one corporate data center to another, or deploy them into a hybrid cloud environment-all in minutes, all without disrupting the applications, and all without touching the physical network.

Compare:

Standard Edition: Automates IT workflows, bringing agility to the data center network and reducing network operating costs and complexity.
Advanced Edition: Standard Edition plus a fundamentally more secure data center with micro-segmentation. Helps secure the data center to the highest levels, while automating IT provisioning of security.
Enterprise Edition: Advanced Edition plus networking and security across multiple domains. Enables the data center network to extend across multiple sites and connect to high-throughput physical workloads.

	Standard	Advanced	Enterprise
Distributed switching and routing
NSX Edge firewall
NAT
Software L2 bridging to physical environment
Dynamic routing with ECMP (active-active)
API-driven automation
Integration with vRealize and OpenStack
Log management with vRealize Log Insight for NSX
Automation of security policies with vRealize
NSX Edge load balancing
Distributed firewalling
Integration with Active Directory
Server activity monitoring
Service insertion (third-party integration)
Integration with VMware AirWatch®
Cross vCenter NSX
Multisite NSX optimizations
VPN (IPSEC and SSL)
Remote gateway
Integration with hardware VTEPs

 

Support:

VMware Basic Support & Subscription

Weekday Support for Test, Dev and Non-Critical Deployments

• Global, 12x5 access to support
• Unlimited number of support requests
• Remote Support
• Online access to documentation and technical resources, knowledge base, discussion forums
• Product updates and upgrades

Overview

VMware Basic Support is designed for non-critical applications and platforms that require support during normal business hours. Our global support centers have been strategically placed to provide you with fast and efficient access to the support center in your region. Each center is staffed with engineers that can provide industry-leading expertise in virtualization and years of experience supporting virtual infrastructure products in real-world customer environments. We are committed to delivering enterprise-class, worldwide support with a single objective in mind: your success.

VMware Production Support & Subscription Service

Technical Support, 12 Hours/Day, per published Business Hours, Mon. thru Fri.

• Global, 24x7 support for Severity 1 issues
• Fast response times for critical issues
• Unlimited number of support requests
• Remote Support
• Online access to documentation and technical resources, knowledge base, discussion forums
• Product updates and upgrades

Overview

VMware Production Support is designed with your production environments in mind. Our global support centers are staffed around the clock to provide you access to our industry-leading expertise in virtualization and years of experience supporting virtual infrastructure products in real-world customer environments. We are committed to delivering enterprise-class, worldwide support with a single objective in mind: your success.

Feature	Production Support	Basic Support
Hours of Operation1	24 Hours/Day 7 Days/Week 365 Days/Year	12 Hours/Day Monday-Friday
Length of Service	1 or 3 Years	1 or 3 Years
Product Updates 2	Yes	Yes
Product Upgrades 2	Yes	Yes
Products Supported 3	All Products (excluding VMware Fusion and VMware Player)	All Products
Method of Access	Telephone/Web	Telephone/Web
Response Method	Telephone/Email	Telephone/Email
Remote Support	Yes	Yes
Root Cause Analysis	Available only with Business Critical or Mission Critical Support Offering	Available only with Business Critical or Mission Critical Offering
Access to VMware Web Site	Yes	Yes
Access to VMware Discussion Forums and Knowledge Base	Yes	Yes
Max Number of Technical Contacts per Contract	6	4
Number of Support Requests	Unlimited	Unlimited
Target Response Times Critical (Severity 1) Major (Severity 2) Minor (Severity 3) Cosmetic (Severity 4)	30 minutes or less: 24x7 4 business hours 8 business hours 12 business hours	4 business hours 8 business hours 12 business hours 12 business hours
Business Hours North America Alaska, Hawaii Latin America Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) Asia, Pacific Rim, Japan (APJ) Australia/New Zealand	Monday - Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time zone) 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (PST/PDT) 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time zone) 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (GMT/GMT+1) 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Singapore Time) 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Sydney AET)	Monday - Friday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time zone) 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (PST/PDT) 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time zone) 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (GMT/GMT+1) 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Singapore Time) 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Sydney AET)

¹ Hours of operation for Gemstone are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PST/PDT). Severity 1 issues are responded to 24x7.
² Product updates and upgrades are not included with Basic Support and Subscription Service for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) for VMware.
Product updates and upgrades are not included with Production Support and Subscription Service for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) for VMware.
³ VMware Fusion Professional and VMware Workstation require a minimum of ten (10) licenses in order to purchase Basic support. VMware Workstation requires a minimum of ten (10) licenses in order to purchase Production Support.

Documentation:

Download the VMware NSX Datasheet (PDF).

Download the Infographic: VMware Network Virtualization (PDF).