VMware vSphere 8

Overcoming challenges in traditional and next-generation applications

Artificial intelligence and machine learning

Deliver the enterprise-class data center, cloud and edge infrastructure required for modern AI/ML services and workloads

DPU-based infrastructure acceleration

Modernize virtual infrastructures using DPUs to accelerate network functions and protect workloads. Run distributed workloads such as event streaming services with lower latency and improved throughput.

Cloud Consumption Interface (CCI)

Provide a cloud experience that allows developers, DevOps engineers, platform operators, SREs, business experts and other users to independently provision infrastructure services within the boundaries set by IT administrators.

Big data and modern data applications

Simplify the management of big data infrastructures and minimize downtime with cost-effective, unified failover protection. Support intelligent decision making by easily prioritizing and sharing data center resources.

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

Gain insights faster with on-demand infrastructure, centralized management, data governance and control over sensitive data. The vSphere HPC option is specifically designed to scale with HPC workloads.

Remote locations and branch offices (ROBO)

Manage your remote and branch offices with little or no on-site IT staff. Quickly deploy to multiple locations Server, minimize variations in host configurations and gain insight into compliance.

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What's new in VMware vSphere 8.0

This release includes VMware ESXi 8.0 and VMware vCenter Server 8.0. Here are some of the exciting new features and enhancements included in this release:

• VMware vSphere with Tanzu: Leverage the power of Kubernetes directly in your vSphere environment.
• Tanzu Kubernetes Versions: Integration of Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Service for easy management of Kubernetes clusters.
• VMware vSAN: Improved performance and functionality for hyperconverged infrastructures.
• VMware Host Client: New features for easy management of your ESXi host via the web browser.

For more technical details, see the vSphere 8 technical overview blog post.

General Availability

We are pleased to announce the General Availability (GA) of vSphere 8.0! Custom ISO images with ESXi 8.0 GA as base image and OEM firmware and drivers are now available.

For more information, see the related vSphere 8 general availability blog post.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not upgrade to this release if you are using the Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Service (TKG guest cluster) on vSphere along with the NSX Advanced Load Balancer (formerly Avi Networks) and have multiple service module groups configured. Upgrading to VMware vSphere with Tanzu 8.0 for such environments may result in no new Tanzu Kubernetes guest clusters being created or upgrades of existing supervisor clusters failing

Internationalization

VMware vSphere 8.0 is available in multiple languages to meet the needs of our global users. The supported languages are:

• English
• Italian
• French, German
• German, English
• Spanish
• Japanese
• Korean
• Simplified Chinese
• Traditional Chinese

Please note that non-ASCII characters are not allowed in the components of vSphere 8.0, including vCenter Server, ESXi, the vSphere Client, and the VMware Host Client.

Compatibility

Compatibility of virtual machines for ESXi

Virtual machines that are compatible with ESX 3.x and higher (hardware version 4) are supported for ESXi 8.0. Please note that virtual machines compatible with ESX 2.x and higher (hardware version 3) are not supported. If you want to use such virtual machines under ESXi 8.0, perform a VM compatibility upgrade. Detailed instructions can be found in the ESXi upgrade documentation.