Hybrid Cloud Operations with Azure VMware Solution (AVS)

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 Introduction

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations are constantly seeking innovative ways to optimize their IT infrastructure, enhance scalability, and streamline operations. Cloud computing has emerged as a transformative force, enabling businesses to achieve unprecedented levels of agility and efficiency. Microsoft's Azure VMware Solution (AVS) is a groundbreaking offering that marries the power of Azure with the familiar VMware environment, allowing enterprises to seamlessly extend and integrate their on-premises VMware workloads into the cloud. In this blog, we will delve into the key features and benefits of Azure VMware Solution and explore how it is revolutionizing hybrid cloud operations.

Understanding Azure VMware Solution

Azure VMware Solution is a fully managed service that enables you to run VMware workloads natively on Azure infrastructure. It provides a consistent and familiar VMware environment, allowing you to leverage existing tools, processes, and skills while benefiting from Azure's unparalleled scalability and global reach. With AVS, you can seamlessly migrate, extend, and scale your on-premises VMware environments to the cloud without the need for significant re-architecting or application refactoring.

Key Features and Benefits
  1. Seamless Migration - AVS simplifies the migration of VMware workloads to Azure, eliminating the need for complex reconfiguration. You can seamlessly move your VMs, applications, and data to the cloud while maintaining compatibility with your existing VMware stack.
  2. Consistent VMware Experience - AVS offers a native VMware environment on Azure, ensuring that your IT teams can continue to use familiar tools and processes. This reduces the learning curve and accelerates adoption while preserving the operational model you're accustomed to.
  3. High-Performance Infrastructure - By running VMware workloads on Azure's robust and high-performance infrastructure, you can achieve enhanced performance and scalability. AVS leverages Azure's global network to deliver low-latency connectivity and efficient data transfer.
  4. Cost Optimization - AVS allows you to take advantage of Azure's flexible pricing models, enabling you to optimize costs based on your workload requirements. You can scale resources up or down as needed and pay only for what you use.
  5. Security and Compliance - Azure provides a wide range of security and compliance features, and AVS is no exception. You can leverage Azure's built-in security controls, compliance certifications, and threat protection services to enhance the security posture of your VMware workloads.
Azure VMware Solution Design  - VISIO DOWNLOAD

Azure VMware Solution Landing Zone

Resource organization plan: For the landing zone, include references to the subscriptions to use, guidance on resource group usage, and the tagging and naming standards to use when the team deploys resources.
Azure Active Directory and Active Directory: Use the Active Directory Sites and Services tool to direct Azure and Azure VMware Solution Active Directory Domain Services traffic to the appropriate domain controllers.
As part of the identity and access management enterprise-scale landing zone, an Active Directory Domain Services domain controller is deployed in the identity subscription.
Network topology and connectivity: Establish any required network configuration in the landing zone before migration. Consider requirements that might affect your Azure VMware Solution deployment such as:
  • Traffic inspection
  • Network traffic flows
  • Internet egress and ingress
  • Use of NVAs
  • Connectivity to standard hub virtual network or an Azure Virtual WAN hub
  • Private connectivity
****Deploy and configure Azure VMware Solution****

Once you've planned your deployment, you'll deploy and configure your Azure VMware Solution private cloud.
In this how-to, you'll:
  • Register the resource provider and create a private cloud
  • Connect to a new or existing ExpressRoute virtual network gateway
  • Validate the network connect
After you're finished, follow the recommended next steps at the end to continue with the steps of this getting started guide.

Register the Microsoft.AVS Resource Provider

To use Azure VMware Solution, you must first register the resource provider with your subscription. For more information about resource providers, see Azure resource providers and types.
  1. Sign in to the Azure portal. Note : If you need access to the Azure US Gov portal, go to https://portal.azure.us/
  2. On the Azure portal menu, select All services.
  3. In the All services box, enter subscription, and then select Subscriptions.
  4. Select the subscription from the subscription list to view.
  5. Select Resource providers and enter Microsoft.AVS into the search.
  6. If the resource provider is not registered, select Register.
Create an Azure VMware Solution Private Cloud

You can create an Azure VMware Solution private cloud using the Azure portal or the Azure CLI.
  1. Sign in to the Azure portal. Note : If you need access to the Azure US Gov portal, go to https://portal.azure.us/
  2. Select Create a resource.
  3. In the Search services and marketplace text box, type Azure VMware Solution and select it from the search results.
  4. On the Azure VMware Solution window, select Create.
  5. If you need more hosts, request a host quota increase.
  6. On the Basics tab, enter values for the fields and then select Review + Create.
Tip - You gathered this information during the planning phase of this quick start.



7. Verify the information entered, and if correct, select Create.

Note : This step takes roughly 3-4 hours. Adding a single host in an existing or the same cluster takes between 30 - 45 minutes.

8. Verify that the deployment was successful. Navigate to the resource group you created and select your private cloud. You'll see the status of Succeeded when the deployment has finished.


Connect to Azure Virtual Network with ExpressRoute
In the planning phase, you defined whether to use an existing or new ExpressRoute virtual network gateway.

Important
If you plan to scale your Azure VMware Solution hosts using Azure NetApp Files datastores, deploying the vNet close to your hosts with an ExpressRoute virtual network gateway is crucial. The closer the storage is to your hosts, the better the performance.

Use a new ExpressRoute virtual network gateway

Important
You must have a virtual network with a GatewaySubnet that does not already have a virtual network gateway.

Use an existing virtual network gateway
  1. Request an ExpressRoute authorization key:
        a). In the Azure portal, navigate to the Azure VMware Solution private cloud. Select Manage >        Connectivity > ExpressRoute and then select + Request an authorization key.


Provide a name for it and select Create.

It may take about 30 seconds to create the key. Once created, the new key appears in the list of authorization keys for the private cloud.


        b). Copy the authorization key and ExpressRoute ID. You'll need them to complete the peering.    The authorization key disappears after some time, so copy it as soon as it appears.
  1. Navigate to the virtual network gateway you plan to use and select Connections > + Add.
  2. On the Add connection page, provide values for the fields, and select OK.


The connection between your ExpressRoute circuit and your Virtual Network is created.

Validate the connection

You should have connectivity between the Azure Virtual Network where the ExpressRoute terminates and the Azure VMware Solution private cloud.

Use a virtual machine within the Azure Virtual Network where the Azure VMware Solution ExpressRoute terminates. For more information, see Connect to Azure Virtual Network with ExpressRoute.
  1. Log into the Azure portal.
  2. Navigate to a VM that is in the running state, and under Settings, select Networking and select the network interface resource.

On the left, select Effective routes. You'll see a list of address prefixes that are contained within the /22 CIDR block you entered during the deployment phase.
  1. If you want to log into both vCenter Server and NSX-T Manager, open a web browser and log into the same virtual machine used for network route validation.
You can identify the vCenter Server and NSX-T Manager console's IP addresses and credentials in the Azure portal. Select your private cloud and then Manage > VMware credentials.


Use Cases and Scenarios
  • Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
  • AVS can serve as a robust platform for disaster recovery and business continuity. By replicating your on-premises VMware workloads to Azure, you can ensure data resilience and rapid recovery in the event of a disaster.
  • DevTest and Application Development
  • Leverage AVS to create isolated development and testing environments without the need for dedicated on-premises infrastructure. This accelerates application development cycles and enhances collaboration among development teams.
  • Bursting and Seasonal Workloads
  • For workloads with varying resource requirements, AVS enables you to seamlessly burst into Azure resources during peak demand periods. This ensures optimal performance and cost-efficiency.
Conclusion

Azure VMware Solution represents a significant step forward in the evolution of hybrid cloud computing. By seamlessly integrating VMware workloads into the Azure ecosystem, organizations can achieve unprecedented levels of agility, scalability, and efficiency. Whether you're looking to migrate existing workloads, enhance disaster recovery capabilities, or accelerate application development, AVS offers a powerful and versatile platform to meet your needs. Embrace the power of Azure VMware Solution and unlock the true potential of your hybrid cloud operations.

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