VMware Definitions

This glossary explains the meaning of key words and phrases that information technology (IT) and business professionals use when discussing VMware and related software products. You can find additional definitions by visiting WhatIs.com or using the search box below.

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  • A

    affinity rules

    Affinity rules are settings that establish a relationship between two or more VMware virtual machines (VMs) and hosts.

  • B

    bubble network

    A bubble network is a series of interconnected virtual machines (VMs) that communicate through a virtual network switch (vSwitch) and remain isolated from the physical network.

  • C

    Changed Block Tracking (CBT)

    VMware Changed Block Tracking is an incremental backup technology for virtual machines (VMs), comparable to snapshot differential or backup delta block.

  • corporate VM (corporate virtual machine)

    A corporate VM (corporate virtual machine) is a virtual computing environment (VM) that is allocated to an end user for business use.

  • D

    Distributed Execution Manager (DEM)

    The Distributed Execution Manager is a VMware vCloud Automation Center tool that executes the business logic of custom models. Each DEM instance performs one of two roles, Worker or Orchestrator, to create and monitor workflows.

  • E

    embedded hypervisor

    An embedded hypervisor is a hypervisor that is programmed (embedded) directly into a processor, personal computer (PC) or server. This architecture offers convenience at the cost of some flexibility compared with conventional hypervisors ... (Continued)

  • esxtop

    Esxtop is a command-line tool that gives you real-time information on resource usage in your vSphere environment.

  • H

    Host OS (host operating system)

    A host OS is the software installed on a computer that interacts with the underlying hardware in a computer using virtualization technology.

  • L

    linked clones

    Linked clones are copies of virtual machines that share virtual disks with the parent VM, which conserves space and allows multiple VMs to use the same software.

  • N

    nested VM (nested virtual machine)

    A nested VM (nested virtual machine) is a virtual machine contained within another VM.

  • O

    Open Virtualization Format (OVF)

    The Open Virtualization Format (OVF) is an open source standard for packaging and distributing software applications and services for virtual machines (VMs).

  • P

    personal VM (personal virtual machine or PVM)

    A personal VM (personal virtual machine) is a virtual computing environment that is allocated to an end user for personal use.

  • Profile-Driven Storage

    Profile-Driven Storage is a feature in vSphere 5 that lets users to intelligently provision applications, mapping VMs to storage levels according to service levels, availability, performance needs or cost.

  • purple screen of death (PSOD)

    A purple screen of death (PSOD) is a diagnostic screen with white type on a purple background that's displayed when the VMkernel of a VMware ESXi host experiences a critical error, becomes inoperative and terminates any virtual machines (VMs) that are running.

  • R

    raw device mapping

    Raw device mapping (RDM) enables disk access in a virtual machine (VM) in the VMware server virtualization environment and allows a storage logical unit number (LUN) to be connected directly to a VM from the storage area network (SAN).

  • S

    Storage Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS)

    VMware DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler) is a load balancing utility that assigns and moves computing workloads to available hardware resources in a virtualized environment. 

  • Storage vMotion

    Storage vMotion is a component of VMware vSphere that allows the live migration of a running virtual machine's (VM) file system from one storage system to another, with no downtime for the VM or service disruption for end users.

  • T

    thick provision eager zeroed

    Thick provision eager zeroed is a provisioning format for a virtual machine (VM) disk that creates a virtual disk in a default thick format.

  • thick provision lazy zeroed

    Thick provision lazy zeroed is a provisioning format for a virtual machine (VM) disk that creates a virtual disk in a default thick format.

  • V

    VCAP (VMware Certified Advanced Professional)

    VMware Certified Advanced Professional (VCAP) is VMware's third highest certification level out of four levels.

  • VCB proxy (VMware Consolidated Backup proxy)

    VCB proxy (VMware Consolidated Backup proxy) is the server that collects virtual machine (VM) backup data from VMware Consolidated Backup.

  • Virtual Dedicated Graphics Acceleration (vDGA)

    Virtual Dedicated Graphics Acceleration (vDGA) is a graphics-acceleration function that bypasses the ESXi hypervisor to tie a dedicated GPU in the ESXi host directly to a Horizon View virtual desktop to provide near-native performance.

  • virtual machine configuration

    Virtual machine configuration is the arrangement of resources assigned to a virtual machine. The resources allocated to a virtual machine (VM) typically include allocated processors, memory, disks, network adapters and the user interface.

  • virtual machine replication

    Virtual machine replication is a process used by information technology (IT) professionals to create backup versions of virtual machines (VMs) The backup can be kept and used to restore the machine in the event that its data is corrupted or lost.

  • VM hardware version (virtual machine hardware version)

    The VM hardware version (virtual machine hardware version) designates the virtual hardware functions supported by a virtual machine (VM), which relates to the hardware on the host server.

  • VMkernel

    VMkernel is a POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface)-like operating system developed by VMware.

  • vmkfstools

    Vmkfstools is an ESXi Shell command line interface (CLI) for building and managing volumes and virtual disks on an ESX/ESXi host.

  • vmkping

    Vmkping is a command used to verify and troubleshoot VMkernel network connectivity.

  • VMUG (VMware User Group)

    A VMUG (VMware User Group) is an international community of VMware users whose goal is to share knowledge.

  • VMware

    VMware is a virtualization and cloud computing software provider based in Palo Alto, Calif.

  • VMware App Volumes (formerly CloudVolumes)

    VMware App Volumes (formerly CloudVolumes) is layering software that puts applications into compartments for easier deployment in a virtual desktop infrastructure environment.

  • VMware AppDefense

    VMware AppDefense is a data center security service designed to protect virtualized applications running in an enterprise data center in order to improve the protection and threat response performance of an enterprise security operations center (SOC).

  • VMware Capacity Planner (VCP)

    VMware Capacity Planner is a tool that collects information on an IT infrastructure's resource usage and compares it to industry-average data.

  • VMware Certificate Authority (VMCA)

    The VMware Certificate Authority (VMCA) is the default root certificate authority introduced in vSphere 6.0 that supplies the certificates to ensure secure communication over SSL between vCenter Server components and ESXi nodes in the virtualized infrastructure.

  • VMware Certified Implementation Expert (VCIX)

    The VMware Certified Implementation Expert (VCIX) is third-highest level in VMware's data center virtualization, cloud management and automation, desktop and mobility, and network virtualization certification tracks.

  • VMware Certified Professional (VCP)

    VMware Certified Professional (VCP) is a certification designed to demonstrate technical competency with VMware vSphere and related technologies.

  • VMware Cloud Foundation

    VMware Cloud Foundation is an integrated software stack that uses SDDC Manager -- an automated lifecycle management tool -- to bundle compute (vSphere), storage (VMware vSAN) and network virtualization (NSX) into a single platform that can deployed on premises as a private cloud or run as a service within a public cloud.

  • VMware Cloud on AWS

    VMware Cloud on AWS is a hybrid cloud service that runs the VMware software-defined data center (SDDC) stack in the AWS public cloud.

  • VMware Converter

    VMware Converter is a utility that facilitates the creation of VMware virtual machines from physical systems or virtual machines associated with third-party vendors. The utility also enables migration of virtual machines between VMware platforms from a centralized management console... (Continued)

  • VMware Cross vCenter vMotion

    VMware Cross vCenter vMotion is a feature introduced in vSphere 6.0 that allows virtual machines (VMs) to switch from one vCenter Server instance to another to change the compute, network, storage and management of the VM concurrently.

  • VMware CTK file

    A VMware CTK file contains a list of all the changes made to a VMware virtual machine (VM) since it was last backed up.

  • VMware DirectPath I/O

    VMware DirectPath I/O is the technology that gives a virtual machine (VM) direct access to a physical PCI and PCIe hardware devices on the host by circumventing the hypervisor.

  • VMware DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler)

    VMware DRS (Distributed Resource Scheduler) is a utility that balances computing workloads with available resources in a virtualized environment. The utility is part of a virtualization suite called VMware Infrastructure 3.

  • VMware ESXi

    VMware ESXi, also called VMware ESXi Server, is a bare-metal hypervisor developed by VMware for vSphere.

  • VMware EVC (VMware Enhanced vMotion compatibility)

    VMware EVC (VMware Enhanced vMotion Compatibility) is a feature in VMware vSphere virtualization that allows virtual machines (VMs) to move between ESX/ESXi hosts on different CPUs.

  • VMware fling

    A VMware fling is an unsupported software tool created by a VMware engineer. Flings often address a specific problem or offer a utility not found in a VMware product.

  • VMware Fusion

    VMware Fusion is virtualization software from VMware that can run more than 150 multiple guest operating systems (OS), such as Windows or Linux, as virtual machines (VMs) inside a Macintosh OS.

  • VMware Horizon Cloud Pod Architecture

    VMware Horizon Cloud Pod Architecture is a feature in VMware Horizon 6 that consolidates multiple Horizon View pods to centralize management for administrators and enable entitlement access for remote users.

  • VMware Horizon View

    VMware Horizon View is the virtual desktop host platform for vSphere. Formerly VMware View, the platform runs end user desktops as virtual machines on top of ESX/ESXi hosts.

  • VMware Horizon View Composer

    VMware Horizon View Composer is a feature in Horizon View that gives administrators the ability to manage pools of desktops that share a common virtual disk.

  • VMware host profile

    VMware Host Profiles is a vCenter Server tool to design and deploy ESX/ESXi hosts.

  • VMware Identity Manager

    VMware Identity Manager is an Identity as a Service (IDaaS) offering that provides single sign-on (SSO) capabilities and user-based controls for web, cloud and mobile applications.

  • VMware Infrastructure 3 (VI3)

    VMware Infrastructure 3 (VI3) is a software suite designed to centralize and optimize desktop management and data center resources through virtualization... (Continued)

  • VMware Integrated OpenStack (VMware VIO)

    VMware Integrated OpenStack (VMware VIO) is an OpenStack distribution tested and supported by VMware for companies that want to deploy and manage a private cloud on top of their vSphere infrastructure.

  • VMware Lab Manager

    VMware Lab Manager is a software development and testing tool that enables designers and engineers to pool network and storage resources ... (Continued)

  • VMware long-distance vMotion

    Long-distance vMotion is a feature that allows virtual machines to be migrated over long distances with a maximum round-trip latency time of 150 milliseconds.

  • VMware NIC teaming (VMware network interface card teaming)

    VMware NIC teaming is a way to group several network interface cards (NICs) to behave as one logical NIC.

  • VMware NSX

    VMware NSX is a virtual networking and security software product family created from VMware's vCloud Networking and Security (vCNS) and Nicira's Network Virtualization Platform (NVP) intellectual property.

  • VMware Orchestrator

    VMware Orchestrator is a free vCenter feature that helps automate VMware vCloud Suite, vSphere and other virtualization management system processes.

  • VMware OVF Tool (VMware Open Virtualization Format Tool)

    The VMware OVF Tool is a command-line utility that allows administrators to import and export OVF packages to and from VMware products.

  • VMware Platform Services Controller (PSC)

    VMware Platform Services Controller (PSC) is a new service in vSphere 6 that handles the infrastructure security functions such as vCenter Single Sign-On, licensing, certificate management and server reservation.

  • VMware resource pool

    A VMware resource pool is the aggregated physical compute hardware -- CPU and memory, as well as other components -- allocated to virtual machines (VMs) in a VMware virtual infrastructure.

  • VMware Server

    VMware Server is a virtualization solution that makes it possible to partition a single physical server into multiple virtual machines... (Continued)

  • VMware Service Provider Program (VSPP)

    The VMware Service Provider Program (VSPP) is part of the VMware Partner Network Program ,which allows service provider partners to host VMware software on a monthly subscription basis to offer cloud services such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) to third parties.

  • VMware snapshot

    A VMware snapshot is a copy of the virtual machine's disk file (VMDK) at a given point in time.

  • VMware Solution Exchange (VSX)

    The VMware Solution Exchange (VSX) is an online marketplace where potential customers can browse, download and rate the products uploaded by developers and VMware partners.

  • VMware template

    A VMware template is a perfect, model copy of a virtual machine from which you can clone, convert or deploy more virtual machines.

  • VMware ThinApp

    VMware ThinApp is an application virtualization tool included in VMware Inc.'s Horizon Suite and available as a standalone product.

  • VMware Unity mode

    VMware Unity mode is a feature in VMware desktop virtualization products that allows a user to display applications from virtual machines (VMs) on the host system desktop.

  • VMware Update Manager

    VMware Update Manager is a utility that oversees the installation of updates for existing installations of VMware ESX Server and guest operating systems. Update Manager tracks vulnerabilities within the virtual infrastructure and automatically applies user-defined patches to eliminate those vulnerabilities ... (Continued)

  • VMware VADP (VMware vStorage API for Data Protection)

    VMware VADP is a VMware vStorage API that backs up and restores vSphere virtual machines (VMs).

  • VMware vApp

    A VMware vApp is a collection of virtual machines (VMs) and sometimes other vApps that host a multi-tier application, its policies and service levels.

  • VMware vCenter Chargeback Manager

    VMware vCenter Chargeback Manager is a tool that calculates the costs of virtual resources and provides chargeback accountability.

  • VMware vCenter Server (formerly VMware VirtualCenter)

    VMware vCenter Server is the centralized monitoring and resource management software for VMware vSphere virtual infrastructure.

  • VMware vCenter Server Heartbeat (vCSHB)

    VMware vCenter Server Heartbeat (vCSHB) is VMware's OEM version of NeverFail, which is designed to ensure the high availability and disaster recovery of vCenter Server whether on a LAN or a Wireless Wide Area Network.

  • VMware vCenter Server Linked Mode

    VMware vCenter Server Linked Mode is a tool that allows administrators a consolidated view of management zones and allows servers to support an increased number of virtual machines.

  • VMware vCenter Simulator

    VMware vCenter Simulator (VCSIM) is an unsupported tool from VMware that is included with the vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA) and is used to simulate changes in a vSphere environment for testing and development purposes.

  • VMware vCloud Connector

    VMware vCloud Connector is a free product that allows an administrator on the vSphere platform to move virtual machines between servers, VMware public cloud providers and the vCloud Air service, through a single interface for private and public infrastructures.

  • VMware vCloud Director (VMware vCD)

    VMware vCloud Director (vCD) is deployment, automation and management software for virtual infrastructure resources in multi-tenant cloud environments.

  • VMware vCloud Suite

    VMware vCloud Suite is a collection of applications built on VMware's vSphere platform for building a private cloud infrastructure.

  • VMware vExpert

    VMware vExpert is an honorary title VMware grants to outstanding advocates of the company's products.

  • VMware vFabric Hyperic

    VMware vFabric Hyperic is an agent-based monitoring system that automatically collects metrics on the performance and availability of hardware resources, operating systems, middleware and applications in physical, virtualized and cloud environments.

  • VMware Virtual SAN Ready Node (vSAN Ready Node)

    A VMware Virtual SAN Ready Node (vSAN Ready Node) is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) network appliance that is certified to run VMware vSAN. 

  • VMware Virtual SMP (Symmetric Multi-Processing)

    VMware Virtual SMP is a utility that allows a single virtual machine to use two or more processors simultaneously. The utility is part of a virtualization suite called VMware Infrastructure 3... (Continued)

  • VMware vLockstep

    VMware vLockstep is the technology supporting VMware's Fault Tolerance (FT) high-availability software feature.

  • VMware VMCI (VMware Virtual Machine Communication Interface)

    VMware VMCI (Virtual Machine Communication Interface) is a high-speed interface that virtual machines (VMs) on the same host use to communicate with each other and the host kernel modules.

  • VMware VMFS (Virtual Machine File System)

    VMware VMFS (Virtual Machine File System) is a cluster file system that facilitates storage virtualization for multiple installations of VMware ESX Server, a hypervisor that partitions physical servers into multiple virtual machines... (Continued)

  • VMware vRealize Log Insight (formerly vCenter Log Insight)

    VRealize Log Insight is a log collection and analytics virtual appliance that enables administrators to collect, view, manage and analyze syslog data.

  • VMware vRealize Suite

    VMware vRealize Suite, formerly called vCenter Operations Management Suite, is a software platform designed to help IT administrators build and manage heterogeneous, hybrid clouds.

  • VMware vSAN

    VMware vSAN is an enterprise storage virtualization software that supports hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI).

  • VMware vShield

    VMware vShield is a group of networking and security products for virtualized IT infrastructures, comprising vShield Manager, vShield Edge, vShield Zones, vShield App, vShield Data Security and vShield Endpoint.

  • VMware vSphere

    VMware vSphere -- formerly known as VMware Infrastructure -- is the brand name for VMware's suite of server virtualization products that includes its ESXi hypervisor and vCenter management software.

  • VMware vSphere Client

    The VMware vSphere Client is a web-based application that connects to the vCenter Server so IT administrators can manage installations and handle inventory objects in a vSphere deployment.

  • VMware vSphere Content Library

    The vSphere Content Library is a centralized repository in vSphere 6 to help manage and distribute virtual machines, templates, ISO images, scripts, vApps and other files related to virtual machines.

  • VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (VMware vDS)

    A VMware vSphere Distributed Switch (VMware vDS) allows a single virtual switch to connect multiple hosts in a cluster or multiple clusters for centralized management of network configurations in a vSphere environment.

  • VMware vSphere Hypervisor

    The VMware vSphere Hypervisor is a free, bare-metal hypervisor from VMware that allows users to virtualize their servers and consolidate applications.

  • VMware vSphere Network I/O Control (NIOC)

    VMware vSphere Network I/O Control (NIOC) allows administrator to set up rules and policies to prioritize bandwidth for different network resource pools on a vSphere distributed switch.

  • VMware vSphere PowerCLI

    VMware vSphere PowerCLI is a command-line interface (CLI) tool for automating vSphere and vCloud management.

  • VMware vSphere Security Hardening Guide

    The VMware vSphere Security Hardening Guide is an Excel document provided by VMware that lists more than 150 recommendations to systems administrators to further secure their vSphere environment.

  • VMware vSphere Storage Appliance (VSA)

    VMware vSphere Storage Appliance (VSA) is software developed by VMware that pools disk space from ESXi hosts to provide high availability features without requiring additional storage hardware.

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