Simulated EMC Celerra and VNX instances have been around for a few years now, and has provided many with the ability to become familiar with web based Unisphere management interface and how to setup and configure a Celerra and/or VNX instance.  These simulators have their limitations, and as the name suggests, are just simulators.

EMC have now released the real-deal, with an available to download, and free, fully virtualized VNX storage appliance, called the vVNX.

The vVNX has the features and functionality found it's physical VNX counterpart, with the exception of FAST storage tiering in the current available version, and is FREE to download, install and run in your own vSphere based lab environment.

There has never been a better time to get hands on time with EMC's highly popular unified (ie: block and file) storage offering, with it (as already mentioned) being free to download, and there being no time limitations on the use of your copy of the vVNX.

The only catch is that this currently available vVNX Community edition doesn't come with any official EMC support and is not intended for production use, but that said, there is a very active moderated EMC community (which can be found here) that can offer non-official guidance and support.

At VMworld San Francisco a few weeks ago, the vVNX team also announced a 'Technology Preview' instance of the vVNX which features VVOL functionality.  This, as with the Community Edition, is also free to download and use, and can provide you with valuable hands-on time with the new vSphere centric VVOL technology.

In this episode of the podcast I speak with Rahul Pradhan (Senior Manager, Product Management) and Phil Triede (CTD Midrange Marketing) about the vVNX, and discuss what is the vVNX, where it fits into EMC's storage portfolio and what can we expect to see from this virtual appliance in the future?

If you are looking for some shared block and file virtual storage to run in your work or home vSphere lab, or perhaps just want to become familiar or kick the tyres on the vVNX then definitely check out this episode.

 

Show Links:

* EMC vVNX Community Edition - Download Page
* EMC vVNX VVOLs Technology Preview - Download Page
* EMC vVNX FAQ
* Introduction to the vVNX Community Edition
* EMC vVNX Community Forum

Check out some of the other Data Center Insiders podcast episodes: