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VMware vSphere Complete Feature Overview

VMware vSphere Complete Feature Overview

🚀 Deep‑Dive: Complete VMware vSphere Architecture & Feature Overview

Over the last few days, I’ve been consolidating VMware vSphere’s vast ecosystem into a single, easy‑to‑understand visual map.
Today, I’m excited to share the final expanded version — covering the full stack from vCenter, ESXi host architecture, networking, storage, security, VM lifecycle, and end‑to‑end vSphere services.

This one diagram brings together everything that powers a modern VMware datacenter.

🔹 What’s Included in the Visual Overview?

🖥️ ESXi Host Architecture

  • VMkernel
  • Drivers & modules
  • FT/HA agents
  • Boot & recovery components

🌐 Networking Stack

  • vSwitch
  • vSphere Distributed Switch (VDS)
  • NSX‑T overlays & routing
  • TCP/IP stack services

💾 Storage Stack

  • vSAN
  • VMFS / NFS
  • iSCSI / Fibre Channel
  • vVols
  • Replication layers

🧩 vSphere Core Services

  • vMotion
  • DRS
  • HA
  • FT
  • Lifecycle automation
  • Cluster services (vCLS)

🔐 Security

  • SSO
  • Certificate management
  • VM & vSAN encryption
  • RBAC & tagging

📦 vCenter Ecosystem

  • vCenter HA (Active–Passive–Witness)
  • Content Library
  • Lifecycle Manager (vLCM)
  • Linked Mode / Enhanced Linked Mode
  • Backup & restore (file‑based)
  • Alarms & events

📊 Operations & Analytics

  • VMware Aria Operations
  • Aria Operations for Logs (Log Insight)

⚙️ Automation

  • PowerCLI
  • vSphere API
  • VMware Aria Automation

📌 Why I Created This?

Because VMware’s architecture is powerful — but complex.
This diagram helps:

  • Engineers understand the full stack
  • Teams streamline troubleshooting
  • New admins learn the ecosystem
  • Architects design robust infrastructures


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