What is Azure VMware Solution?
Azure VMware Solution (AVS) is a Microsoft-operated first-party service that provides VMware vSphere, vSAN, and NSX-T natively in Azure. Existing VMware workloads can be migrated to the cloud without modifications and benefit from integration with Azure services.
The service is fully operated and supported by Microsoft, with direct access to VMware updates and support.
Core Features
- Native VMware vSphere 7.0+ environment
- VMware vSAN for storage
- NSX-T for software-defined networking
- vCenter for familiar management
- HCX for seamless workload migration
- Integration with Azure services (ExpressRoute, Backup, Monitor)
Typical Use Cases
Datacenter extension: Extending the on-premises datacenter to the cloud for burst capacity or disaster recovery without architecture changes.
Datacenter migration: Complete migration of the VMware datacenter to Azure when hardware lifecycle or facility contracts expire.
Application modernization: Gradual modernization of VMware workloads with Azure PaaS services while the existing environment continues to run.
Benefits
- Continue using familiar VMware tools and processes
- No VM modifications required for migration
- Access to Azure services without complex network changes
- Unified billing through Azure
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Azure VMware Solution cost?
AVS is billed per host, with 3-year Reserved Instance discounts of up to 57%. A minimum of 3 hosts is required. Hosts include compute, storage, and networking.
Do I keep my VMware licenses?
No, VMware licenses are included in the AVS price. Existing licenses cannot be brought. For Windows Server and SQL Server, AHUB benefits can be used.
How does migration work?
VMware HCX is included in the service and enables live migration of VMs without downtime. Bulk migrations with cold or warm migration are also possible.
Can I use Azure services with VMware VMs?
Yes, AVS is connected to the Azure VNet. VMs can directly use Azure services like Azure SQL, Blob Storage, or Azure Monitor.
Integration with innFactory
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, innFactory supports you with Azure VMware Solution: migration planning, HCX configuration, Azure integration, and operations optimization.
