---
name: vmwaresolutions-hcx_considerations
title: VMware HCX on IBM Cloud overview
description: VMware HCX™ on IBM Cloud® extends the networks of on-premises data centers into IBM Cloud, and it helps you migrate virtual machines (VMs) to and from IBM Cloud without any conversion or change. HCX creates an abstraction layer that enables application mobility and infrastructure hybridity through securely stretched networks. You can modernize your VMware® environment without the need to refactor or modify your existing application, as HCX enables a seamless transformation. With HCX, you can bring your IP subnet ranges into IBM Cloud and ensure the IP consistency through a hybrid deployment and by providing high-level security with end-to-end Suite B encryptions. VMware HCX on IBM Cloud is a non-IBM product that is offered under terms and conditions from VMware® by Broadcom, not IBM.
last-updated: 2026-05-18
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# VMware HCX on IBM Cloud overview
{: #hcx_considerations}

As of 17 July 2025, new automated installations of Red Hat® OpenShift® for VMware® are no longer available for new or existing deployments of VMware Cloud Foundation for Classic - Automated instances. You can still use or delete your existing Red Hat OpenShift for VMware automated installations until 16 July 2026. The service will no longer be available from 17 July 2026.
{: deprecated}

VMware HCX™ on IBM Cloud® extends the networks of on-premises data centers into IBM Cloud, and it helps you migrate virtual machines (VMs) to and from IBM Cloud without any conversion or change. HCX creates an abstraction layer that enables application mobility and infrastructure hybridity through securely stretched networks. You can modernize your VMware® environment without the need to refactor or modify your existing application, as HCX enables a seamless transformation. With HCX, you can bring your IP subnet ranges into IBM Cloud and ensure the IP consistency through a hybrid deployment and by providing high-level security with end-to-end Suite B encryptions. VMware HCX on IBM Cloud is a non-IBM product that is offered under terms and conditions from VMware® by Broadcom, not IBM.
{: shortdesc}

The HCX version available for deployment is periodically updated to the most recent version of HCX. Broadcom requires you to be on one of their supported versions in order for you to open a support request for HCX. For more information, see the VMware HCX documentation.
{: note}

HCX is supported for instances with VMware NSX-T 3.1 or later and VMware vSphere® 7 or later.

CONTENT:

When you delete a VMware Cloud Foundation for Classic - Automated instance, the following components are released sequentially:
1. All deployed services
2. NFS storage
3. The Support fee
4. VMware® product licenses
5. VMware ESXi™ servers
6. Subnets
7. VLANs

A VCF for Classic - Automated instance with HCX is limited to three simultaneous connections from on-premises sites.
{: restriction}

## Technical specifications for HCX
{: #hcx_considerations-specs}

The following components are ordered and included in the HCX service.

### HCX Management Appliance VM
{: #hcx_considerations-vm}

* CPU - 4 CPUs
* RAM - 12 GB
* Disk - 60 GB VMDK

More HCX appliances are deployed during configuration as necessary for L2 connectivity, WAN optimization, and gateway connections.

The storage architecture can be either **vSAN ESA (Express Storage Architecture)** for instances with vSphere 8 or **vSAN OSA (Original Storage Architecture)** for instances with vSphere 7 and 8.

### Networking
{: #hcx_considerations-networking}

* One public portable subnet with 16 IP addresses
* Two private portable subnets with 64 IP addresses
* Eight IP addresses from private portable vMotion subnet

For more information about resource requirements and capacity checking, see [Resource requirements for services](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?topic=vmwaresolutions-vc_addingservices&format=markdown#vc_addingservices-resource-requirements).

### NFS storage
{: #hcx_considerations-nsf-storage}

If the service mesh target cluster is not a vSAN™ cluster, NFS storage (with 500 GB and 10 IOPS/GB) is ordered.

## Related links
{: #hcx_considerations-related}

* [Ordering HCX](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?topic=vmwaresolutions-hcx_ordering&format=markdown)
* [Managing HCX](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?topic=vmwaresolutions-managinghcx&format=markdown)
* [Glossary of HCX terms](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?topic=vmwaresolutions-hcx_glossary&format=markdown)
* [Getting help and support](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/vmwaresolutions?topic=vmwaresolutions-trbl_support&format=markdown)
* [VMware HCX documentation](https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/vmware-cis/hcx/vmware-hcx/4-11.html){: external}