VMware HCX on IBM Cloud overview
The VMware HCX service is not available to Business Partner users.
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, not IBM.
The HCX version available for deployment is periodically updated to the most recent version of HCX. VMware® by 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 release notes.
For VMware vCenter Server with NSX-T™ instances, HCX is supported for NSX-T 3.1 or later and for VMware vSphere® 7. HCX requires you to use one of the following licenses from IBM Cloud:
- NSX Data Center SP Base
- NSX Data Center SP Professional
- NSX Data Center SP Advanced
- NSX Data Center SP Enterprise Plus
For vCenter Server® with NSX-V instances (VMware Solutions V4.7 and earlier), HCX is supported for vSphere 6.7. HCX requires you to use one the NSX Advanced or the NSX Enterprise license from IBM Cloud. For more information, see Comparison chart for VMware NSX-T, NSX-V, and vSAN.
IBM Cloud® for VMware Solutions offers promotions for some add-on services. Promotional pricing offers a number of months at no cost for a service license, if the service has license charges. For more information, see Promotions for services.
A VMware vCenter Server® instance with HCX is limited to three simultaneous connections from on-premises sites.
Technical specifications for HCX
The following components are ordered and included in the HCX service.
On-premises HCX instances include only licensing and activation.
HCX Management Appliance 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.
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.
NFS storage
If the service mesh target cluster is not a vSAN™ cluster, NFS storage (with 500 GB and 10 IOPS/GB) is ordered.
For vCenter Server with NSX-V instances, the service mesh target cluster is the default cluster.
VMware NSX Edge Services Gateways for HCX management (NSX-V only)
An active-passive pair of VMware NSX Edge Services Gateways for HCX management is ordered.
- CPU - 6 CPUs
- RAM - 8 GB
- Disk - 3 GB VMDK