When is NSX-V end of life happening?
If you’re currently running VMware’s NSX for vSphere (NSX-V), you should be aware it is going end of general support as of 16th January 2022. Although there are plenty of options available to you, you need to understand the potential impacts of continuing to operate with the unsupported solution.
By running an unsupported NSX environment, you open yourself up to operational risk, compliance issues, and an increased vulnerability to security concerns as the product is no longer supported and your IT team will be forced to try and fix issues without certified VMware support. These risks can all affect your business in potentially disastrous ways and can be easily avoided by choosing your next steps carefully and with plenty of time for consideration.
Option 1 – NSX-V to NSX-T Migration
The first option is to migrate from NSX-V to NSX-T. This has clear benefits as you will be replacing one VMware technology with another, so there will be a level of familiarity within the team which will require less training. It is worth noting however that there are some functionality changes, and a complex upgrade path where it is best to involve a partner experienced in NSX technology.
Planning the migration approach, initial configuration and security policies ensures early benefit from new features and can be achieved via three proven methods: Co-Existence (adding an NSX-T cluster to an existing NSX-V deployment), Greenfield (creating a whole new environment of NSX-T), and In-Place Migration (using NSX Migration Coordinator). You can find out more details about the requirements for each of these here.
While tools such as the NSX Migration Coordinator can provide a guided approach to the upgrade, this is not suitable for all NSX-V configurations and will often not lead to the best target configuration of NSX-T. Read on to find out how to simplify your migration path.
Option 2 – Digital Transformation Opportunity
The second option is to use the change as an opportunity to transform other areas of your infrastructure. If you’re running a number of public clouds or have some legacy hardware which could do with a refresh, you can use this opportunity to upgrade to a standardised and simple cloud-based platform such as VMware Cloud Foundation. This would also include an upgrade to NSX-T but will also provide you with a modern cloud platform for ease of operational management.
Option 3 – Continue Unsupported
The final option is to do nothing. Not ideal for those of us who are risk averse, and with NSX-V end of life concerns including security breaches, risk and compliance, and a lack of patching and support, it is vital to address these changes now.
How can Xtravirt help?
Whether you know your next step or need advice, speak to us today and we will share our years of experience with you to find the perfect solution. Xtravirt hold 6 Master Services Competencies including Networking (NSX), and we would be delighted to discuss options with you regarding a migration from NSX-V to NSX-T or similar digital transformation objectives. A Master Services Competent partner has the in-depth knowledge and experience to plan and execute a customer-focused migration approach to help you take full advantage of improved features and services. We can also show you the solution in action in our virtual Customer Experience Centre so you get a feel for the product before making decisions.
