Vmware NSX 101: A Guide to NSX Pricing, Licensing, and More

By R2 Unified Technologies

When it comes to enterprise networking, VMWare NSX is one of the most popular software-defined networking (SDN) platforms on the market. But what exactly is VMWare NSX, and how does it work?

In this guide, we'll answer those questions and more, including a breakdown of VMWare NSX pricing and licensing.

What is VMWare NSX?

VMWare NSX is a software-defined networking platform that enables the creation of virtualized networks. It includes a wide range of features, such as network virtualization, security, and automation.

NSX is often used in data centers or cloud environments, where it can provide a high degree of flexibility and agility. With NSX, businesses can quickly provision and reconfigure networking resources as needed, without the need for expensive hardware changes or complex manual configurations.

VMWare NSX Architecture: How Does VMWare NSX Work?

Let's take a closer look at how it works.

VMWare NSX is built on three main components:

The NSX Manager is a centralized control plane that manages and configures the NSX environment.
The NSX Controller is a distributed state management system that handles control plane functions for the NSX environment.
The NSX Edge is a set of software-defined networking services that provide gateway, firewall, and load balancing capabilities.

These three components work together to enable the creation of virtualized networks that can be quickly provisioned and reconfigured as needed.

There are a number of benefits that can be gained from using VMWare NSX.

Some of the most notable benefits include:

Increased flexibility and agility: With NSX, businesses can quickly provision and reconfigure networking resources as needed, without the need for expensive hardware changes or complex manual configurations.
Improved performance: NSX can help to improve the performance of applications and services by reducing network latency and increasing throughput.
Better security: NSX includes a number of features that can help to improve security, such as micro-segmentation and distributed firewalls.
Lower costs: NSX can help to lower the costs of networking by reducing the need for physical hardware and simplifying network management.

But as an advanced tool, VMWare NSX can still be complicated to deploy, configure, and manage.

VMWare NSX Licensing: Which License Do You Need?

The answer to this question depends on a number of factors, such as the size of your deployment and the features you need.

If you're unsure which license is right for you, the best thing to do is to consult with an experienced professional who can help you choose the right license for your needs.

Features of the Standard Edition:

The Standard Edition of VMWare NSX includes the core features of the platform, such as network virtualization, micro-segmentation, and distributed firewalls. It is designed for small-to-medium deployments.

Features of the Enterprise Edition:

The Enterprise Edition of VMWare NSX includes all of the features of the Standard Edition, plus additional features such as advanced gateway services and enhanced security. It is designed for larger deployments.

A system audit will tell you what you need to know about the licensing you need.

The Advantages of Working with an MSP

As you can see, even the licensing and costs of VMWare NSX may require some navigation. What licenses do you need? What will the ultimate cost of ownership be?

But you can improve your deployment of VMWare NSX by engaging with an MSP. Some advantages include:

Cost savings. An MSP can help you save money on your VMWare NSX deployment by bundling it with other services, such as managed services or cloud hosting.
Flexibility. An MSP can help you deploy VMWare NSX in a way that is flexible and scalable, so you can easily add or remove resources as needed. MSPs provide futureproofing for the technologies that your organization will rely on both today and tomorrow.
Expertise. An MSP can provide you with the expertise you need to successfully deploy and manage VMWare NSX without having to train your employees in another technology.
Simplicity. An MSP can help you simplify the process of deploying and managing VMWare NSX by providing a single point of contact for all your needs.

MSPs provide low-cost technological expertise. Rather than having to manage your tech stack internally, why not connect with the experts?

Engage With the Experts at R2 Unified Technologies

When it comes to VMWare NSX, there's a lot to consider. From pricing and licensing to deployment and management, you need to create a system that's going to work well for your organization.

The best way to ensure that you're making the right decisions for your business is to engage with the experts at R2 Unified Technologies. We have years of experience in identifying the solutions that will work effectively (and cost-effectively) for our clients. At R2 Unified Technologies, we don't believe innovation is an accident. We work hard to ensure that our clients get the technology they need.