VMware Explore Barcelona 2024: The Ultimate Guide

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Hey there, tech enthusiasts and cloud aficionados! Are you ready for the most electrifying event of the year? Get ready, because VMware Explore Barcelona 2024 is just around the corner, and you don’t want to miss this multi-cloud extravaganza!

Top 10 Mind-Blowing Sessions You Can’t Miss

Before we dive in, check out the full session catalog to explore all the amazing content on offer. Here are our top picks with brief descriptions based on the catalog:

“Shaping the Future of Cloud & AI Innovation [GEN1671BCN]” – Get ready to explore the latest in cloud and AI innovation! Kicking off the most anticipated enterprise tech event of the year, the VMware Explore 2024 General Session will showcase exciting new advancements in private cloud, AI, app delivery, and the edge. Spoiler alert: The future is cloudier than a British summer and twice as exciting!
“1 Answer to All Your Generative AI Questions: VMware Private AI [VCFB1806BCN]” – After several decades of niche growth and development, generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI/machine learning (ML) adoption have achieved mainstream status. While generative AI is a transformative technology, enterprises face daunting challenges in its deployment. This is why VMware by Broadcom announced VMware Private AI. Join this session to learn how VMware Private AI’s architectural approach and massive ecosystem enable the flexibility to run a range of AI solutions for your environment: NVIDIA, IBM, Intel, or open source.
“Getting Started with VMware Cloud Foundation™ [ELWBCN-HOL-2532-01]” – This expert-led workshop guides participants through configuring, managing, and maintaining hyper-converged infrastructure using VMware’s SDDC Manager. The session includes a Cloud Foundation Overview, Lifecycle Management, Workload Domain Operations, Certificate Management, and Password Management. It provides a comprehensive understanding of VMware Cloud Foundation’s capabilities and practical experience with its various components and tools.
“Accelerate Machine Learning in vSphere Using GPUs [SPLBCN-HOL-2549-01]” – Supercharge your machine learning capabilities with the VMware Hands-on Lab: Accelerate Machine Learning in vSphere Using GPUs. This immersive lab provides a deep dive into harnessing the power of GPUs within the vSphere environment to significantly boost your ML workloads. Discover the seamless integration of GPUs in vSphere, learn best practices for optimizing performance, and gain practical experience in deploying and managing GPU-accelerated machine learning applications. Prepare to elevate your ML projects with enhanced speed and efficiency, leveraging the cutting-edge technology of VMware and GPUs.
“Build Private Clouds with VMware Cloud Foundation Networking: Plan, Design, Deploy and Operate [VCFT1645BCN]” – Network and security virtualization is the key to accomplishing the cloud dream of agile, elastic, and on-demand infrastructure. The most prominent organizations in the world adopted VMware NSX as a core building block to implement their cloud platform. We cover design choices based on customers’ use cases and requirements. Use cases include private cloud scaling and performance, security as a service, multi-tenancy, disaster recovery, and multi-site. This session will provide a holistic view of the private cloud design process, starting from the base physical infrastructure, to its logical consumption, to its operational aspects. This topic is vast, but we provide a taste of the potentiality of NSX based on our experience working with small and large customers across the globe.
“Achieving Zero Trust – The Practitioner’s Journey [CMTY1236BCN]” – In this quick talk, we will cover how to go about crafting your organization’s zero trust journey. We will cover how to use VMware vDefend firewall to secure your infrastructure, create zones, and micro-segment your crown jewel applications.
“Automated Cloud Management Using VMware Aria Operations REST API [CODE1380BCN]” – VMware Aria Operations provides a comprehensive and well-documented REST API that allows automated management of infrastructure components. In this session, I will show how to unleash the hidden power of VMware Aria Operations by invoking its REST API programmatically. From finding the right documentation through the initial login using Postman up to writing comprehensive workflows using VMware Aria Automation Orchestrator, this session will be the ultimate guide to automating daily VMware Aria Operations tasks and extending its functionality above and beyond what is available out of the box.
“Container Security [ANSB1572BCN]” – The session gives a quick overview of the overall container security portfolio. It covers design recommendations with zero trust security policy for your container workloads running on VMware Cloud Foundation and upstream Kubernetes. This session also provides guidelines for designing policies that span across both Virtual Machine workloads and Container workloads.
“I Bet You Don’t Know Your RPO & RTO [EXPO1904BCNS]” – In our new IT reality where a cyber attack can occur at any moment, I bet you don’t know your RPO & RTO. Cyber threats are getting more sophisticated and pervasive, making it more important than ever for organizations to prioritize resilience so that they can quickly recover to a Minimum Viable Company following a disruptive event. In this session, we’ll show how IBM Storage Defender delivers capabilities to manage data resilience across your entire data estate – including primary arrays as well as secondary and tertiary storage – covering all your data copies and across all your VMware workloads. You’ll also learn about Storage Defender’s ability to intelligently detect anomalies and cyberthreats, and help you recover quickly and safely in the event of a malware attack.
“VMware vSphere – Security – Getting Started [SPLBCN-HOL-2530-03]” – Deep dive into the security features and settings in vSphere 8.

Pro Tip: Use the catalog’s search function to find these sessions and add them to your schedule. The exact titles may vary, but these topics will be covered across various sessions.

Schedule Builder: Your Personal Event Genie

Guess what? The Schedule Builder for VMware Explore Barcelona 2024 is now open! It’s like having a personal event genie, minus the fancy lamp. Craft your perfect agenda using the full session catalog and ensure you don’t miss a single mind-blowing moment. Pro tip: Schedule in some time for tapas. You’re welcome.

Networking: Where Magic Happens (and Business Cards Disappear)

Forget stuffy handshakes and awkward small talk. Networking at VMware Explore is where the real magic happens! It’s like speed dating for tech enthusiasts, minus the romantic pressure. You’ll find:

Breakout sessions that break the ice (and your preconceptions)
Networking lounges cooler than a Barcelona beach club
Interactive workshops that’ll make your brain do the macarena
Social events where “IPv6” could be a dance move

Remember, the person you’re chatting with over paella could be your next collaborator, mentor, or tech BFF. So smile, be yourself, and may the network be with you!

Hands-on Labs: Where “Oops” is Just the Start of Something Awesome

Roll up those sleeves and prepare to get digital dirt under your nails! Our Hands-on Labs are like a playground for grown-ups who never lost their sense of wonder. You’ll get to:

Test-drive cutting-edge tech (no license required)
Learn by doing (and occasionally by accident)
Experiment in a zero-judgment zone
Get instant feedback (faster than your coffee order)

Warning: Side effects may include sudden urges to revolutionize your entire IT infrastructure.

Certifications: Level Up Your Tech Cred

Want to add some extra oomph to your LinkedIn profile? Our on-site certification exams are your ticket to the big leagues. It’s like gaining a tech superpower, but with fewer radioactive spider bites and more practical applications.

Evening Events: Where Geeks Go Glam

As the sun sets over Barcelona, the fun is just getting started! Our evening events are the perfect blend of networking and fiesta. From tech talks over tapas to debugging discussions over sangria, you’ll never want the night to end. Who said IT pros don’t know how to party?

Business Benefits: Making Your Boss Do a Happy Dance

Attending VMware Explore isn’t just fun and games (okay, it’s a lot of fun), but it’s also a solid investment in your organization’s future. Here’s how to make your boss break out in a happy dance:

Knowledge Transfer: Divide and conquer! Split up to cover different tracks, then come back together like the IT Avengers.
Post-Event Sharing: Host a knowledge fiesta back at the office. Bonus points for including Spanish snacks!
Action Planning: Turn those “Aha!” moments into “Let’s do this!” plans.
Networking Outcomes: Those new connections could be the key to solving your next big challenge.

Practical Tips: Surviving and Thriving in Barcelona

Where to Crash: Book your zzzs near the venue. Try the W Barcelona for living large, or Hotel Jazz for keeping it cool and central.
Foodie Paradise: Fuel up at La Boqueria market, get your molecular gastronomy on at Tickets, or go classic Catalan at 7 Portes.
Footwear: Your feet are your friends. Treat them to comfy shoes that can handle both conference floors and cobblestones.
Barcelona Musts: Take a selfie with Gaudí’s whimsical creations, get lost in the Gothic Quarter, and perfect your sunbathing technique on Barceloneta beach.