VMware Makes vCloud Suite 5.1 Official, Ramps Up Partner Marketing

Virtualization kingpin VMware (NYSE: VMW), which showcased its vCloud Suite 5.1 integrated cloud infrastructure solution at VMware 2012, now has made it official with the general availability of the Standard, Advanced and Enterprise editions, with licensing pricing starting at $4,995 per processor with no core, vRAM or number of virtual machines limits.

What does it mean for partners? In short, VMware says vCloud Suite 5.1, because it’s an integrated product, will help partners virtualize network, storage and server infrastructure. As The VAR Guy detailed a couple of weeks ago, vCloud Suite 5.1 integrates VMware’s virtualization, cloud infrastructure and management portfolio under the roof of one SKU for channel partners and customers.

The vCloud Suite 5.1 product list includes:

Support pricing ranges from $1,049 for basic support at the Standard level to $2,874 for production support at the Enterprise level.

New partner marketing

How is VMware helping channel partners make hay with vCloud Suite 5.1? According to a blog post by Scott Aronson, VMware global alliances and channels senior vice president, the company has stepped up its partner marketing, including information videos on Partner University TV, Live Webinars with subject matter experts, and Partner Network Primetime virtual broadcasts, such as an upcoming event focused on vCloud Suite 5.1 sales, marketing and enablement on Sept. 25 and 26.

Wait, there’s more. VMware also has kicked off a new marketing campaign called Partner Ready to help channel partners engage with the C-suite about the benefits of moving to the cloud, according to a company blog post. The campaign includes a dedicating landing page, emails and direct mail materials to promote the VMware message, an end-to-end cloud computing message and the partner’s solutions.