The 5 Things I Love About VMworld

Next week is the big event. VMworld will return once again to San Francisco and connect the entire virtualization community together. This will be my third trip to VMworld, and I'm quite excited. While I am saving my snarky post about the five things I dislike most about VMworld for later this week, here are five things that I like best about VMworld:

1. Community. I don't exactly know why or how, but virtualization "just gets" the whole technology community thing. Virtualization is unique among the greater IT landscape in that we have a passionate blog network, podcasts, events such as VMworld, colorful Twitter personalities and a common desire to tie all of these social media strategies together. Having these entities manifest themselves at a big event, such as VMworld, is a real treat.
   
   
2. Partners. VMworld does a good job of effectively bringing every partner into one room in the Solutions Exchange pavilion. This is a good way to get a feel for what's out there when the Internet isn't enough.
   
   
3. Sessions. Most sessions are presented by leaders in their field, and I've enjoyed almost every one I've ever attended. Here's a little secret on the sessions: VMware is very stringent on the quality assurance aspect of the presentation format. Sure, there is a what you can and cannot say aspect to it, but also a very professional and effective communication strategy.
   
   
4. Variety. As I have stated before, and anyone whom has attended will say, VMware is not like a training class for a specific product. There is no "deliverable" that you walk away with, but what you do experience is a sampling of every aspect of your infrastructure (beyond virtualization). This can come in the form of conversations with people in similar situations. Everyone walks away with something positive from VMworld.
   
   
5. Fun. VMworld has fun as part of the agenda. This can be the VMworld party, which will have INXS performing this year, vendor parties or even exhibit floor swag. I'm not one to take much notice of swag, but every year someone will provide some form of promotional material that is pretty cool. I've amassed a boomerang, ocarina, water bottles, T-shirt apparel for any occasion and an endless score of USB flash drives.

VMworld is what you make of it, and you can benefit from all of the above as an attendee. If you will be there, I encourage you to go out and take it all in! I'll be there, and if you want to meet me be sure to stop by a Tweetup (or SmackUp) for the Virtumania podcast crew. It's Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. at the Veeam Booth (#413). Register for the event at Twtvite.com.

What do you like most about VMworld? Share your comments below.

Posted by Rick Vanover on 08/24/2010 at 12:47 PM