VCE, the leader in converged cloud infrastructure systems, and VMware, Inc., the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, today announced an expanded development partnership that will allow Vblock customers to experience seamless integration between VMware's portfolio of Cloud Management Solutions and VCE's Vblock Systems. The two companies will integrate technologies to enhance service provisioning, operations management and business management with the Vblock Systems Portfolio. In addition to VMware vSphere and vCenter Server, VCE will OEM vCenter Operations Manager, which will be integrated with VCE's newly announced VCE Vision Intelligent Operations software.

Based upon joint development activities underway since early 2012, VCE is today announcing native integration of its VCE Vision Intelligent Operations software into two key VMware virtualization management technologies:

VMware vCenter Operations
Vblock Systems will be natively discovered within the VMware vCenter Operations Suite, proactively ensuring health and operational efficiency of Vblock Systems. This integration will enable extended visibility into Vblock operations and bring management of Vblock Systems directly into the VMware vCenter Operations dashboard.

VMware vCenter Server
Vblock Systems will be physically discovered and viewed in the VMware vCenter Server topology. The VCE Vision Intelligent Operations solution with VMware vCenter Server will enable administrators to validate Vblock Systems compliance to Vblock System releases that are thoroughly tested with and certified for specific versions of each Vblock System component.

In addition to the capabilities announced today, the two companies will be jointly developing, marketing and selling expanded integrations into the entire portfolio of VMware virtualization and cloud management solutions with Vblock Systems. This includes plans to integrate VCE Vision Intelligent Operations with VMware vCloud Automation Center, VMware vCloud Suite, and IT Business Management solutions.

"Native integration of VCE innovative converged infrastructure systems with VMware's industry-leading management solutions will help our joint enterprise and service provider customers further simplify, automate and modernize management of their software-defined datacenter environments," said Ramin Sayar , Vice President & General Manager, Virtualization & Cloud Management, VMware.

"Vblock Systems with VMware virtualization technologies have become the de facto standard for mission critical applications in a virtual environment, delivering unprecedented customer value by speeding deployments, increasing business agility and lowering TCO," said Trey Layton , Chief Technology Officer, VCE. "VCE Vision is an innovative approach to discovering, validating and reporting health and status of Vblock Systems. Its integration with the VMware portfolio of virtualization and cloud management technologies will deliver the industry's most powerful cloud management experience."

Ten of the world's top 15 telecommunications companies use VCE Vblock Systems as part of their cloud offerings, and VCE has significant penetration into Fortune 500 accounts. VCE was recently named the market share leader for integrated infrastructure systems by Gartner.