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Keith Norbie, vice president at Nexus, the Minnetonka, Minn., office of Atlanta-based solution provider Stratos Management Systems, said he will be looking for the execution engine on the software-defined data center (SDDC) and all the ecosystem progressions around the advancement of this movement.
However, Norbie said, he will also be calling out VMware on past promises. "I'm looking for short-term perspective on what's executable from the 'tech previews' of previous VMworld and events," he said.
Other solution providers said they hope to get information from VMware on specific technologies including the new VMware Horizon Mirage technology, which blends elements of client and server virtualization in VDI implementations, giving IT departments full control over endpoints while allowing users to customize their machines as they see fit.
Other topics of interest to solution providers include VMware's overall end-user computing strategy, target markets for VMware's vCloud Director, overall vCloud Suite strategy and details of when to use vCloud Automation Center vs. vCloud Director.
VMware's plans for engaging its channel partners will be a major concern at the VMware Partner Exchange.
Norbie said he will be keeping an eye out on how VMware's plans will impact his organization.
"I'm looking for the future," he said. "What services and offerings does Stratos need to make? What's relevant? Who are the right people to network with to pull off this year's super-human feats?"
New and emerging opportunities for partners in VMware's 2012 and 2014 programs is a key concern of Kent MacDonald, vice president of converged infrastructure and network services at Long View Systems, a Calgary, Alberta-based provider of VMware technology to U.S. and Canadian customers.
"What are VMware's priorities and focus for the coming year?" MacDonald said. "Where should partners be investing to mutually elevate our value to the market? Software-defined networking, cloud and virtual desk are most hot right now."
Solution providers also said they will be looking for more support in the areas of technical training, marketing and sales enablement.
Daniel Duffy, CEO and CIO of Valley Network Solutions, a Fresno, Calif.-based solution provider and VMware partner, said he hopes to see more continuity in support from VMware's channel account managers.
Duffy said that his company has had to endure no less than eight channel account manager changes since it started working with VMware in 2008, or an average of 1.6 changes a year.
NEXT: Keeping In Touch With VMware's Channel People
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