VMware vRealize Network Insight - Short Review

VMware vRealize Network Insight, now rebranded as VMware Aria Operations for Networks, is a comprehensive network monitoring and management tool designed to help organizations build, optimize, and secure their network infrastructure across various environments, including multi-cloud, virtual, and physical networks.

What it Does

VMware Aria Operations for Networks (formerly vRealize Network Insight) is aimed at enhancing the visibility, performance, and security of network infrastructure. It supports deployments across multiple platforms such as VMware NSX, VMware SD-WAN, vSphere, VMware Cloud on AWS, and Kubernetes environments. The tool is available both on-premises and as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering.

Key Features and Functionality

Network Visibility and Monitoring

• The tool collects and analyzes IPFIX flow traffic, which traverses the vSphere Distributed Switch (VDS), providing real-time views of network traffic patterns, traffic distribution details, and configuration and performance metrics for full network visibility.

Micro-Segmentation Planning and Deployment

• It accelerates micro-segmentation planning and deployment, enabling organizations to implement network segmentation more efficiently and securely.

Cross-Environment Visibility

• VMware Aria Operations for Networks offers converged visibility across both virtual and physical networks, allowing for better management and scaling of network infrastructure, particularly for VMware NSX deployments.

Operational Views and Management

• The tool provides operational views to manage and scale network infrastructure, including insights into critical or behavioral changes in the network, anomalies, and health indicators for various network entities.

Troubleshooting and Analytics

• It includes features for quick troubleshooting across virtual and physical network and security infrastructure. The tool offers app-centric, flow-based network troubleshooting and analytics, as well as path visibility for overlay fabric and underlay networks.

Network Assurance and Verification

• VMware Aria Operations for Networks includes formal verification using a unified mathematical model of the network, enhancing proactive monitoring and ensuring better network performance, uptime, and resiliency.

Guided Workflows

• The tool offers guided workflows through “Explore Guides” to help users perform critical tasks efficiently, such as network planning, deployment, and troubleshooting.

Security and Compliance

• It enables users to audit changes to the security posture and ensures compliance with security policies, helping in maintaining a secure network environment.

In summary, VMware Aria Operations for Networks (formerly vRealize Network Insight) is a powerful tool that integrates intelligent network operations, enhanced visibility, and robust troubleshooting capabilities to help organizations optimize, secure, and manage their network infrastructure effectively across diverse environments.