The Start Of My New Job Role At VMware – Nicira

Wait……What……Say That Again Colotti?  Yes, you heard it right I am not joking.  After VMworld US 2012 I decided to take on a role that has some incredible potential to be bleeding edge.  After the past couple years doing vCloud and helping folks with everything vCloud, it seemed time for a change.  I was presented the chance to be part of a small, focussed team that will help not only sell Nicira to current OpenStack and other customers, but also doing what the CoE does best by solving the problems for the field, creating Alpha IP around Nicira, and helping train the field on the solution.

Now before you all go flooding my email with questions about it, trust me I have little idea about it yet and I am coming up to speed myself.  I have spent the last week just trying to understand the technology, architecture, how it works, etc.  I’m the newbie here, but I am a fast learner and there is a bit of a curve.  For the first few months I will be playing SE while others continue to get ramped up including some more SE’s.  Eventually I will be working with the small original team to start folding some of the learning back into the field as training, Alpha IP and all the normal things I have done for vCloud.  This time it will be for Nicira and Software Defined Networking.  Of course as we continue to move forward I am sure I will come back to the ‘Cloud Side’ to help specifically with Nicira and SDN on the VMware vCloud Suite.

I can say that having to learn all new technology including other Hypervisiors where Nicira works itself is a learning curve.  Heck, I’ve been a VMware guy for years so loading things like KVM, and XENServer in nested VM’s in my lab so I can run the NVP is just weird!  Needless to say I am still here I will still be with VMware, just less focussed on cloud and 100% focussed on Nicira and Software Defined Networking.  Keep your eyes peeled as I discover new things about this space and start writing about them.  Maybe this also warrants a theme change to usher in the new role.  I know myself and the other three guys are up to this new challenge.  Hey just think about all the cool stuff the four of us can present at VMworld 2013!

 

About Chris Colotti

Chris is active on the VMUG and event speaking circuit and is available for many events if you want to reach out and ask. Previously to this he spent close to a decade working for VMware as a Principal Architect. Previous to his nine plus years at VMware, Chris was a System Administrator that evolved his career into a data center architect. Chris spends a lot of time mentoring co-workers and friends on the benefits of personal growth and professional development. Chris is also amongst the first VMware Certified Design Experts (VCDX#37), and author of multiple white papers. In his spare time he helps his wife Julie run her promotional products as the accountant, book keeper, and IT Support. Chris also believes in both a healthy body and healthy mind, and has become heavily involved with fitness as a Diamond Team Beachbody Coach using P90X and other Beachbody Programs. Although Technology is his day job, Chris is passionate about fitness after losing 60 pounds himself in the last few years.

12 comments

  1. Awesome!! Congrats on the new role. Look forward to reading new posts on Nicira

  2. Sounds like a great opportunity for you and a very cool job. Looking forward to the great things we will learn through you.

  3. Awesome, congrats!

  4. Congrats and welcome to Nicira team

  5. If there is anyone up to the challenge it is you! Congrats!!

  6. Congrats Chris, cool move!

  7. wow. didnt see that coming. congrats bud

  8. Good luck! We will keep coming here to learn with you.

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