5.1

Cloud resources include provider and organization virtual datacenters, external networks, organization vDC
networks, and network pools. Before you can add cloud resources to vCloud Director, you must add vSphere
resources.
Provider Virtual Datacenters
A provider virtual datacenter (vDC) combines the compute and memory resources of a single vCenter Server
resource pool with the storage resources of one or more datastores available to that resource pool.
You can create multiple provider vDCs for users in different geographic locations or business units, or for users
with different performance requirements.
Organization Virtual Datacenters
An organization virtual datacenter (vDC) provides resources to an organization and is partitioned from a
provider vDC. Organization vDCs provide an environment where virtual systems can be stored, deployed,
and operated. They also provide storage for virtual media, such as floppy disks and CD ROMs.
A single organization can have multiple organization vDCs.
vCloud Director Networking
vCloud Director supports three types of networks.
n
External networks
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organization vDC networks
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vApp networks
Some organization vDC networks and all vApp networks are backed by network pools.
External Networks
An external network is a logical, differentiated network based on a vSphere port group. organization vDC
networks can connect to external networks to provide Internet connectivity to virtual machines inside of a
vApp.
Only system administrators create and manage external networks.
Organization vDC Networks
An organization vDC network is contained within a vCloud Director organization vDC and is available to all
the vApps in the organization. An organization vDC network allows vApps within an organization to
communicate with each other. You can connect an organization vDC network to an external network to provide
external connectivity. You can also create an isolated organization vDC network that is internal to the
organization. Certain types of organization vDC networks are backed by network pools.
Only system administrators can create organization vDC networks. System administrators and organization
administrators can manage organization vDC networks, although there are some limits to what an organization
administrator can do.
vApp Networks
A vApp network is contained within a vApp and allows virtual machines in the vApp to communicate with
each other. You can connect a vApp network to an organization vDC network to allow the vApp to
communicate with other vApps in the organization and outside of the organization, if the organization vDC
network is connected to an external network. vApp networks are backed by network pools.
Most users with access to a vApp can create and manage their own vApp networks. Working with vApp
networks is described in the VMware vCloud Director User's Guide.
vCloud Director Administrator's Guide
12 VMware, Inc.