VMware CLOUD DIRECTOR 1.0 Admin Manual page 10

Cloud Director Administrator's Guide
Cloud resources include provider and organization virtual datacenters, external networks, organization
networks, and network pools. Before you can add cloud resources to Cloud 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.
Cloud Director Networking
Cloud Director supports three types of networks.
External networks
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Organization networks
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vApp networks
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Some organization 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 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 Networks
An organization network is contained within a Cloud Director organization and is available to all the vApps
in the organization. An organization network allows vApps within an organization to communicate with each
other. You can connect an organization network to an external network to provide external connectivity. You
can also create an isolated organization network that is internal to the organization. Certain types of
organization networks are backed by network pools.
Only system administrators can create organization networks. System administrators and organization
administrators can manage organization 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 network to allow the vApp to communicate
with other vApps in the organization and outside of the organization, if the organization 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 Cloud Director User's Guide.
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