VMware Tanzu provides a full stack of capabilities for modernizing your applications and infrastructure to continuously deliver better software to production. The VMware Tanzu portfolio simplifies multi-cloud operations, and allows developers to easily access the resources they need to build modern applications.
VMware Tanzu allows you to containerize your workloads to run in the cloud, while increasing security and manageability. You can refactor existing software to be delivered continuously and resiliently. You run and manage your applications consistently everywhere, on a secure and scalable infrastructure with a conformant Kubernetes runtime. You can get VMware Tanzu either in the form of one of the VMware Tanzu Editions, or by selecting from the individual products to meet your requirements.
VMware Tanzu Reference Architecture Documentation
The VMware Tanzu Reference Architecture Documentation contains Reference Architecture documents for validated deployment configurations for the following bundles of Tanzu products:
- VMware Tanzu for Kubernetes Operations
- VMware Tanzu Application Platform and its associated products
VMware Tanzu for Kubernetes Operations Docs
The VMware Tanzu portfolio includes a set of products and services for cloud infrastructure administrators and operators, to allow you to create and manage your Kubernetes environment across multiple platforms.
Capability |
Product Documentation |
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Manage, observe, configure, control, and protect all your of Kubernetes clusters across any environment |
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Embed Kubernetes in vSphere 7 |
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Deploy Kubernetes-based container solutions across vSphere 6.7U3, vSphere 7, Amazon EC2, and Microsoft Azure |
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Create an enterprise-class service mesh for consistent control and security for microservices, end users, and data |
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Obtain high-performance alerting and streaming analytics with metrics, histograms, and traces/spans |
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Simplify digital transformation to modern applications by containerizing applications |
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Retrieve vCPU capacity from VMware Tanzu products in internet-restricted, or air-gapped, environments |
Retrieving vCPU Capacity from Air-Gapped Tanzu Environments |
Provision, operate, and manage enterprise-grade Kubernetes clusters using BOSH and Ops Manager |
VMware Tanzu Developer Docs
Application developers can use tools and services from the VMware Tanzu portfolio to build, containerize, and deploy modern applications across multiple clouds.
Capability |
|
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Build, deploy, and manage applications on a Kubernetes platform |
VMware Tanzu Application Platform |
Deploy streaming and batch data pipelines to Kubernetes |
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Turn application source code into container images |
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Provide framework and runtime support for applications in different languages to Tanzu Build Service |
VMware Tanzu Buildpacks |
Select from a customizable catalog of maintained and verifiably tested open source software images |
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Deploy new code into production and run microservices across clouds |
VMware Tanzu Data Services Docs
The Tanzu Data Services offer on-demand caching, messaging, and database software for development teams building modern applications.
Capability |
Product Documentation |
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Provision and automate management of PostgreSQL and MySQL databases on vSphere infrastructure |
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Create continuously available apps with high-performance caching |
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Implement massively parallel processing for next-generation data warehousing and large-scale analytics processing |
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Scale applications with self-service, highly automated messaging and streaming |
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Run dedicated MySQL and Postgres instances on Kubernetes |
VMware Tanzu Editions Docs
VMware Tanzu is available in different editions, that get you started with Kubernetes in vSphere, allow you to run Kubernetes workloads across different cloud providers, or enable you to create an enterprise-grade environment for application deployment.

Each edition inherits the components of the edition that precedes it. So, VMware Tanzu Standard Edition includes all of the components of VMware Tanzu Basic Edition, and VMware Tanzu Advanced includes all of the components of VMware Tanzu Standard Edition and VMware Tanzu Basic Edition. All editions are built upon the foundation of VMware Tanzu Community Edition.
- VMware Tanzu Community Edition Documentation
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VMware Tanzu Community Edition is a full-featured, easy to manage Kubernetes platform for learners and users. It is a freely available, community supported, open source distribution of VMware Tanzu that can be installed and configured in minutes on your local workstation with Docker or on vSphere, AWS, or Microsoft Azure. For more information, see the VMware Tanzu Community Edition documentation.
- VMware Tanzu Basic Edition Documentation
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With VMware Tanzu Basic Edition you can embed Kubernetes in vSphere 7, or deploy your own management cluster on vSphere 6.7U3 or vSphere 7. The table below contains links to the documentation for the different components of VMware Tanzu Basic Edition.
Capability
Product Documentation
Kubernetes Runtime
VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Service in vSphere with Tanzu on vSphere 7
VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid on vSphere 6.7U3 or vSphere 7
Observability
Logs and metrics forwarding provided by the Fluent Bit package supplied with VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid
Networking
Load balancing service provided by VMware NSX Advanced Load Balancer Essentials
Container Networking with Antrea CNI built in to Tanzu Kubernetes clusters, with Calico as an optional alternative
Image Management
Harbor Registry provided by the Harbor package supplied with VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid
vSphere Registry Service, with NSX-T Data Center
- VMware Tanzu Standard Edition Documentation
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VMware Tanzu Standard Edition is for organizations that want to operate a Kubernetes-based container solution across vSphere 6.7U3, vSphere 7, Amazon EC2, and Microsoft Azure. VMware Tanzu Standard Edition allows you to operate one distribution anywhere and gain consistent management over all your Kubernetes clusters. The table below contains links to the documentation for the different components of VMware Tanzu Standard Edition.
Capability
Product Documentation
Deployment
See the VMware Tanzu Reference Architecture for information about different deployment configurations
Management
Consistent management over all your Kubernetes clusters, global observability, common configuration control and centralized data protection across any environment with VMware Tanzu Mission Control Standard
Kubernetes Runtime
VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Service in vSphere with Tanzu on vSphere 7
VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid on vSphere 6.7U3 or vSphere 7, AWS, or Microsoft Azure
Observability
Logs and metrics forwarding, and platform monitoring and alerting, provided by the Fluent Bit, Prometheus, and Grafana packages supplied by VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid
Networking
Load balancing service provided by VMware NSX Advanced Load Balancer Essentials
Container Networking with Antrea CNI built in to Tanzu Kubernetes clusters, with Calico as an optional alternative
Image Management
Harbor Registry provided by the Harbor package supplied with VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid
vSphere Registry Service (with NSX-T Data Center)
- VMware Tanzu Advanced Documentation
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VMware Tanzu Advanced Edition simplifies and secures the container life cycle, enabling teams to accelerate the delivery of modern apps at scale across clouds. It adds a comprehensive global control plane with observability and service mesh, advanced load balancing, and developer enablement in terms of frameworks, data services, an image catalog, and automated build. The table below contains links to the documentation for the different components of VMware Tanzu Advanced Edition.
Capability
Product Documentation
Deployment
See an overview of the components in VMware Tanzu Advanced, and how to deploy and configure VMware Tanzu Advanced Edition in Deploy and Configure VMware Tanzu Advanced Edition
See the VMware Tanzu Reference Architecture for information about different deployment configurations
Management
Consistent management over all your Kubernetes clusters, global observability, common configuration control and centralized data protection across any environment with VMware Tanzu Mission Control Advanced
Kubernetes Runtime
VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid Service in vSphere with Tanzu on vSphere 7
VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid on vSphere 6.7U3 or vSphere 7, AWS, or Microsoft Azure
Observability
High-performance alerting and streaming analytics with metrics, histograms, and traces/spans provided by VMware Tanzu Observability by Wavefront
Logs and metrics forwarding, and platform monitoring and alerting, provided by the Fluent Bit, Prometheus, and Grafana packages supplied by VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid
Networking
Enterprise-class service mesh for consistent control and security for microservices, end users, and data provided by VMware Tanzu Service Mesh
Advanced load balancing service provided by VMware NSX Advanced Load Balancer Enterprise
Container Networking with Antrea CNI built in to Tanzu Kubernetes clusters, with Calico as an optional alternative
Container Build
Turn application source code into container images with VMware Tanzu Build Service
Developer Framework
Build, deploy, and manage applications on a Kubernetes platform VMware Tanzu Application Platform
Deploy streaming and batch data pipelines to Kubernetes with the VMware Spring Runtime
Image Management
Select from a customizable catalog of open source software images that is continuously maintained and verifiably tested for use in production environments with VMware Application Catalog
Harbor Registry, provided by the Harbor package supplied with VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid
vSphere Registry Service (with NSX-T Data Center)
Data Services
Run dedicated MySQL and Postgres instances on Kubernetes with VMware Tanzu SQL
Use the VMware Tanzu Docs
If you are logged in to docs.vmware.com with your MyVMware account, you can create custom documentation collections, that contain only the content that meets your specific information needs, by using MyLibrary.
Learn More About VMware Tanzu and Kubernetes
In addition to the user docs, VMware creates a wide array of other VMware Tanzu content and resources to help you with your VMware Tanzu deployments and with application development with VMware Tanzu.
Discover and learn about Kubernetes by taking Kubernetes training courses at the KubeAcademy from VMware.
Visit the VMware Tanzu Developer Center for blogs, whitepapers, getting started guides, code samples, and other developer resources, contributed by both VMware and by the community.
Search Knowledge Base articles for troubleshooting and tips for VMware Tanzu products.
Get technical guidance about VMware Tanzu deployments in the VMware Tech Zone.
Find VMware Tanzu code samples, tips, and community contributions on VMware {code}.
Find VMware Tanzu Solution Briefs, Testimonials and Demos
For further information about the capabilities of the VMware Tanzu portfolio, visit the VMware Tanzu home page and the product page for each individual VMware Tanzu capability, edition, or product.
VMware Tanzu Editions |
VMware Tanzu Ops |
VMware Tanzu Dev |
VMware Tanzu Data |
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VMware Tanzu Application Platform |
Explore VMware Tanzu Videos and Podcasts
Learn about how VMware Tanzu helps you to create a Kubernetes development and deployment platform by browsing the library of videos on the VMware Tanzu and VMware Cloud Native Apps YouTube channels, as well as on Twitch. Also, tune into VMware Tanzu broadcasts:
Watch live and recorded demos, webinars, and regular episodes of Tanzu Tuesdays on Tanzu.TV!
Listen to the regular Tanzu Talk Podcasts!
Stay Up to Date with VMware Tanzu News
VMware posts regularly about VMware Tanzu products, product releases, and events on the VMware Tanzu Blog. You can find more news and articles on the VMware Cloud Blog.
You can also follow VMware Tanzu on Twitter and Facebook.
Posts provide information about how customers are using VMware Tanzu products, including best practices and design principles, as well as the latest news about running Kubernetes and open source technology on VMware, and managing your VMware Tanzu deployments.
Partner with VMware Tanzu Labs
Engage with VMware Tanzu Labs to get your VMware Tanzu journey started, and follow VMware Tanzu Labs on Twitter.