VMware VExpert Resources & Benefits
I’m proud to be part of the vExpert family since 2014. I maintain this page as a memo, with useful links and resources about the vExpert program.
The annual VMware vExpert title is given to individuals who have significantly contributed to the community of VMware users over the past year. The title is awarded to individuals (not employers) for their commitment to sharing their knowledge and passion for VMware technology above and beyond their job requirements.
You can apply for the vExpert program using 3 different paths:
Evangelist Path - The Evangelist Path includes book authors, bloggers, tool builders, public speakers, VMTN contributors, and other IT professionals who share their knowledge and passion with others with the leverage of a personal public platform to reach many people. Employees of VMware can also apply via the Evangelist path. A VMware employee reference is recommended if your activities weren’t all in public or were in a language other than English.
Customer Path - The Customer Path is for leaders from VMware customer organizations. They have been internal champions in their organizations, or worked with VMware to build success stories, act as customer references, given public interviews, spoken at conferences, or were VMUG leaders. A VMware employee reference is recommended if your activities weren’t all in public.
VPN (VMware Partner Network) Path - The VPN Path is for employees of our partner companies who lead with passion and by example, who are committed to continuous learning through accreditations and certifications and to making their technical knowledge and expertise available to many. This can take shape of event participation, video, IP generation, as well as public speaking engagements. A VMware employee reference is required for VPN Path candidates.
But why applying to vExpert? As a vExpert, you have the following benefits:
- Network with over 2,000 other vExperts and VCDX’s
- Invite to the private vExpert #Slack channel
- Opportunity to apply for 10 product BU led vExpert sub-programs
- vExpert certificate signed by our CEO
- Permission to use the vExpert logo on cards, website, etc. for one year
- Exclusive gifts from various VMware partners
- Private webinars with VMware partners as well as NFRs
- Access to private betas (subject to admission by beta teams)
- 365-day eval licenses for VMware products for home lab / cloud providers
- Private pre-launch briefings via the blogger briefing pre-VMworld (subject to admission by product teams)
- Featured in a public vExpert online directory
- Access to vetted VMware & Virtualization content for your social channels
- Yearly vExpert parties at both VMworld US and VMworld Europe events
- Identification as a vExpert at both VMworld US and VMworld EU
Be sure to also check the various benefits that other vendors and editors grant to vExperts in the table at the bottom of this page.
vExpert Over The Years
Note: I intentionally omitted previous years because I did not find enough information about vExpert for the years before 2012.
vExpert Resources
A public listing of current vExperts can be found in the vExpert Directory page.
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Twitter: @vExpert
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Email: vexpert [ at ] vmware [ dot ] com
Medias Resources
…and some legacy resources:
- vExpert Information Spreadsheet (unofficial, last update in 2014): thanks to Jeremiah Dooley
Subprograms
vExpert NSX
The vExpert NSX program is build upon the vExpert program. To apply you must be a current vExpert as well as evangelizing VMware NSX. There will be an application once per year for each of the sub-programs.
| Period | Number | Announcement | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | vExpert NSX 2018 Award Announcement | N/A | |
| 2017 | vExpert NSX 2017 Award Announcement | N/A | |
| 2016 | vExpert NSX 2016 Award Announcement | N/A |
vExpert vSAN
The vExpert vSAN program is build upon the vExpert program. To apply you must be a current vExpert as well as evangelizing VMware vSAN. We will open applications once per year for each of the sub-programs.
| Period | Number | Announcement | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | vExpert 2018 vSAN Announcement | N/A | |
| 2017 | vExpert 2017 vSAN Announcement | N/A | |
| 2016 | vExpert 2016 vSAN Announcement | N/A |
vExpert Cloud Management
The vExpert Cloud Management program is build upon the vExpert program. To apply you must be a current vExpert as well as evangelizing VMware Cloud Management Solutions (vRealize Operations, vRealize Log Insight, vRealize Network Insight, vRealize Automation and VMware Skyline). We will open applications once per year for each of the sub-programs.
| Period | Number | Announcement | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | vExpert Cloud 2017 Award Announcement | N/A |
vExpert Cloud Provider
The vExpert Cloud Provider program is build upon the vExpert program. To apply you must be a current vExpert as well as evangelizing VMware Cloud Provider Solutions (VMware Cloud Director and Cloud Director Service, VMware vCloud Availability, Cloud Provider Hub, Usage Meter / Usage Insight and vRealize Operations Tenant App). We will open applications once per year for each of the sub-programs.
vExpert Application Modernization
vExperts that have the vExpert Application Modernization status have demonstrated significant contributions to the community, specifically on the Application Modernization (Tanzu) vision and portfolio of VMware.
vExpert Avi
vExperts that have the vExpert Avi status have demonstrated significant contributions to the community, specifically on the Advanced Load Balancing (Avi, or NSX Advanced Load Balancer) vision and portfolio of VMware.
vExpert VMware Cloud on AWS
vExperts that have the vExpert VMware Cloud on AWS status have demonstrated significant contributions to the community, specifically on the Hybrid Cloud (VMware Cloud on AWS) vision and portfolio of VMware.
vExpert End User Computing
The vExpert End User Computing program is build upon the vExpert program. To apply you must be a current vExpert as well as evangelizing VMware End User Computing Solutions (such as Workspace ONE, Horizon, App Volumes, and Dynamic Environment Manager). We will open applications once per year for each of the sub-programs.
vExpert Desktop Hypervisor
vExperts that have the vExpert Desktop Hypervisor status have demonstrated significant contributions to the community, specifically on the Desktop Hypervisor (Workstation, Fusion) vision and portfolio of VMware.
vExpert HCX
The vExpert HCX program is build upon the vExpert program. To apply you must be a current vExpert as well as evangelizing VMware HCX or workload mobility and migrations. We will open applications once per year for each of the sub-programs.
vExpert Security
The vExpert Security program is build upon the vExpert program. To apply you must be a current vExpert as well as evangelizing VMware Security products (like VMware Carbon Black Cloud, Workspace ONE, NSX, Secure State and beyond). We will open applications once per year for each of the sub-programs.
vExpert Pro
The idea behind the development of vExpert PRO program is to create a network of vExperts around the world who are willing to identify and recruit new vExperts in their local communities and be mentors for these new vExperts.
| Period | Number | Announcement | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | vExpert PRO Program Launch | N/A |
vExpert Program Benefits
Looking for software bits? Have a look to the new vExpert Download Tool.
Besides the public recognition of being a vExpert and the benefits that VMware offers to that community (private forum, access to beta, etc.), some vendors grant additional benefits to vExperts, like free subscriptions, NFR licenses and so on.
| Editor/Vendor | Description | Benefit! |
|---|---|---|
| Altaro | Free NFR key of Altaro VM Backup (unlimited edition) valued at €520, to back up your Hyper-V or VMware virtual machines. | Free Altaro VM Backup NFR license for IT pros |
| Aomei | AOMEI Free Not-For-Resale (NFR) licenses | AOMEI Free Not-For-Resale (NFR) Program |
| ControlUp | ControlUp Free license | ControlUp Free license |
| Devolutions | NFR Remote Desktop Manager & Password Vault Manager Enterprise license | Devolutions RDM License |
| Easyvirt | One-year free license for 50 VMs for the DC Scope solution | DC Scope free license |
| HyTrust | Free one-year KeyControl license for vSphere and vSAN Encryption | Free HyTrust KeyControl for VMware vExperts |
| Kemp | NFR License for LoadMaster VLM-2000. | LoadMaster NFR |
| Liquidware Labs | 25 licenses VDI Essentials + 1 Flex-io server license - perpetual license | Send an email from company address along with date certified vExpert to sales [at] liquidwarelabs.com |
| Nakivo | FREE two-socket Not For Resale (NFR) license of NAKIVO Backup & Replication for your home or work lab. | Free NFR Licenses for VMware Pros |
| Nexenta | NexentaConnect for VMware Virtual SAN 1-yr promotional license for up to 8 CPU Sockets. | NexentaConnect NFR |
| Pluralsight | Unlimited and free access to the entire Pluralsight training library for one year. | Pluralsight Free Annual Subscription |
| Royal TS | Free NFR license for Royal TS/X. | Royal TS/X NFR |
| Runecast | NFR license of Runecast Analyzer | Runecast NFR (put vExpert as the company name) |
| StarWind | Special free license that contains all the features of StarWind Virtual SAN for Hyper-V and/or StarWind Virtual SAN for vSphere | StarWind Virtual SAN for VMware Experts |
| Synergy | Free NFR Copy (Mouse & Keyboard sharing software) | Synergy NFR |
| Veeam | Veeam is giving away NFR licenses for 2 sockets of Veeam Availabilty Suite 9.5 for your home or work lab (non-production use) without any feature limitations for 1 year. The license works for both VMware and Hyper‑V environments. | Veeam NFR |
| Vembu | Free NFR (fully-functional license), includes 2 CPU socket licenses for VMware/Hyper-V Environment (Unlimited VMs), 1 Physical Windows Server License, Unlimited Windows & Mac Workstations Backup | Free NFR license for Vembu BDR Suite |
| Vimalin | Free Vimalin 2.0 license for VMware Fusion & VMware Workstation virtual machines backup tool | Free Vimalin 2.0 license for for vExperts |
| VirtualMetric | Free NFR VirtualMetric key (including 10 sockets for one year). | Free NFR VirtualMetric key |
| Zerto | NFR license | Zerto NFR |
| URL Shortener | vExpert URL Shortener with vexpert.me domain. | vExpert URL Shortener |
Feel free to contact me on Twitter or via email (which you can find on this page)!