We are approaching the Italian VMUG User Conference, scheduled for 3rd April (by the way, did you register? You can do it here). Our second speaker we are going to introduce today is Scott Lowe.

VMUG-IT: Hi Scott, would you like to introduce yourself?

Scott: My name is Scott Lowe, and I’m a blogger, speaker, and author. I currently have four published books to my credit–Mastering VMware vSphere 4, VMware vSphere 4 Administration Instant Reference, VMware vSphere Design (with Forbes Guthrie and Maish Saidel-Keesing), and Mastering VMware vSphere 5. My fifth book (written with Forbes Guthrie), VMware vSphere Design 2nd Edition, is due very soon (or might have been released by the time of the Italian VMUG Conference). I’ve spoken at VMworld for four consecutive years, and have presented at VMUG conferences all around the world. This is, however, my first time at a VMUG in Italy!

VMUG-IT: What is your role within VMware?

Scott: I came to VMware (from EMC) in early February, joining the Networking and Security Business Unit; this is the former Nicira group responsible for delivering a network virtualization solution. My role within the group is to help educate others about network virtualization as well as to work very closely with customers to shape VMware’s network virtualization solutions.

VMUG-IT: What are the latest technologies you are working on lately?

Scott: Before I joined VMware, I had transitioned away from focusing on vSphere specifically and was looking at a number of open source technologies, such as Open vSwitch (OVS), OpenStack, and others. That move was quite fortunate, as these are key open source efforts led by VMware to help further the development and adoption of network virtualization as a key component of the software-defined data center. So, my focus continues to be on OVS, OpenStack (especially OpenStack Quantum, the networking component), and related open source technologies and efforts.

VMUG-IT: What are your opinions about VMUG?

Scott: I’m very thankful for the efforts of VMUG worldwide to support its users, and I’m appreciative of the opportunity to help in some way. It’s great that VMware’s customers have an organization like VMUG to help provide ongoing education and awareness about VMware, VMware partners, and the solutions that customers need to solve their business problems.

VMUG-IT: What are you going to talk about at the Italian User Conference?

Scott: The title of my session is “Understanding Network Virtualization.” There’s a great deal of information in the industry today about software-defined networking (SDN), controllers, overlay protocols, and similar topics. What I’m hoping to be able to do is pull this information together in such a way that it will help attendees understand what network virtualization is and what VMware’s doing in this space.

VMUG-IT: Any other thoughts you’d like to add?

Scott: Only this–the industry is in a state of transformation right now, and it’s important for us as IT professionals to make sure we stay tuned in to the changes that are coming. VMUG is a great way to do that. If you’re not involved in your local VMUG, I highly encourage you do join and get involved.