Key Takeaways
- Broadcom releases VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.1, a secure and cost-effective infrastructure platform for production AI workloads
- VCF 9.1 offers up to 40% reduction in server costs, up to 39% lower storage TCO, and up to 46% reduction in Kubernetes operational costs
- The platform provides integrated security and mixed compute infrastructure support across AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA
- 56% of organizations prefer private cloud for production AI, with public cloud use down 15% year over year
Introduction to VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1
Broadcom Inc. has announced the release of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.1, a platform designed to provide a secure and cost-effective infrastructure for production AI workloads. This new release delivers an AI and Kubernetes native private cloud platform with integrated security and support for mixed compute infrastructure across AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA.
Benefits of VCF 9.1
VCF 9.1 offers several benefits, including:
Cost Savings
The platform provides significant cost savings, with up to 40% reduction in server costs through intelligent memory tiering for clusters running a mix of AI and non-AI workloads. Additionally, it offers up to 39% lower storage TCO through enhanced compression and deduplication for AI data pipelines.
Operational Efficiency
VCF 9.1 also provides up to 46% reduction in Kubernetes operational costs for running AI workloads at scale. Furthermore, it enables 4x faster cluster upgrades and 2x increased fleet capacity to rapidly scale AI infrastructure.
Comparison of VCF 9.1 Benefits
| Benefit | Description | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Server Costs | Intelligent memory tiering for mixed AI and non-AI workloads | Up to 40% |
| Storage TCO | Enhanced compression and deduplication for AI data pipelines | Up to 39% |
| Kubernetes Operational Costs | Running AI workloads at scale | Up to 46% |
| Cluster Upgrades | Faster cluster upgrades | 4x |
| Fleet Capacity | Increased fleet capacity | 2x |
Private Cloud Outlook 2026
A preview of Broadcom's Private Cloud Outlook 2026 report reveals that private cloud continues to be the preferred platform for production AI, with 56% of organizations running or planning to run production inferencing in a private cloud. Public cloud use for production inference was 41%, down 15% year over year. Additionally, 62% of IT leaders reported being very or extremely concerned about generative AI infrastructure costs, while 36% report AI is driving new requirements for data protection, privacy, security controls, and risk management.
Efficient Infrastructure at Scale
VCF 9.1 maximizes density for both VM and containerized AI workloads on existing infrastructure while dramatically reducing operational complexity. Through intelligent resource management and automated operations, enterprises can deploy more production workloads on current servers, scale efficiently across distributed environments, and eliminate the need for costly infrastructure expansion.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1 provides a secure and cost-effective infrastructure platform for production AI workloads, offering significant cost savings, operational efficiency, and integrated security. With private cloud continuing to be the preferred platform for production AI, VCF 9.1 is an attractive option for enterprises looking to deploy AI workloads with lower costs and enhanced security.