One of the key announcements during VMworld 2020 was Project Monterey, a collaboration between VMware Inc. and three other companies to redefine hybrid architecture for a new generation of applications.

Working with Nvidia Corp., Pensando Inc. and Intel Corp., VMware is leveraging smart network interface controllers to build a consistent digital foundation on which applications can be managed and protected in any environment.

“I love Project Monterey because VMware is trying to set the agenda on architecture,” said John Furrier, co-host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. “This is the end-to-end, and purpose-built devices at the edge still need to be updated by software. This is a huge architectural shift.”

Furrier spoke with Dave Vellante and Stu Miniman, co-hosts of theCUBE, during the Day Two analysis as part of theCUBE’s coverage of the VMworld event. They discussed the role of partnerships in VMware’s enterprise strategy and the company’s focus on a hybrid cloud vision.

Expanding footprints

VMware’s positioning of Project Monterey for future deployment at the edge and other news released during the VMworld event highlight the firm’s willingness to pursue partnerships with other companies seeking to expand enterprise footprints through advanced technologies. Nvidia falls squarely in this category by virtue of its decision to acquire Arm Holdings Ltd., a key player in chip solutions driving the artificial intelligence space.

“Nvidia is going to be huge there with Arm,” Vellante said. “We think that is going to be a really new and interesting development, with AI inferencing at the edge. With some of the announcements VMware made around edge and even telco, VMware does a great job of identifying those waves and driving engineering to derive customer value.”

Over the past decade, VMware has evolved its business into one that is sharply focused on a multicloud and hybrid cloud vision for customers. This has been one of the key themes at VMworld 2020 as well.

“It’s where VMware fits with the big hypercloud players, how they’re helping extend what they have in a hybrid environment from a management standpoint and starting to push out to edge solutions,” Miniman noted. “When we started coming to the VMworld show in 2010, it was a huge amount of gear. Today, it’s all built in the cloud. That really puts a highlight on where we are with the technology.”

Here’s the complete video analysis, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of VMworld.

Image: VMware