As virtualization environments continue to evolve, organizations are looking beyond the hypervisor itself. One of the most important questions is whether the applications and supporting technologies already in use will continue to work properly on a new virtualization platform.
A successful migration is not simply about moving virtual machines. Backup, security, database, monitoring, VDI, and other business-critical applications must also operate reliably in the new environment.
HPE addresses this requirement with the HPE Morpheus VM Essentials Self-Validation Program. The program allows independent software and hardware vendors to test their solutions on HPE Morpheus VM Essentials and validate compatibility through a defined process.
What is HPE Morpheus VM Essentials?
HPE Morpheus VM Essentials is a virtualization platform that includes a built-in KVM-based hypervisor together with centralized management capabilities. According to HPE, the platform is also designed to support unified management across HPE and VMware environments.
However, the success of a virtualization platform depends on more than the hypervisor itself. The surrounding software ecosystem is equally important.
When organizations consider a new platform, they naturally ask questions such as:
Will our backup solution work in this environment?
Is our security software supported?
Can we continue using our database or VDI platform?
Will our existing business applications operate as expected?
The Self-Validation Program is designed to make these compatibility questions easier to answer.
What does the program provide?
The program gives ISVs, or Independent Software Vendors, a structured way to validate their products on VM Essentials.
Once testing is completed successfully and the results are accepted by HPE, the solution can be listed in the HPE Morpheus VM Essentials Qualification Matrix and on the related workloads page.
This creates value for both vendors and customers.
For the vendor, it increases visibility within the HPE ecosystem. For the customer, it provides a clearer reference showing that the solution has been tested for compatibility with VM Essentials.
HPE also highlights additional benefits such as stronger market differentiation, increased customer confidence, faster time to market, and potential visibility through HPE blogs and field communications for selected validations. a00155725enw
Who can participate?
The program is open to different types of technology providers whose products run on or interoperate with HPE Morpheus VM Essentials.
Examples include solutions in areas such as:
- Backup and data protection
- Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
- Databases and analytics
- Security
- Industry-specific and business applications
- Server, storage, and networking infrastructure
Organizations evaluating application compatibility for migration to VM Essentials can also use the program as part of their assessment process.
Not every product is automatically eligible.
Participation is subject to an HPE eligibility review. Solutions that install directly on the HVM hypervisor host, modify the host software stack, or duplicate functionality already provided or planned by HPE may fall outside the scope of the program. a00155725enw
How does the validation process work?
HPE describes the process in four main steps.
The first step is to request the Self-Validation Kit. This includes the official test plan and the Validation Report, which is used to document the results.
The next step is to gain access to VM Essentials. Customers can use a 60-day trial, while eligible partners can request a Not for Resale, or NFR, license.
The vendor then runs the required test plan in its own lab environment and records the test results and supporting evidence in the Validation Report.
Finally, the completed validation package is submitted to HPE for review. If accepted, the solution can be added to the VM Essentials workloads page and the Qualification Matrix.
One of the practical advantages of this model is that most of the testing can be completed in the vendor’s own environment.
What is required in the test environment?
The validation environment should follow the guidance provided in the HPE Qualification Matrix.
The servers, storage, guest operating systems, and other components used during testing should be supported by VM Essentials.
The Validation Report must also include the required test evidence. Simply stating that a test was successful is not enough; the results need to be documented according to the official test plan.
Eligible Gold and Silver tier HPE Partner Ready for Technology Partners may also be able to arrange remote access to an HPE lab, depending on program eligibility.
What happens after validation?
Once a validation is approved, the solution can be published in the VM Essentials Qualification Matrix and on the VM Essentials workloads page.
HPE also notes that selected validated solutions may be included in related communications and marketing activities, depending on program and partner approvals.
This is especially useful for enterprise customers.
When organizations evaluate a new virtualization platform, they do not look only at hypervisor features. They also need to understand whether their existing backup, security, monitoring, database, and application platforms are supported.
Having a product listed in an official qualification matrix makes that evaluation process more straightforward.
Why does this matter for ISVs?
As the virtualization market continues to change, software vendors increasingly need to support more than one infrastructure platform.
This is particularly important for companies developing backup, disaster recovery, security, monitoring, database, and VDI solutions.
The HPE Self-Validation Program provides these vendors with a clear process.
The vendor tests the solution using the official plan. The results are documented. HPE reviews the submission. Customers can then check validated solutions through HPE’s official resources.
For that reason, the program should be viewed as more than a certification or marketing initiative. Its broader purpose is to help build a reliable and validated software and infrastructure ecosystem around HPE Morpheus VM Essentials.
