Your VMware-to-OpenShift Virtualization learning path, simplified.
Here in this blog, we will learn about the VMware-to-OpenShift Virtualization learning path, simplified.
If you’re a long-time VM administrator with deep experience in vSphere and you’re now exploring how Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization fits into your operational workflow, this guide was built with you in mind.
The high-level learning path for VMware administrators introduces OpenShift Virtualization concepts in a familiar way, helping you quickly adapt traditional virtualization skills to a Kubernetes-based environment. This blog offers a preview of what the learning path covers so you can move forward with confidence.
Why the VMware-to-OpenShift Virtualization Learning Path Matters
This learning path is designed to help VMware professionals become productive with OpenShift Virtualization by breaking down essential technical topics into simple, relatable modules. Through this structured experience, VM admins can:
✔ Translate VMware concepts into OpenShift workflows
Each chapter maps familiar VMware functionality—storage, networking, compute, observability, and VM components—to how they work in OpenShift Virtualization, making the transition intuitive.
✔ Learn quickly with concise chapters
The full learning path consists of short, focused sections totaling around 30 minutes, allowing busy administrators to ramp up efficiently.
✔ Compare similarities and differences
Some VMware tasks align closely with OpenShift Virtualization, while others require a shift in approach. The path highlights what carries over and where a Kubernetes-native mindset is needed.
✔ Lower the risks of migrating or coexisting
For teams evaluating hybrid setups or planning a migration, understanding how capabilities map across platforms helps drive better design, budgeting, and operational decisions.
Getting the Most Out of the Learning Path
To maximize the value of this learning path, consider the following guidance:
• Begin with your existing knowledge
As you go through the “Overview” module, think about your current VMware practices—provisioning VMs, managing storage and networking, monitoring performance, handling snapshots—and connect them to what you learn.
• Pause and reflect
After every major topic (Storage, Networking, Compute), ask yourself:
“How did I do this in VMware, and how does it work in OpenShift Virtualization?”
• Leverage supplemental resources
Use linked documentation, community discussions, and hands-on tutorials to deepen understanding of unfamiliar concepts.
• Practice in a lab environment
If you have access to a test cluster, try recreating everyday VMware activities inside OpenShift Virtualization—for example:
- Creating and configuring a VM
- Adding persistent storage
- Setting network rules
- Applying resource constraints
Hands-on experience reinforces learning and builds confidence.
New Addition: Daily Virtualization Tasks Module
A new chapter has been added focusing on everyday VM admin tasks, presented through visual, interactive demonstrations. These demos showcase both the UI and CLI, helping VMware administrators see exactly how common operations appear in OpenShift compared to traditional tools.
Included task categories:
- Infrastructure management: Set up and manage virtual machines directly within OpenShift.
- Backup and discovery: Explore recovery workflows and validation steps for virtualized workloads.
- Security and compliance: Apply updates, patches, and security configurations to running VMs.
- Automation and scripting: Streamline repetitive activities through automation to reduce risk and save time.
The Daily Tasks module provides a practical glimpse into how routine virtualization responsibilities translate into the OpenShift ecosystem.
Infrastructure Management Tasks
This section offers interactive demonstrations of daily VM admin tasks in OpenShift Virtualization
| Task | Demos |
|---|---|
| Install, configure, and manage Red Hat Hybrid Cloud Console |
|
| Perform regular maintenance and upgrades of the virtualization environment | Node Maintenance is placed in maintenance |
| Manage Virtual machines (VMs), templates, snapshots, and resource allocation | OpenShift -CY24Q3-Manage and Monitor VMs on OpenShift with ACM |
Why This Skills Shift Is Important Today
Most enterprises are operating in hybrid environments where VMs and containers coexist. OpenShift Virtualization brings these worlds together, running both on a single, unified platform—while still preserving the operational patterns VM administrators rely on.
For VMware practitioners, knowing what changes and what stays familiar helps eliminate surprises and creates a smoother, more predictable adoption journey.
As cloud-native approaches continue to evolve, the ability to manage VMs and container workloads side-by-side becomes a major advantage—offering flexibility, simplicity, and long-term operational stability.
Explore the learning path to see how you and your team can make a seamless transition into managing workloads with Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization.
