VMblog:  As a VMworld 2019 sponsor, how can people find you this year? 

Mike Koponen:  Pivot3 can be found at booth #1851. We have a great staff of Solution Architects, Product Managers, Executives, and Account Executives that can discuss technical to business to industry to alliances type topics. Just look for the big Pivot3 sign up above the booth.

VMblog:  Is there anything unique about this year's booth setup?  Do you have a theme? 

Koponen:  Our theme is around "Intelligent Infrastructure" specifically "Intelligent Hyperconverged Infrastructure". With AI, analytics, and deep learning technologies helping IT get more agile, efficient, and responsive, we have designed that into out HCI software platform.

VMblog:  Can you give readers a few reasons why your product or service is considered unique? 

Koponen:  It's all about "Intelligence". At the core of Pivot3's Hyperconverged Infrastructure (aka HCI) systems is an Intelligence Engine that automates management of performance, security, data protection, and data management. It makes it simpler to achieve your application SLAs when you have multiple, mixed application workloads on the HCI. This combined with our use of a NVME optimized datapath, patented erasure coding for data protection, and more flexible/granular ways to scale results in lower costs and better business results. 

VMblog:  Why should a VMworld attendee add you to their MUST SEE list?

Koponen:  We have compelling, proven technology and solutions that deliver outstanding business results and make IT organizations lives easier. It's worth the time to stop by our booth and see what we can do for you. Plus, I really believe we have some very smart, experienced people that understand & appreciate your challenges and can help you design a solution that meets your needs. And if we can't, they will tell you.

VMblog:  Can you give VMblog readers a sneak peek as to what you will be showing off at your booth this year?  What should attendees expect to see and hear at your booth?

Koponen:  This year we will have three demo stands in our booth. One demo stand will walk you through the capabilities of our Intelligence Engine and show how simple policies are used to manage performance, data protection, and security. Another demo stand will show how a Hybrid Cloud IT model can be deployed with hyperconverged infrastructure. The third demo stand is related to the VMworld track of Emerging Trends. We have a demo of a Pivot3 analytics hyperconverged platform optimized for video analytics. It's a compelling use of Pivot3 HCI in an emerging area.

VMblog:  How does your company and product fit within the VMware ecosystem?

Koponen:  Pivot3 provides a hyperconverged software platform and systems based on the ESXi hypervisor and integrated with multiple VMware technologies such as VAAI, PSA, vCenter, and SRM. As such, Pivot3 provides a high performance, resilient and scalable platform for the entire VMware ecosystem of software solutions to enable complete datacenter and security solutions for customers. Whether it be modernizing your datacenter, furthering consolidation initiatives, building a private or hybrid cloud, or deploying a new application initiative Pivot3 hyperconverged provides an excellent foundation to build a VMware-based infrastructure.

VMblog:  Do you remember your first VMworld event?  What can you tell us about it?  What memories stand out?

Koponen:  Wow, that was back as this will be my 15th VMworld! I more remember the 2nd one as it was in Los Angeles CA. with the sessions and events held at various hotel locations and there were buses taking everyone everywhere in L.A. traffic. That was the one and only VMworld in L.A. and from then on logistics have been pretty smooth for the most part. 

VMblog:  What do you think we need to do collectively as an ecosystem to strengthen the industry?

Koponen:  No one product offering from a single vendor does it all. We (the IT ecosystem of software, infrastructure, and services vendors) need to partner and collaborate to solve our mutual customer's needs and problems vs. just being solely focused on pitching our own technology.

VMblog:  What do you hope to come away with from exhibiting at VMworld?

Koponen:  Lots of great customer and partner conversations and as always, learning something new and imparting some valuable information. Plus, losing a few lbs. walking around San Francisco!

VMblog:  Finally, do you have any tips for first time attendees of VMworld that you'd like to share?

Koponen:  Take advantage of the opportunity to network with your industry peers. Engage with people over breakfast, lunch and vendor receptions. It's a great gathering of a lot of people who have faced similar challenges as you and there is a lot that can be learned from your peers and the sponsoring vendors alike.