---
title: "Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC)"
type: concept
tags:
  - VMware
  - SDDC
  - Cloud
last_updated: 2026-04-25
---

## Software-Defined Data Center (SDDC)

A data center approach where all infrastructure is virtualized and delivered as a service. In the context of VMC on AWS, the SDDC is the core deployment unit managed through vCenter.

## Definition
SDDC extends the concept of software-defined computing (hypervisor), software-defined storage, and software-defined networking to the entire data center infrastructure. VMware Cloud on AWS deploys SDDCs on AWS infrastructure, managed through vCenter Server.

## Key Characteristics
- **Virtualized Compute**: VMware vSphere runs on bare metal servers
- **Virtualized Storage**: Software-defined storage integrated with AWS storage
- **Virtualized Networking**: NSX provides software-defined networking
- **Unified Management**: vCenter Server manages the entire SDDC
- **Cloud-Native Integration**: Native access to AWS services

## SDDC Management
- **VMware Cloud Services Portal**: Web-based portal for SDDC management
- **Developer Center**: API Explorer for programmatic access
- **Follow-Me-Help**: Access to VMware engineers for assistance

## Connections
- [[VMware-Cloud-on-AWS]] ← deploys ← [[SDDC]]
- [[ctp-topic-43-vmware-cloud-on-aws]] ← source ← [[SDDC]]

## Sources
- [[ctp-topic-43-vmware-cloud-on-aws]]