I just wrapped up my very first Nutanix .NEXT conference, and let me tell you, it was an eye-opener. As someone who’s been in the VMware ecosystem for years (attending VMworld, now VMware Explore, was a regular thing for me), this was my first major tech conference outside of that familiar orbit.

Big shoutout to our awesome Nutanix rep, Lauren, for hooking me up with a free pass, really appreciate the opportunity.

Right off the bat, one thing that stood out was the size and energy of the Solutions Expo. It felt bigger and more vendor-diverse than what I’ve seen at VMware Explore recently. I think a lot of that has to do with how much traction Nutanix has gained in the End User Computing (EUC) space. There’s clearly a strong ecosystem building around it.

What made this experience even more unique was the fact that we’re not currently a Nutanix customer. We’re still in the research phase. That meant I didn’t have a “home base” going in! I was flying solo, which forced me to get out there and really connect. And honestly, that turned out to be one of the best parts. Sitting alone at sessions or meals often led to great conversations with folks I wouldn’t have met otherwise. That’s what I love about conferences: the organic networking.

As for the keynotes and sessions, they didn’t disappoint. The content was sharp and future-looking. A few standouts for me:

1. External Storage Integration with Pure Storage (NVMe over TCP) – Really intriguing, especially since we’re a big Pure shop.
2. Design Architecture with Cisco, Pure, and UCS-X – Great synergy in this partnership.
3. Omnissa Partnership – EUC and identity integration are clearly evolving fast.
4. Nutanix Move Enhancements – The migration story is getting stronger.
5. Cloud-native Deployments in AWS and Bare Metal – This shows real maturity in hybrid thinking.
6. General Availability in Google Cloud – Huge step toward true multi-cloud support.

It’s clear Nutanix is listening to both existing and potential customers, and shaping its roadmap accordingly. As someone who’s been hands-on with VMware technologies for years, I found it genuinely exciting to explore something new. The tech landscape is shifting, and it’s great to see competition pushing innovation forward.

If I had a lab to myself, I’d honestly love to spin up a Nutanix cluster alongside our VMware setup just to get a feel for it in real-world conditions. I’m also seriously considering getting involved with the Nutanix User Group (NUG). This conference sparked something, it reminded me how important it is to stay curious, explore new tools, and meet people who challenge your thinking.

Seeing how Nutanix is innovating alongside long-time industry leaders like VMware and Pure was refreshing. It’s clear that the future of IT infrastructure is becoming more dynamic, and that’s good for everyone.