VMworld 2015 Preview: vExpert Offers

The vExpert 2015 Second Half announcement was made recently, welcoming in a new batch of passionate contributors to the virtualization community. With VMworld US right around the corner, let’s have a look at some of the exclusive vExpert offers that will be available there.

Catalogic Software

Follow @catalogicsw

Catalogic Software looks like they’re still a new company, and they seem to want to introduce themselves to vExperts with an offer, a contest and some exclusive VMworld related sessions. To take them up on their offer, which is a Bluetooth wireless speaker and device stand, head on over to their vExpert program page and fill out the form then pick it up at their booth (#517).

On the same page you’ll find information about a Homelab Contest open to vExperts and Netapp A-Team members. Follow the contest instructions, submit a response to one of the posed questions, and you might find yourself the winner of some gear any homelab enthusiast would be pleased to call theirs. Towards the bottom of that same page you’ll find an invitation to a vExpert round-table hosted by Trevor Pott (@cakeis_not_alie) as well as a pre-VMworld webinar.

Cohesity

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They mention on their blog that they’re going to have a “special treat” for every vExpert around the VMworld 2015 timeframe. Some vExperts have received an email from Cohesity, some haven’t. So, um, keep an eye on your inbox I guess. And your spam folder, because email.

Update: Cohesity has confirmed on Twitter that vExperts should stop by their “Oasis” (booth #428) to pick up an Aloha shirt and enjoy a complementary massage. I wonder if they’ll let you defer the massage until later in the week when you’ll really need it and what their policy on massaging feet is…

Coho Data

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Coho Data’s put together some sort of vExpert VMworld US Survival Kit. The kit allegedly contains the following:

• Clean Shirt (hopefully with some vExpert branding)
• Drinking Receptacle (maybe a water bottle of some sort)
• Power Cords (either for charging your devices, or maybe they just had extra from their latest data centre install)
• “Much, Much More” (oh, I love a suprise!)

To claim your own Coho vExpert Survival Kit, fill out their online form, then visit them at the Coho Data booth (#1713) at VMworld.

DataGravity

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Picked up a vExpert polo from DataGravity earlier in the year? Head to their booth (#1928) to enter a drawing for a Zboard “SF Special”, which is a powered skateboard. If it’s good enough for the hills of San Francisco, you know it’s a quality product!

Datrium

Follow @DatriumStorage

A Bluetooth speaker’s on offer to vExperts from Datrium. Stop by their booth (#1747) to pick it up and take a tour of their flash storage system while you’re there. Note that this offer is for current (i.e. 2015) vExperts only.

Simplivity

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They’ve gone the extra mile this year as Simplivity is offering a vExpert exclusive hoodie. Yes friends, whether you’re strolling to the local eatery for lunch, working out at the 24/7 gym, or comfortably relaxing at 39,000 feet, you too can be the envy of your peers in your smart-looking, vExpert branded hoodie. Head on over to Simplivity’s online form, fill it out, and then collect your hoodie at either VMworld 2015 US (booth #1029) or Europe!

SIOS Technology

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Announced during VMworld, SIOS Technology has a gift for vExperts available at their booth (#1946).

Amazing Demo in @SIOSTech Booth #1946 @VMworld – special gift for vExperts!

— SIOS Technology Corp (@SIOSTech) August 31, 2015

SolidFire

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It’s safe to say that SolidFire has something on offer for vExperts, but what it is a bit of a mystery. I present Exhibit A for your consideration:

Rules to get the most awesome #vExpert give-away ever from @solidfire at VMworld:
1) Be a vExpert
2) Come to booth #929
3) _______
4) Enjoy!

— Jeramiah Dooley (@jdooley_clt) August 14, 2015

Assuming the SolidFire vExpert VMworld VIP page is referring to the same thing, the whatever-it-is will be “something that will have you laughing for hours”. Oh the suspense (booth #929)!

Update: The reveal!

#vExperts Game On. #vmworld3word #CAH pic.twitter.com/furQA8s0lD

— Amy Lewis (@CommsNinja) August 30, 2015

Tegile

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First up, the fine folks at Tegile are offering vExperts a Tegile “tile”. The tile looks like some sort of proximity tag, likely Bluetooth, that will let you find a tagged item when misplaced (which I’m sure never happens to you). Visit the Tegile booth (#1037) on the Solutions Exchange floor and let them know you’re a vExpert and collect your tile. Just be aware that you might be asked to answer a daunting technical quiz to prove your vExpert status.^*

^*I have no idea if Tegile will quiz you, but wouldn’t it make things interesting if they did?

Tintri

Follow @Tintri

For those vExperts that were able to take advantage of Tintri’s offer of a customized vExpert polo shirt earlier this year, Tintri folks have mentioned on Twitter that the first 200 vExperts to tweet a selfie of themselves in their Tintri polo at the Tintri booth (#921) on Monday 8/31 will receive a battery pack. Who couldn’t use a battery pack, especially at VMworld? As Eric Wright (@discoposse) is fond of reminding us:

Second rule of #VMworld: bring batteries. #ABC #AlwaysBeCharging pic.twitter.com/l9ynVHT0y9

— Eric Wright (@discoposse) August 23, 2015

That’s a Wrap

Those are the vExpert offers I’ve discovered so far. If you happen across any more, let me know in the comments or on Twitter and I’ll add them to the list. Also check out our Not for Resale (NFR) Licenses for VMware Professionals article, where you can find other offers available to vExperts, VCPs, VMUG members and more.

Most vExperts I’ve met don’t chase the designation for the goodies and freebies, but for the love of community. That being said, a heartfelt thank you goes out to those companies, both mentioned on this page and others, that recognize and support vExperts which by extension recognizes and supports the entire virtualization community.

Featured image photo by The Lilywhite Collection