From VMware Tanzu to ZStack Zaku: Two Alternative Solutions and Three Application Scenarios

ZStack’s VMware-to-ZStack Solutions offer four paths: Virtualization, Cloud, HCI, and Container, along with agentless and V2V migration services.
Currently, ZStack has completed 1,000+ VMware-to-ZStack cases across 30+ countries and regions worldwide.

Since VMware virtualization covers a broad user base, a considerable number of enterprises in ZStack’s 1,000+ VMware-to-ZStack cases have deployed VMware’s core container services suite — VMware Tanzu. These cases require migration from VMware Tanzu to ZStack Zaku.

The ZStack Zaku Container Service Platform fully covers VMware Tanzu’s container service capabilities. In addition to enabling VMware Tanzu to ZStack Zaku migration, its pluggable architecture deeply integrates with ZStack Cloud’s compute/network/storage/security components, shielding users from container technology complexity, simplifying O&M, and delivering unified login, tenant management, resource quota control, and access control.
It also provides enterprise-grade features such as multi-cluster management, resource quotas, CI/CD, microservices governance, GPU scheduling, disaster recovery, and O&M management — enabling enterprises to build robust, enterprise-grade cloud-native platforms.

This article introduces VMware Tanzu to ZStack Zaku through the following three sections:

VMware Tanzu to ZStack Zaku Solution
Advantages of VMware Tanzu to ZStack Zaku
Typical VMware Tanzu to ZStack Zaku Application Scenarios

I. VMware Tanzu to ZStack Zaku Solution
Route Selection:
For users leveraging vSphere + Tanzu + networking + storage + O&M components, the ZStack Cloud + Zaku route is recommended.

The ZStack Zaku Container Service Platform, as a cloud-native technology base, offers enterprises a more lightweight, cost-effective container service replacement. For users who modernized applications with VMware Tanzu, ZStack offers two smooth replacement solutions:

Solution 1: Direct Container Service Platform Replacement
Replace VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) directly with the ZStack Zaku Container Service Platform — compatible with the community’s upstream Kubernetes distribution.

Key benefits to users:

Feature Parity and Enhancement:
Fully considers TKG usage habits and requirements, delivering equivalent or enhanced enterprise-grade capabilities including:Cluster lifecycle management (create, upgrade, scale, delete)
Multi-cluster management
Enterprise tenant autonomy
Microservices governance
CI/CD suite
Unified monitoring/logging
One-click inspection
Robust security framework (RBAC, network policies, pod security policies)
GPU management and scheduling for AI/compute-intensive scenarios
This ensures a familiar experience with enhanced usability and AI-oriented compute scheduling.
API and Standards Compatibility:
Fully Kubernetes-compliant APIs — all Kubernetes-native applications, tools (Helm Charts, Operators), and CNI/CSI plugins run seamlessly in ZStack Zaku-managed clusters.
Migration Friendliness:
Provides clear migration paths and tool support (cluster export/import, workload migration guidance) to reduce migration complexity and business downtime. Workloads running on TKG can be gradually and safely migrated to Zaku clusters.

Solution 2: Cloud Infrastructure Upgrade
Enterprises can integrate the ZStack Cloud platform with Zaku to build a VM + container unified cloud platform, upgrading overall infrastructure while replacing Tanzu.

According to Gartner, most large Chinese enterprises aretransitioning from VM-based architectures to more complex hybrid VM + cloud-native infrastructures. ZStack’s Cloud + Zaku architecture meets these needs.

Key benefits:

Out-of-the-Box and Easy O&M:
Deep integration of container and cloud capabilities, unified management of VMs and containers, shared authentication, tenant management, quotas, and licensing. Supports one-click cluster deployment/scale-up with VM-based elasticity, VM-container network connectivity with isolation policies, and integrated storage CSI.
Application-Driven, AI-Ready:
End-to-end DevOps capabilities, microservices governance (gray releases, topology, tracing), and advanced GPU virtualization to maximize utilization and reduce costs.
Tenant Autonomy, Secure Operations:
Multi-project/tenant permissions, network and resource isolation, container image and runtime security protection, third-party security integration, and DR/backup for multi-cluster container environments.
Cluster Management, Open Compatibility:
Unified management for heterogeneous, cross-cloud, hybrid, and edge clusters, compatible with mainstream OS, CPUs, and servers.

II. Advantages of VMware Tanzu to ZStack Zaku
Flexible Licensing with Cost Savings:
No forced VMware subscription. Instead of core-based Tanzu licensing, ZStack Zaku supports flexible CPU/vCPU-based licensing:Per physical CPU, perpetual, unlimited vCPU/memory configuration
Per VM vCPU, perpetual, starting at 100 vCPUs, scalable
Real-world data from VMware-to-ZStack cases shows over 50% TCO reduction for a 50-server container cluster over three years, with no core count limits.
Better Productization:
Designed for “inclusive cloud-native products,” simplifies operations for traditional IT teams, reduces training costs, with a strong focus on service continuity (automated scheduling and health checks).

III. Typical VMware Tanzu to ZStack Zaku Application Scenarios
Scenario 1: Building a Container Service Platform on Existing VM or Physical Infrastructure
Needs: Balance legacy resource utilization with agile transformation — preserve investment, lower migration cost, gradual containerization, unified resource scheduling.
Value: Seamless integration of existing VMs and physical servers into a lightweight Kubernetes production environment. Smooth evolution from traditional to cloud-native without disrupting existing services.

Scenario 2: Building an Enterprise Cloud-Native Platform
Needs: Replace Tanzu while addressing agility, control, and cost efficiency — leverage existing resources, unify governance for dynamic and stable workloads, build a continuously evolving digital base.
Value: Upgrade existing IaaS to a fully productized, enterprise Kubernetes platform with unified compute/storage/network, integrated DR and compliance modules, no vendor lock-in, cost reduction, and unified O&M for both traditional and cloud-native workloads.

Scenario 3: AI/Intelligent Computing Cloud-Native Infrastructure
Needs: Replace Tanzu while enabling large-scale AI adoption — overcome compute bottlenecks, accelerate engineering, simplify large AI ops.
Value: MB-level GPU memory slicing for fine-grained isolation without extra licensing, flexible scheduling of fragmented GPU resources for varied AI workloads, improved utilization, reduced costs, and accelerated R&D.

Gartner notes that container management with GPU orchestration effectively supports ML, AI, and GenAI high-performance workloads through GPU-aware scheduling, dynamic allocation, auto-scaling, and GPU lifecycle management.

IV. Conclusion
The ZStack Zaku Container Service Platform, designed with standard productization and enterprise container service focus, integrates with ZStack Cloud for a unified interface and cost advantage, enabling smooth VMware Tanzu to ZStack Zaku migration while meeting cloud-native and AI requirements.
ZStack offers migration planning, tools, and services for seamless VMware-to-ZStack transitions. Zaku is already adopted in industries such as power, manufacturing, and transportation to replace VMware Tanzu.

If you want, I can also create a side-by-side comparison table of VMware Tanzu vs. ZStack Zaku to make the differences and migration benefits clearer.
Do you want me to prepare that?