VMware (VMW) kicked off VMworld 2014 on Monday with several announcements on several topics: hybrid cloud computing, hybrid cloud computing and OpenStack. But without several angles on the news, channel partners wouldn’t be getting the full picture.

To put the Palo Alto, California-based virtualization company’s story together, The VAR Guy compiled a short list of some of the top stories coming out of VMworld from a variety of media outlets.

VMwold 2014 Preview: What Can Channel Partners Expect?. If you’re still not sure to expect at VMworld, VMware CTO Robin Matlock sat down with The VAR Guy to provide a quick overview of what the virtualization company has planned for planned for software-defined data centers, hybrid cloud computing and end-user computing. C-suite xecutives will take the stage to make several announcements, show off new products and engage in thought-provoking discussions.

VMworld 2014 CEO Keynote: A Brave New World for IT. VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger introduced several new solutions and product offerings to attendees, in addition to calling on attendees to work against the status quo. “This is your moment,” he said. “Your businesses, your firms, your businesses leaders are looking to you to lead the way.” Are you brave enough to innovate?

VMworld 2014 Day One: Without Limits. What exactly is VMware’s strategy? Microsoft pushes cloud, and VMware pushes back by “revolutionizing your on-premises data center and expanding it to the cloud.” While cloud is a focus, on-premises seems to be VMware’s main focus.

VMworld 2014 News and Insta-Analysis: VMware Doubles Down on the Cloud. Is VMware’s OpenStack distribution a defensive manuever? This article seems to think so. According to one report, this move is “an admission that the era of native cloud applications doesn’t need VMware.” Will VMware acquire new customers from this decision?

VMware plays nice with OpenStack, unveils a VMware-powered data-center-in-a-box. Even though VMware is offering OpenStack, it doesn’t necessarily mean the company will be pushing customers to use it. “OpenStack is a framework, said John Gilmartin, vice president and general manager of VMware’s software defined data center suite business unit. “It doesn’t deliver a full out-of-the-box cloud.” Oh, also, VMware teamed up with Dell, EMC, Fujistsu, Inspur, NetOne and Supermicro for its hyper-converged infrastructure appliance.

VMware’s VMworld Kicks Off: Raymond James Likes Partnerships. Newly formed partnerships are good news for VMware, but OpenStack is still a threat—that’s according to one financial firm. One even goes as far as saying that OpenStack could, possibly, replace the VMware’s virtualization software.

Follow CJ Arlotta on Twitter @cjarlotta and Google+ for further updates on the story above — or if you just want to say hello.