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As part of the VMware integration into Broadcom, they have overhauled their licensing and partner platforms to increase value throughout their portfolio.
Let’s review the changes:
- VMware portfolio has been dramatically simplified to 2 core offerings: VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) and VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF), plus a set of Advanced, Add-on Services.
- Perpetual licenses are no longer available and will only be available through a subscription model
How does this affect you?
We have created a list below to help you determine if your license is being replaced or if it will not have a replacement. This leaves several customers asking which new bucket of VMware products best suits their business needs to optimize for cost, security, performance, and scalability.
These products are not included in VCF/VVF/Add-on Products and do not have a replacement product:
- VMware vSphere+
- VMware vSphere Enterprise
- VMware vSphere ROBO
- VMware vSphere Scale Out
- VMware vSphere Desktop
- VMware vSphere Acceleration Kits
- VMware vSphere Essentials Kit
- VMware vSphere Starter/Foundation
- VMware vSphere with Operations Management
- VMware vSphere Basic
- VMware vSphere Advanced
- VMware vSphere Storage Appliance
- VMware vSphere Hypervisor (free edition)
- VMware Cloud Foundation (excluding new VCF subscription)
- VMware Cloud Foundation for VDI
- VMware Cloud Foundation for ROBO
- VMware vCenter Foundation
- VMware vSAN ROBO
- VMware vSAN Desktop
- VMware vSAN+
- VMware HCI Kit
- VMware Aria Universal Suite (formerly vRealize Cloud Universal)
- VMware Aria Operations for Networks Universal (formerly vRealize Network Insight Universal)
- VMware vRealize Network Insight ROBO
- VMware vRealize Operations 8 Application Monitoring Add-On
- VMware Aria Suite Cloud for US Public Sector
- VMware Cloud Director Service
- VMware NSX for Desktop
- VMware NSX ROBO
- VMware HCX+
If you don’t see your license here, connect with one of our VMware experts for guidance.
What will my license be replaced with?
Let’s discuss the two core offerings moving forward, VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) And VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF).
VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF)
What is it?
The flagship enterprise-class hybrid cloud solution for customers to run their business-critical and modern applications.
Ideal Customer: Enterprise
Highlights:
- Full-stack Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) solution that delivers software defined compute, storage, networking, security, and management.
- Integrated self-service infrastructure platform to deploy VMs/containers for developer agility.
- Hardened platform offering built-in resilience, scaling, and clustering for non-stop operations.
- Provides cloud agility to scale infrastructure without scaling staff, delivering cloud consumption on-premises.
- Provides automation and orchestration to simplify Day 0, Day 1, and Day 2 tasks.
- Available as a single SKU to simplify full stack deployment.
Components:
- SDDC Manager: An automated lifecycle management tool simplifying how to deploy, configure, patch, and upgrade the entire SDDC stack.
- vSphere Enterprise Plus with Tanzu: An enhanced server virtualization platform enabling the coexistence of virtual machines and containers on the same infrastructure.
- NSX Enterprise Plus: A network virtualization and security platform delivering a complete networking stack for your SDDC across multiple sites and clouds.
- HCX Enterprise: An application mobility platform facilitating workload migration, rebalancing, and optimized disaster recovery across different vSphere versions and cloud environments.
- Support Services: Production support provides 24/7 access to technical support, documentation, knowledge base articles, and online communities.
Optional add-ons for VCF encompass VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery (VCDR), VMware Ransomware Recovery (RWR), VMware Site Recovery (SRM), and more.
VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF)
What is it?
A simplified enterprise-grade platform.
Ideal Customer: Small to medium businesses
Highlights:
- VVF solution integrates vSphere with our intelligent operations management to provide the best performance, availability, and efficiency with greater visibility and insights.
- vSphere Foundation can be upgraded to a Hyperconverged Infrastructure (HCI) solution with an optional software-defined storage (vSAN) add-on.
Components:
- Sphere Enterprise Plus: A leading server virtualization platform for running, managing, connecting, and securing applications across hybrid clouds.
- vCenter Server Standard: A centralized management tool that allows control of the entire vSphere infrastructure from a single console.
- Aria Suite Enterprise: A comprehensive operations management solution providing self-driving IT operations management from applications to infrastructure across various environments.
- Support Services: Standard support service offering access to technical support engineers, documentation, knowledge base articles, and online communities.
Optional add-ons for advanced features and capabilities are available, such as vSAN Enterprise, VMware Cloud Disaster Recovery (VCDR), and Tanzu Mission Control (TMC).
So, how do you choose the right license?
With the changes in mind, customers and partners can now focus on selecting the most suitable VMware license for their specific use cases. Here are some factors to consider:
- Application Requirements: Assess your workload requirements, including compute, storage, and networking needs. Determine whether your environment necessitates advanced features or can operate efficiently with standard capabilities.
- Scalability: Consider your organization’s growth trajectory and scalability requirements. Choose a licensing model that accommodates future expansion without causing significant disruptions or cost escalations.
- Cost: Evaluate your budget constraints and financial objectives. Opt for a licensing option that offers the best balance between cost-effectiveness and feature richness, ensuring optimal ROI over the long term.
- Support and Resources: Examine your support requirements, including response times, technical expertise, and escalation procedures. Select a support plan that aligns with your organization’s service expectations and operational priorities.
- Compliance and Security: Ensure compliance with licensing terms and usage rights to avoid potential penalties or legal issues. Familiarize yourself with VMware’s licensing agreements and seek clarification on any ambiguous terms or conditions.
Remember, choosing the right VMware license isn’t just about today’s needs; it’s about setting a foundation for future growth and innovation. With careful consideration and strategic planning, customers and partners can confidently embrace VMware solutions and unlock their full potential in the digital era.
For more information on how these changes impact your VMware solutions and how we can help, please reach out to our team. You can also reference the following link for the official announcement from Broadcom or our VMware Resource Page. Together, we can explore how these developments can further enable your success as a user of VMware’s market-leading technology.
