Welcome to our deep-dive into the recent updates on VMware under its new ownership, Broadcom. As most tech enthusiasts are aware of, the VMware by Broadcom acquisition in late 2023 ushered in a new era of significant transformations. In today’s post, we present a comprehensive insight into these changes.

Key Changes to Note

Since the acquisition, Broadcom has implemented a series of changes that will notably impact our customers. The most significant being the transition from perpetual licensing to a subscription-based model. This shift is aimed at offering our customers more flexibility, regular updates, and potentially lower upfront costs.

For those worried about their perpetual contracts, Broadcom will continue to support these contracts until the end of their term. Transitioning to the new subscription model, however, is a step we strongly recommend to avoid disruption.

Quoting and Licensing

We understand that quote requests have been a concern. Rest assured, we are working tirelessly to tackle the backlog issues caused by the May/June shutdown.

Meanwhile, all new licenses will now be subscription-based, covering 1, 3 or 5-year terms and are determined per physical core on processors on your VMWare hosts.

For those wondering about the free edition and vCenter licenses, VMware Free edition is no longer available, and vCenter no longer requires a separate license, as it’s included under your subscription.

Subscription Offerings

Broadcom now offers several subscription packages, from Essentials Plus, Standard, Foundation, to Cloud Foundations. Each package is uniquely designed to cater to your specific needs.

When considering a hardware refresh, pay attention to your physical cores as licensing depends on them. Don’t panic; our team is available to help you choose the best hardware design for you.

Support and Alternatives

Getting support for your legacy VMware licenses is as easy as logging into the Broadcom support portal and creating a case or calling the 1-800 Broadcom Global Support Number. For those considering alternatives post-acquisition, we are here to help evaluate options, understand the costs, and make sure they are compatible with your system.

And remember, if your contract expired during the May/June/July period, support will continue, but not forever. A fee may be incurred if you let your contract expire. Should you have any further concerns or issues, your Account Manager is ready to assist.

High Point Networks remains committed to keeping our customers up-to-date and informed. We thank our internal teams for sharing the information they have learned and our valued customers for staying patient with us during this transition.