Frequently Asked Questions about VMware products
Does VMware by Broadcom still offer perpetual licenses?
No. Broadcom has completely phased out perpetual licensing. All VMware products are now only available as term-based subscriptions ranging from 1 to 5 years.
Can I renew support for my existing perpetual licenses?
No.After Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, technical support for perpetual licenses is no longer available. Support ends with the last paid period and cannot be extended or purchased.
Can I still use the perpetual VMware licenses I purchased earlier?
Yes, you can continue to use perpetual licenses purchased before the changes.
What happened to the vSphere Essentials package?
The Essentials and Essentials Plus packages have been discontinued. For small businesses, the alternative is the vSphere Standard (subscription-based), which allows access to basic virtualization features in a production environment.
What are the migration options from the old model to the new one?
Broadcom does not offer automatic migration. If you want to move to the new subscription model, you need to purchase the appropriate subscriptions under the new terms.
Do I need to purchase technical support separately with the license?
No, technical support is now always included with the subscription and is no longer offered separately. The license price includes support based on the chosen variant.
I run a small business and don’t want to invest in physical hardware. I'm interested in virtualization instead. Which vSphere license should I choose?
For small organizations, we recommend vSphere Standard – it's the most affordable option for licensing a VMware-based virtual environment. It provides essential features for managing virtual machines and servers.
I want to license 4 servers with 2 CPUs each. Which vSphere licenses should I choose?
It depends on several factors, such as the desired functionality and how the environment will be used. VMware licensing is based on processor core count and minimum licensing thresholds. We recommend using our license calculator, which will automatically suggest the right type and quantity of licenses based on your environment and show a comparison of available options. If you need help – we’ll gladly connect you with an advisor who can help you choose the optimal license.
What is the difference between vSphere Foundation and vSphere Standard?
vSphere Standard is the basic subscription package offering core virtualization and virtual machine management features. It’s suitable for smaller environments with simple architecture.
vSphere Foundation is a more advanced package that includes vSphere Standard features, plus vSAN for building hyperconverged environments and VMware Aria Operations for advanced monitoring and automation. It’s designed for organizations planning growth, scalability, and more comprehensive infrastructure management.
What is VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF)?
VMware Cloud Foundation is a complete platform for cloud environments and modern data centers. It combines vSphere, vSAN, NSX, and the Aria Suite (Operations, Automation, etc.) into a unified architecture. VCF is an enterprise-grade solution – recommended for organizations building an integrated private or hybrid cloud.
