Software Licensing · VMware

VMware licensing after the Broadcom changes

Name: VMware licensing
Brand: VMware

Clear VMware licensing advice for companies in Canada, the UK, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan. We explain the new vSphere and VMware Cloud Foundation subscriptions, count your per core needs properly and help you compare the alternatives before you renew.

ApexGenTech is an authorised VMware reseller supplying genuine licences, setup and support in Canada, the UK, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan.

Overview

What changed in VMware licensing

Since Broadcom bought VMware, the way VMware is sold has changed completely. Perpetual licences are no longer sold. Products that used to be bought one by one are now grouped into a small number of subscription bundles. Prices are counted per core, with minimum quantities, and many companies have seen their renewal quotes rise sharply.

That has left a lot of IT teams unsure what to do. Some need VMware Cloud Foundation. Some only need vSphere. Some would be better off moving part or all of their estate to another platform. And some still run perpetual licences that work today but no longer receive support.

We help you see the real numbers. We count your hosts and cores, work out what each VMware licensing option would cost, and set it next to the realistic alternatives. If VMware is still the right answer, we supply your subscription as an authorised VMware reseller. If it is not, we help you plan the move.

What our VMware licensing service covers:

VMware Cloud Foundation subscriptions
VMware vSphere Foundation subscriptions
vSphere Standard for smaller estates
Core counting and renewal sizing
Support options for older perpetual licences
Migration planning to other platforms

What we supply

VMware licensing options under Broadcom

Broadcom has narrowed the VMware range to a few bundles. Here is how they fit together.

VMware Cloud Foundation

VMware Cloud Foundation is the full private cloud stack: vSphere, vSAN storage, NSX networking and management tools in one subscription. It suits larger estates that want everything from one vendor.

VMware vSphere Foundation

vSphere Foundation is aimed at midsize companies. It bundles vSphere with management and monitoring tools, without the full networking stack of VMware Cloud Foundation.

vSphere Standard

For smaller estates that only need reliable virtual machines, vSphere Standard may be enough. Availability and terms vary, so we confirm what can be quoted in your country.

Per core counting rules

VMware subscriptions are counted per core, with a minimum of 16 cores per processor even if the chip has fewer. Broadcom has also set minimum order quantities. Small mistakes here change the price a lot.

Older perpetual VMware licences

Perpetual VMware licences keep working, but Broadcom no longer sells new support renewals for them in most cases. Running unsupported hypervisors carries real security risk.

Alternatives to VMware

Windows Server virtualisation, Nutanix, Proxmox and public cloud are all realistic options for some workloads. We compare them honestly with your VMware licensing quote.

How it works

How VMware licensing works with ApexGenTech

A calm, numbers first approach to a VMware renewal.

1CountHosts, processors and per core totals.
2OptionsVMware Cloud Foundation, vSphere or others.
3CompareThree year cost of each path.
4DecideRenew, reduce or move workloads.
5SupplyVMware subscriptions from an authorised reseller.
6PlanNext renewal prepared months ahead.

Buying options

VMware Cloud Foundation, vSphere Foundation and alternatives

A simple comparison to start the conversation. Your own numbers will decide.

VMware licensing paths compared
Path	What you get	How it is counted	Suits
VMware Cloud Foundation	Full private cloud: compute, storage, networking, management	Per core subscription, multi year terms	Large estates standardised on VMware
VMware vSphere Foundation	vSphere with management and monitoring	Per core subscription	Midsize estates without complex networking needs
vSphere Standard	Core virtualisation features	Per core subscription, where offered	Small estates with simple needs
Keep perpetual licences unsupported	What you already run	No new cost, but no updates	Short term only, while you plan a move
Move to another platform	Windows Server virtualisation, Nutanix, Proxmox or public cloud	Depends on the platform	Estates where VMware costs no longer make sense

Broadcom sets VMware products, prices and minimums and has changed them several times. We confirm the current terms before any decision.

Where we supply

VMware licensing in Canada, the UK, the Gulf and Pakistan

We help companies in six countries make sensible VMware licensing decisions.

VMware licensing in Canada

VMware renewal reviews for Canadian companies, comparing vSphere Foundation and VMware Cloud Foundation with Canadian cloud options.

VMware licensing in the UK

VMware licensing advice for UK firms facing large Broadcom renewal increases, with honest comparisons against other platforms.

VMware licensing in the UAE

VMware subscriptions and migration planning for data centres and enterprises in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

VMware licensing in Saudi Arabia

VMware Cloud Foundation and vSphere licensing for Saudi organisations with on premises data centres and local hosting rules.

VMware licensing in Qatar

VMware licensing reviews for companies in Qatar, from banks and energy firms to government suppliers.

VMware licensing in Pakistan

VMware licensing for Pakistani banks, telecoms and enterprises, with care over per core counts and long term cost.

Renewals

Preparing for a VMware renewal under Broadcom

The worst time to look at VMware licensing is the week before the renewal date. By then there is no time to compare options, test alternatives or negotiate. Start six to nine months ahead and you have real choices, including the option to move a few workloads first and renew a smaller VMware footprint.

We begin with an accurate count. Many estates have hosts with more cores than anyone remembers, clusters that could be consolidated and test environments that do not need the same licence as production. Getting that right before the quote arrives often changes the conversation completely.

Our VMware renewal checklist:

Count every host and processor core
Retire or consolidate lightly used hosts
Separate test and production needs
Price VMware Cloud Foundation and vSphere Foundation
Price at least one alternative platform

Alternatives

Should you stay on VMware or move?

For many companies VMware is still the right choice. It is mature, well understood and your team knows it. Moving hundreds of virtual machines is risky and costs time. But for smaller estates, or companies that only use basic vSphere features, the new VMware licensing can be hard to justify.

We give you an honest comparison. Sometimes the answer is to renew a smaller VMware footprint and move the rest. Sometimes it is to stay put and negotiate. Broadcom publishes product information on the official VMware website, and we turn it into numbers that fit your estate.

If you decide to move, we plan it in waves, starting with simple workloads, so risk stays low and your team learns the new platform before the important systems move.

Security

Unsupported VMware is a security problem

Hypervisors sit under everything else, which makes them an attractive target. Ransomware groups have repeatedly gone after unpatched VMware ESXi hosts because one compromised host can take down dozens of servers at once.

If you are running perpetual VMware licences without support, you may not be able to install the latest security fixes. That is a short term position at best. Our penetration testing team can check your virtual infrastructure, and our support plans keep patching on schedule whichever platform you choose.

Why ApexGenTech

Why talk to us about VMware licensing

We are not tied to one answer. We supply VMware where it fits, but we also work with Microsoft, Red Hat and the major clouds, so our advice is shaped by your costs rather than by a single vendor’s targets.

The same team can help with what runs on top of your virtual servers: Windows Server and SQL Server licensing, Oracle licensing on VMware clusters, which needs particular care, and custom software development when an old application needs to move.

FAQ

VMware licensing FAQs

Can ApexGenTech supply VMware licensing?

Yes. We supply VMware subscriptions as an authorised VMware reseller and give independent advice on whether VMware Cloud Foundation, vSphere Foundation or another platform suits you best.

Can I still buy perpetual VMware licences?

No. Since the Broadcom acquisition, VMware is sold as subscriptions. Existing perpetual licences keep working, but new support renewals for them are generally no longer available.

How are VMware subscriptions counted?

VMware subscriptions are counted per core, with a minimum of 16 cores per processor, and Broadcom has also introduced minimum order quantities. We count your hosts carefully so the quote is right.

What is the difference between VMware Cloud Foundation and vSphere Foundation?

VMware Cloud Foundation is the full private cloud stack, including storage and networking. vSphere Foundation is a smaller bundle built around vSphere with management tools, aimed at midsize estates.

Should we move away from VMware?

It depends on your estate. For some companies VMware is still the best choice; for others another platform costs much less. We compare both honestly before you decide.

Do you provide VMware licensing in Saudi Arabia and Qatar?

Yes. We help companies in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as Canada, the UK, the UAE and Pakistan, with VMware licensing and renewal planning.

Get your VMware licensing options in writing

Send us your host list or your latest VMware renewal quote. We will show you the options and their real cost.