VMware by Broadcom: A New Era for End-User Computing
In a significant move, Broadcom has completed its acquisition of VMware, marking a new era for end-user computing. As part of the acquisition, VMware will now operate as four separate divisions within Broadcom, each focused on a specific product group. This restructuring is aimed at refocusing VMware on its core business units and divesting itself of end-user computing (EUC), which includes products such as Horizon, Workspace One, and App Volumes.
The Future of VMware’s Product Portfolio
With this acquisition, Broadcom has announced significant changes to VMware’s product portfolio. The new licensing bundles will be offered as “Disconnected,” meaning no VMware Cloud connectivity. However, an optional “Connected” capability is planned for the future. The products included in VMware Cloud Foundation, vSphere Foundation, and vSphere Standard are:
* vCenter Server
* vSphere ESXi
* vSAN
* NSX-T Data Center
* Networking and Security (excluding Firewall)
The vSphere Essentials Plus will continue to be supported, but it will not be included in the new licensing bundles. The NSX product only includes networking, and security features, load balancing, gateway firewall, and distributed firewall (microsegmentation) services must be purchased separately.
FAQs on VMware’s New Structure and Product Offerings
To help customers understand the changes, Broadcom has provided a list of frequently asked questions along with their answers. Here are some of the most important ones:
* Q: Does VMware Cloud Foundation include all the features of the component products? A: No, only NSX Networking is included in VCF. Security features, load balancing, gateway firewall, and distributed firewall (microsegmentation) services must be purchased separately.
* Q: Which VCF version will the new offerings use? A: The new offerings will be based on VCF 5.1.
* Q: Is Avi LB integrated with VCF as part of 5.1 release? A: No, Avi LB is planned to be integrated into VCF as part of a later release.
* Q: Is Microsegmentation included in VCF? A: No, only NSX Networking for VCF is included in VCF. The Microsegmentation feature can be purchased as an add-on.
* Q: Will existing NSX customers who rely on microsegmentation be able to transition to VCF without losing this functionality? A: Yes, these customers will be able to purchase both VCF and the Firewall add-on.
* Q: What capabilities are included in vSAN Add-on? A: The vSAN Add-on includes vSAN Enterprise features, including vSAN Max. Pricing is per TiB.
* Q: Is there an option for VCF for External Storage? A: Yes, customers can optionally deploy external storage arrays as primary storage in a VCF environment, but must still license vSAN for all VCF domains.
Conclusion
The acquisition of VMware by Broadcom marks a new era for end-user computing. While the company is refocusing on its core business units and divesting itself of EUC, it is also introducing significant changes to its product portfolio. The new licensing bundles offer customers more flexibility and choice, while the FAQs provide valuable insights into the future of VMware’s products and services. As a leading provider of virtualization and cloud computing solutions, VMware by Broadcom is poised to continue delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of its customers.