VMware vSphere 5 Licensing: A Double-Edged Sword
The recent release of VMware vSphere 5 has generated a lot of buzz in the virtualization community, with many excited about the new features and improvements. However, one aspect that has caused quite a stir is the new licensing model, which has sparked both positive and negative reactions. In this blog post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of the new licensing model and how it may impact your vSphere environment.
Positive Spin: Simplified Licensing and Cost Management
One of the key benefits of the new licensing model is that it simplifies the process of managing licenses and costs. With the previous model, customers had to purchase separate licenses for each CPU and vRAM. The new model pools vRAM entitlements across a vSphere environment, allowing customers to create a true cloud or utility-based IT consumption model. This means that customers can easily scale their infrastructure up or down without worrying about running out of licenses.
Furthermore, the new licensing model incentivizes customers to optimize their vSphere environments and reduce the amount of vRAM consumed by their VMs. This can lead to more efficient use of resources and cost savings over time.
Negative Spin: Potential Increase in Licensing Costs
On the other hand, the new licensing model may cause some highly consolidated shops to have to reassess their infrastructure before they can upgrade to vSphere 5. For these customers, the new licensing model may result in increased costs due to the need to purchase more licenses to obtain more pooled vRAM.
Additionally, the new licensing model may slow adoption of vSphere 5 as people have to perform audits on their infrastructure to determine what will be needed for the new licensing model. This could lead to a longer timeline for migration to the new version.
Big Memory Packed Beast Servers: A Disadvantage?
Another potential downside of the new licensing model is that it may prove disadvantageous for big memory packed beast servers. With the previous model, customers could purchase a single license for each CPU and vRAM. The new model, however, pools vRAM entitlements across a vSphere environment, which may result in higher licensing costs for these types of servers.
On the other hand, as a vSphere admin, this licensing model may make my life easier. When application owners realize that there is a charge based on memory use and they may need to sign a purchase order to get their oversized machine approved instead of making their application more efficient, they may change their tune a bit. This could lead to less VM sprawl and more focus on what exactly is running in the environment and if it’s running at its absolute best and most efficient.
Zombie VMs: A Thing of the Past?
Another positive aspect of the new licensing model is that it may help eliminate zombie VMs that consume valuable vRAM. With the previous model, there was no incentive for customers to retire these VMs. However, with the new model, customers will be more aware of their vRAM usage and will have a greater incentive to eliminate these unused VMs.
In conclusion, the new licensing model for vSphere 5 has both positive and negative aspects. While it may result in increased costs for some customers and require them to reassess their infrastructure before upgrading, it also simplifies the process of managing licenses and costs, incentivizes customers to optimize their vSphere environments, and may help eliminate zombie VMs. As with any change, there will be challenges, but ultimately, this new model will lead to a more efficient and cost-effective virtualization environment for all customers.