Subj : Broadcom shuts off free version of VMware's ESXi hypervisor
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Tue Feb 13 2024 15:45:05

Broadcom shuts off free version of VMware's ESXi hypervisor

Date:
Tue, 13 Feb 2024 15:30:48 +0000

Description:
VMwares free ESXi hypervisor has been shut down as Broadcom looks to boost 
company profits after its 2023 takeover.

FULL STORY
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In the latest development following Broadcoms November 2023 acquisition of 
VMware, the company has decided to kill off the free version of VMwares ESXi 
hypervisor. 

A knowledge base article posted by the company outlined the move, which comes 
alongside the termination of perpetual licensing, marking the Free ESXi 
Hypervisor as End Of General Availability (EOGA). 

The announcement reads: VMware vSphere Hypervisor (free edition) is no longer 
available on the VMware website, confirming that ESXi 7.x and 8.x are 
affected. Broadcom terminates another VMware service 

The free version of ESXi was limited in its capabilities, only able to run on 
a restricted number of cores and memory, and lacking some advanced management 
features, but it was a great option for hobbyists and testers. 

Despite the discontinuation of the free version, users can still access the 
hypervisor through VMware User Group advantage licensing. 

Broadcom confirmed that the company has no immediate plans to replace the 
free version of its VMware ESXi hypervisor: Regrettably, there is currently 
no substitute product offered. 

The news comes as Broadcom adds to its growing list of discontinued services, 
illustrated in a table on one of the companys blog posts . Of the 59 products 
that are no longer available as standalone options, only 32 (or 54%) have had 
a replacement or add-on product to pick up where the discontinued service 
left off. 

The decision also swiftly follows Broadcom setting a minimum requirement of 
3,500 cores running VMware Cloud Foundation for inclusion in its cloud 
partner program. Other changes implemented by the company since its VMware 
takeover include the termination of perpetual licenses (in favor of 
subscriptions). 

All of this reflects the companys aims to boost VMwares products 
considerably, however its drastic changes have left a bitter taste in the 
mouths of many customers, not to mention the fact that the industry continued 
to watch on as Broadcom shakes up VMwares portfolio, leading some customers 
to seek alternative solutions. More from TechRadar Pro These are the best 
small business servers Broadcom kills off VMware Cloud Service Providers 
Check out our roundup of the best cloud hosting providers



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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/broadcom-shuts-off-free-version-of-vmwares-esxi-
hypervisor


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