VMware provides a range of licensing and subscription models for its virtualization, cloud infrastructure, networking, and security products. Here's an overview of VMware's key licensing and subscription options:
VMware Licensing Models
Perpetual License
- Description: A one-time purchase that grants indefinite access to the software. You own the license for a specific version and can continue using it without recurring payments. However, to receive updates, technical support, and new features, you typically need to purchase a Support and Subscription (SnS) agreement.
- Use Cases: Commonly used in data centers for on-premises solutions like VMware vSphere or VMware vCenter.
Subscription-Based License
- Description: VMware's subscription-based model allows customers to pay recurring fees (monthly, annually, etc.) to access software and services. Subscriptions typically include updates, technical support, and future upgrades.
- Use Cases: Mostly applied to VMware's cloud services (e.g., VMware Cloud on AWS) and SaaS products like VMware Workspace ONE.
- Benefits: Continuous access to the latest software versions, features, and support.
VMware Subscription Plans
Cloud Services and SaaS
VMware is increasingly shifting towards cloud and SaaS offerings, providing flexible subscription models for its solutions:
- VMware Cloud on AWS:
- Subscription Model: Pay-as-you-go or 1-year/3-year reserved instances.
- Features: VMware's full stack of software-defined data center (SDDC) technologies delivered as a service on AWS infrastructure. This includes vSphere, vSAN, NSX, and more.
- Benefits: Scalable, on-demand cloud capacity with integration into existing on-premises VMware environments.
- VMware Cloud Universal:
- Subscription Model: Prepaid credits that can be applied to various VMware cloud services (e.g., VMware Cloud on AWS, VMware Cloud Foundation, and VMware Tanzu).
- Features: Flexibility to deploy workloads across public and private clouds.
- Benefits: Unified subscription across multiple VMware cloud services, allowing for easier management and cost control.
- VMware Workspace ONE:
- Subscription Model: Monthly or annual subscription.
- Features: Unified endpoint management and security for mobile devices, desktops, and applications.
- Benefits: Regular updates, security enhancements, and the ability to scale as needed.
- VMware Tanzu:
- Subscription Model: Monthly or annual subscription based on the number of nodes or clusters.
- Features: Modern app platform for Kubernetes-based containerized workloads, both on-premises and in the cloud.
- Benefits: Ongoing updates, support, and scaling across multi-cloud environments.
- VMware Carbon Black Cloud:
- Subscription Model: Annual subscription based on the number of endpoints.
- Features: Cloud-native endpoint protection and advanced threat detection.
- Benefits: Continuous updates, threat intelligence, and centralized management.
On-Premises Solutions
VMware's core on-premises offerings still utilize perpetual licensing, though many of these now offer subscription or hybrid models as well.
- VMware vSphere:
- Perpetual License: Purchase the software with a one-time fee for each processor or host.
- Subscription Options: VMware also offers a subscription version with VMware vSphere+, which combines on-premises vSphere environments with cloud management and enhanced security.
- VMware NSX:
- Perpetual License: For on-premises deployment.
- Subscription Options: Available for cloud-based deployments (NSX Cloud).
- VMware vSAN:
- Perpetual License: For on-premises hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI).
- Subscription Options: Available for cloud-based deployments as part of VMware Cloud on AWS or VMware Cloud Foundation.
Support and Subscription (SnS)
For perpetual licenses, VMware offers Support and Subscription (SnS) services. These are annual contracts that provide:
- Software Updates: Access to new versions, bug fixes, and security patches.
- Technical Support: Access to VMware’s support team for issue resolution.
- Benefits: Ensures that your perpetual licenses remain up-to-date with the latest innovations.
Enterprise Licensing Agreements
- Enterprise License Agreement (ELA): Designed for larger organizations, the ELA provides flexible, customizable agreements that cover VMware software across the entire organization.
- Benefits: Volume discounts, simplified procurement, and centralized management.
- Use Cases: Commonly used by enterprises deploying VMware solutions across multiple locations or departments.
- VMware Cloud Universal Credits: Prepaid credits for hybrid cloud and multi-cloud environments, allowing companies to apply credits to various VMware services as needed.
VMware MSP Program
Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can offer VMware services under flexible subscription models, including multi-tenant environments. This allows MSPs to manage VMware environments for their customers, offering services such as VMware Cloud on AWS, VMware Horizon, and more.
Summary of Key Options:
- Perpetual License: One-time purchase, ideal for on-premises solutions like vSphere and vCenter. Requires SnS for updates and support.
- Subscription-Based License: Recurring fee for access to cloud-based solutions, SaaS, and continuous updates. Common for VMware Cloud services.
- Hybrid Licensing: Blends perpetual and subscription models for companies operating both on-premises and cloud environments.
- Support & Subscription (SnS): Annual agreements for perpetual licenses to ensure updates and support.
- Enterprise License Agreement (ELA): Flexible licensing for large organizations with volume discounts and centralized management.
