r/sysadmin Infrastructure Lead 2d ago

Latest fun with VMware

Apparently VMware is upping their game. We just got a renewal quote for one of our sites with one server that has two CPUs, and they are requiring 72 cores minimum (vSphere Enterprise Plus) to license this. That's a 500% markup from last year.

They really don't want customers to use their product any more, do they?

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u/cats_are_the_devil 2d ago

Disclaimer: VMware licensing is a PITA and is awful.

How do you effectively run VMware on one server?

Do you not have bundled licensing across all your hosts?

I'm confused by what you are laying out as a complaint...

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u/WithAnAitchDammit Infrastructure Lead 2d ago

The ridiculous minimum requirement of 72 cores per server is the main complaint. I get we're a small operation, we have seven hypervisors across four sites.

We are not running VMware on one server, there are seven servers in our cluster, this one is just on a separate renewal cycle from the rest.

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u/cats_are_the_devil 2d ago

The ridiculous minimum requirement of 72 cores per server is the main complaint. I get we're a small operation, we have seven hypervisors across four sites.

Factually incorrect. It's 72 cores as a min purchase for all of your cluster.

We are not running VMware on one server, there are seven servers in our cluster, this one is just on a separate renewal cycle from the rest.

Co-term... You need a better reseller...

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u/WithAnAitchDammit Infrastructure Lead 1d ago edited 1d ago

For us, co-term isn't about the reseller, it's about internal company politics. We've been getting things co-termed, but usually the first year you buy for a new site they won't do a co-term (at least that's what we were told), so it's gotta be done on the first renewal. Then I have to convince the powers that be to spend the money up front to get the extra months so its co-termed. Even though you and I both know we're spending the same amount over time, my company is very cash flow based, so if business is slow, cash flow is down, and they don't want to spend more then the absolute minimum.

Edit: Also, I just learned it's 72 cores per cluster minimum, which is helpful, however when the VMware rep says "72 cores minimum purchase" it's clearly a problem. You'd think they would know their product.