Ditching the Core Count: Exploring VMware Alternatives

VMware, a virtualization giant, has recently implemented significant licensing changes that are leaving many IT departments scratching their heads—and their budgets. The new minimum of 72 cores per license contract, regardless of actual usage, coupled with the persistent 16-core minimum per CPU, presents a stark reality: you could be paying for resources you simply don't need.

This hits smaller environments and those with efficient, lower core-count servers particularly hard, creating unnecessary overhead and inflated licensing costs.

Tired of this inflexible and potentially wasteful model? You’re not alone. The good news is that viable alternatives exist, allowing you to maintain robust virtualization without breaking the bank on phantom cores.

One compelling option to consider is migrating your VMware workloads to a firm like Expedient. The Expedient Enterprise Cloud (EEC) offers a refreshing approach: you continue to run your familiar VMware environment—but without the shackles of VMware’s stringent core licensing policies.

Here’s why EEC presents a smart alternative:

• Pay-as-you-go Simplicity: With EEC, you pay only for the compute, storage, and network resources your workloads actually consume. Say goodbye to licensing fees based on arbitrary minimum core counts.
• Eliminate VMware Licensing Headaches: By leveraging EEC, you offload the complexity and financial burden of managing your own VMware contracts entirely. No more navigating intricate true-up policies or worrying about underutilized licensed cores.
• Maintain Familiarity: For teams already comfortable with the VMware ecosystem, EEC offers a seamless transition. You can continue using your existing skills and tools within a managed cloud environment.
• Focus on Your Core Business: Let Expedient handle the underlying infrastructure and VMware licensing complexities, freeing up your IT team to concentrate on strategic initiatives that drive business value.
• Scalability and Flexibility: EEC provides the scalability to adapt to your evolving needs, allowing you to easily adjust resources without being locked into rigid licensing tiers.

Here’s a quote that captures our view:

“At Expedient, we’re using VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) to simplify cloud infrastructure for our clients—so they can spend less time managing complexity and more time delivering value. VCF gives us the flexibility to support both managed multi-tenant and private cloud solutions, which is key for businesses that need to stay agile in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Whether it’s scaling workloads or supporting diverse use cases, VCF helps us deliver a seamless hybrid cloud experience that keeps our clients competitive.” — Jonathan H. Rosenson, President and Chief Operating Officer, Expedient

VMware has been a cornerstone of virtualization for years, but its latest licensing changes demand a critical evaluation of alternatives. For organizations seeking a cost-effective, flexible, and hassle-free way to run their VMware workloads, Expedient Enterprise Cloud offers a compelling path forward.

It’s time to move beyond the unfair core count and embrace a model that aligns your IT spending with your actual resource consumption.

Ready to explore a smarter way to run VMware? Connect with TenrecX to learn more about Expedient Enterprise Cloud.

Simplify. Scale. Succeed.

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