Following Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware and subsequent alterations to its pricing structure, a noticeable exodus of customers from VMware’s platform has emerged. This trend is unsurprising, given Broadcom’s implementation of significant changes aimed at enhancing profitability, including the elimination of free products and the transition from perpetual licenses to a subscription-based model.
In response to these developments, a recent community survey comprising over 700 participants sheds light on the evolving landscape of hypervisor usage, revealing a troubling reality for VMware. The findings indicate a palpable discontent among VMware customers, with many actively exploring alternative solutions to mitigate potential price hikes. Moreover, these customers are beginning to recognize the advantages offered by open-source software infrastructure, particularly in terms of flexibility regarding hardware and software licensing.
Remarkably, the survey reveals a significant shift towards open-source hypervisor alternatives, with KVM-based and Xen-based solutions emerging as the preferred choices for over two-thirds (70%) of respondents. This departure from VMware is further underscored by the mere 18% of respondents opting to remain with the provider, highlighting a substantial loss of confidence in the platform.
Experts, such as Marc Staimer, President of Dragon Slayer Consulting, emphasize the growing dominance of open-source Linux in various domains, including virtualization. Staimer highlights the versatility of open-source Linux, encompassing not only hypervisors like KVM but also technologies like Kubernetes and containers, signaling a broader trend towards open-source solutions in the industry.
The allure of open-source infrastructure lies in its touted advantages of interoperability, community engagement, and comprehensive documentation, which facilitate easier integration with existing environments. While the momentum towards open-source solutions has been building for some time, Broadcom’s transformative decisions regarding VMware’s offerings have undoubtedly served as a catalyst for this paradigm shift in the hypervisor landscape.
Source: Tech Radar
