Updated: 1 Aug 2024

Q&A: Addressing uncertainty

With the transition to a subscription-based model and changes in support policies, many VMware users have questions about their licensing options and the implications of operating without a support contract.

In this Q&A, we address your most common concerns and provide helpful information to navigate these complexities.

1. Can we operate without a support contract?

Answer: While technically possible with perpetual licenses, operating without a support contract comes with significant downsides:

• No updates: You will not receive security updates beyond high-severity CVEs, leaving your systems vulnerable to exploits.
• No technical support: You will not have access to Broadcom’s technical support team for assistance with troubleshooting or other issues.

2. Can we install updates without a support contract?

Answer: To this day, updates are still publicly available from VMware’s mirrors and can be downloaded and installed without technical restriction or the need to authenticate. This is valid whether you perform patching offline, from the CLI or using vLCM.

However, do note that installing updates without a support contract violates the VMware End User License Agreement.

3. We have a valid support contract but haven’t seen any updates?

Answer: Broadcom’s release cadence has slowed down recently.

The latest update for vSphere 8 was released in June 2024. This may impact organizations relying on frequent updates.

4. We have a valid support contract but the new Broadcom shows no entitlements; can’t download VIBs; no updates are seen?

Answer: You are not alone.

The transition to Broadcom’s new portal has been bumpy. Reach out to Broadcom support for assistance.

5. Can we install updates from elsewhere? Can you provide updates? Can we get updates from a third party?

Answer: While technically possible, this violates the VMware EULA.

Updates are to this day still distributed openly. Obtaining binaries from a third party remains non-compliant; there is therefore no advantage to installing updates from unofficial sources, which introduces security risks and potential legal repercussions.

Moving Forward

Operating without a support contract or using unauthorized updates poses significant risks. For customers that choose to retain VMware as their virtualization stack, we strongly recommend maintaining a valid support contract.

With customers who consider Broadcom’s subscription model a concern, Forward Systems can help. We offer consultancy services to evaluate your needs, identify cost-saving opportunities, and explore alternative solutions.

We are also a partner with Vates and we deliver open solutions that offer full-feature parity with your existing deployment, 24x7x1 SLAs, at a fair cost and without vendor lock-ins.

Contact our team today to discuss the best path forward for your organization: [email protected]