Order/license chaos for VMware merchandise after Broadcom takeover (Jan. 2024)
[English]These are at present troublesome instances for patrons and resellers of VMware merchandise who need to reorder, prolong licenses or just activate product licenses. After the Broadcom takeover, absolute chaos reigns. Sellers have been terminated, orders through OEMs are typically not possible, and the tip buyer portal for license activation has been shut down. After reporting on issues for the primary time a couple of days in the past, I now have inside info that confirms this. By the way, this isn’t the primary incident by which Broadcom merchandise and supplier/buyer relationships have been “badly strained”, to say the least, as I found when looking the weblog.
Wanting again: VMware buy and first bother
Here’s a transient evaluation that exhibits that the chaos outlined beneath was merely introduced or was to be anticipated.
Broadcom bought VMware
In Could 2022, I reported on the acquisition of VMware by Broadcom within the weblog publish Broadcom acquires VMware for 61 billion US-$. The loopy sum of 61 billion US {dollars} was talked about as the acquisition worth. I wrote within the weblog publish about my doubts that this will likely be an excellent factor for patrons.
On the finish of 2023, it was introduced that Broadcom needed to unload components of the VMware portfolio to events and solely hold the VMware cloud enterprise and proceed it on a subscription foundation (see my weblog publish Broadcom plans to sell VMware end-user computing and carbon black businesses).
Termination of the VMware companions
On the finish of December 2023, the information makes the rounds that Broadcom has terminated all present contracts with VMware companions (resellers and repair suppliers) as of February 4, 2024 on Friday, December 22, 2023 (see Contracts for all VMware partners terminated by Broadcom for 2024). Which means that neither VMware companions (who truly promote VMware merchandise to finish clients) nor clients know what’s going to occur with the enterprise relationships.
VMware Cloud Service Supplier additionally terminated
Addendum: The Register reviews in this article that Broadcom has additionally tossed all VMware Cloud Service Suppliers. The supplier is leaving clients at the hours of darkness as to who would be the IT provider for these providers sooner or later.
VMware OEM portal offline – no license activation
This week I reported on the subsequent drawback within the weblog publish VMware OEM portal offline, customers cannot activate VMware licenses. The so-called VMware OEM portal is offline. When making an attempt to activate the respective keys on the HPE website, the error message “The PAC redemption portals are being taken offline. Program Updates will likely be posted quickly.” (see following picture).
Which means that clients who’ve bought VMware merchandise can not activate their licenses. Within the linked weblog publish, I discussed three circumstances of customers reporting large issues. Along with the above, there are new findings that the tip buyer portal, the place clients can activate their e-delivery PAC keys, is offline.
In line with my newest info (from an inside supply), the portal ought to log on once more (by the tip of the week) in order that PAC keys which have already been delivered could be reactivated by the client. I had interpreted “by the tip of the week” to imply Friday, January 12, 2024. To date, nevertheless, the portal continues to be switched off. We’ll have to attend and hope.
Broadcom/VMware: The present scenario
On account of my reporting, I’ve acquired some inside info from an unnamed supply that doesn’t bode effectively. The present standing concerning Broadcom/VMware is that no orders, assist extensions or worth inquiries could be processed by OEMs or distributors. The distributors are additionally at present unable to course of inquiries and orders. That is said in a doc that I’ve acquired.
What does this imply intimately for the respective procurement channels? Right here is a few info from my supply, who has compiled it (primarily based on inside directions).
Ordering of VMware merchandise through distribution
It’s at present not potential to course of orders through distributors. In line with an announcement by Broadcom, distributors will most likely not have the ability to course of new requests for quotations till February 2, 2024.
VMWare OEM gross sales through Lenovo and HPE
Anybody wishing to order VMware merchandise through Lenovo and HPE OEM gross sales may also be neglected within the chilly. Solely orders acquired by these OEM distributors by January 8, 2024 will likely be processed.
All new VMware OEM orders can now not be booked, as Lenovo and HPE have additionally had their VMware OEM contract terminated (see my feedback above). I’ve solely listed two OEMs right here, the scenario also needs to have an effect on the opposite identified OEMs to the identical extent.
VMware product procurement through third events
Anybody who now comes up with the thought of ordering VMware merchandise and licenses through third-party suppliers resembling TESEDI and many others. won’t discover a completely different scenario. It’s not potential to e book renewals/assist extensions with these suppliers both. Moreover, requests for quotations can’t be processed both.
What occurs subsequent?
My supply informed me that info is at present flowing somewhat sparsely as a result of each the scenario and the knowledge scenario at OEMs Lenovo and HPE specifically was complicated throughout the week. There have been rumors that there could be information from numerous producers on Friday, January 12, 2024. I haven’t got any info but, so the entire thing is “work in progress”.
Will clients nonetheless get CPU licenses?
The query stays as to what’s going to occur subsequent and whether or not clients will nonetheless obtain the deliberate CPU licenses through the OEM? Sadly, the present info scenario is such that no person can and can make a binding dedication as as to if the VMWare CPU licenses will likely be made obtainable once more in any respect through the OEMs. All the things is dependent upon Broadcom’s will, and the scenario and data can change virtually day by day.
Unique VMware licenses through the distribution channel from February 2024
Again in December, VMware introduced that it was transferring nearly all of its key merchandise to a subscription-based licensing mannequin and making vital adjustments to its companion program. I had reported on the Broadcom/VMware story in my weblog posts (Broadcom plans to sell VMware end-user computing and carbon black businesses and Contracts for all VMware partners terminated by Broadcom for 2024).
In line with the present standing, the next licenses will then be obtainable from February 2024 through the same old distribution channels and underneath modified license/procurement circumstances (= subscriptions):
- VMware vSphere
- VMware vSAN. NSX, HCX
- VMware Website Restoration Supervisor
- VMware vCloud Suite
- VMware Aria Suite, Common, Automation, Operations
I do not know what the scenario is with on-premises licenses for different VMware merchandise. The above define ought to ring alarm bells for VMware customers. For my part, there’s fixed bother and chaos forward.
Do it once more SAM: The Broadcom-Symantec case
Whereas writing this text, I remembered “there was one thing else”. Broadcom had additionally purchased the safety supplier Symantec after which started to use its product portfolio. Consequently, there was absolute chaos, clients and sellers have been now not capable of renew or buy Symantec licenses.
I had described the scenario in numerous weblog posts, e.g. Symantec acquisition by Broadcom ends in license/support chaos (see additionally hyperlinks on the finish of the article). I’ve not adopted how the entire thing appears right now. The destruction of present buyer relationships after firm takeovers by Broadcom is subsequently nothing new.
Comparable articles:
Broadcom acquires VMware for 61 billion US-$
Broadcom plans to sell VMware end-user computing and carbon black businesses
Contracts for all VMware partners terminated by Broadcom for 2024
VMware OEM portal offline, customers cannot activate VMware licenses
Statement from Broadcom on issue after Symantec acquisition
Symantec acquisition by Broadcom ends in license/support chaos