After Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware, they announced several changes they’d be making to VMware licensing. Most notably, customers will no longer be able to purchase perpetual licenses to run ESXi on their devices.
The big question is what will happen once VMware stops supporting perpetual licenses?
ESXi Lifespan
Perpetual ESXi licenses will no longer be available for purchase, however, because these licenses are perpetual, there is no expiration date, and they will run indefinitely. This means that as long as the hardware is functional, you can keep using it without having to switch to the new subscription model VMware is transitioning to.
End of Support for ESXi Perpetual Licenses
VMware offers General Support for 5 years after the hypervisor’s release, then Technical Guidance for 2 years after, totaling seven years of support.
If your hardware is still on General Support, it receives security patches, bug fixes, and updates.
Once it is supported by Technical Guidance, there is limited support for the hardware, and it will no longer receive the latest updates or security.
The following are end-of-support dates for the most recent ESXi versions:
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ESXi Version
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- VMware ESXi 6.7
- VMware ESXi 7.0
- VMware ESXi 8.0
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End of General Support
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- October 15, 2022
- April 2, 2025
- 2027 (Projected)
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End of Technical Guidance
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- October 15, 2024
- April 2, 2027
- 2029 (Projected)
Those who are currently using the ESXi 6.7 have already stopped receiving General Support and are nearing the end of Technical Guidance.
If you already own a perpetual license, you will continue to be able to run it and receive updates according to the contract you previously had with VMware. However, once the support period ends for your current ESXi version, you will no longer receive security patches, updates, or new features that will be available in the upcoming ESXi versions.
Risks of Not Upgrading
Continuing to use your current ESXi may seem convenient but comes with serious risks. Lack of security updates exposes your IT infrastructure, leaving it vulnerable with no fix.
If there is a security flaw discovered in your current version of ESXi, VMware will not provide a solution for it, making your hypervisor a prime target for exploitation.
Options for Unsupported ESXi Versions
The end-of-support dates for the most recent ESXi versions are just around the corner, meaning many businesses will have to make a plan of action within the next year. Some options include:
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- Continue running on Perpetual ESXi (with risks)
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If you have an air-gapped infrastructure, the lack of security might not be a major concern. Continuing to run the perpetual ESXi for as long as it is functional could be a good option with minor drawbacks. However, lack of hardware compatibility down the line might be something to take into consideration.
For those operating on a network or server that could be potentially exposed to external threats, choosing to use the unprotected hardware comes at a considerable risk.
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- Upgrade to a supported ESXi version
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In order to continue being secure using VMware hardware, an upgrade would be required. However, with the recent shift from perpetual licenses to a subscription model, using VMware hypervisors will become an annual expense.
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- Consider alternatives
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Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware, and the changes brought along with it, means VMware products are not a suitable solution for many businesses. If this resonates with your own business needs, it might be time to consider other alternatives.
Your business needs a hypervisor solution that has strong virtualization capabilities, advanced features, and won’t be a headache to integrate. Enter Microsoft Hyper-V, a bare-metal hypervisor that will be able to handle your VMs with ease. If you are already using Windows OS, the choice is an easy decision. Makios Servers paired with Microsoft Hyper-V ensure seamless integration into your systems, making the switch simple and efficient.
Final Thoughts
On the surface level, the ability to use VMware’s ESXi Perpetual licenses indefinitely seems to be a viable solution that will keep you from having to switch to the new subscription-based model Broadcom is implementing. However, when analyzing the security risks incurred, it might not be the best option for your business.
Using unsupported hardware is a risky gamble that could lead to security breaches and operational disruptions. Consider the solution that is best for your business, whether that be upgrading or considering alternatives. Contact us today to learn more.
