For smaller deployments, VMware returns with server virtualization that runs without central management
A basic platform for smaller deployments
VMware’s vSphere Express targets customers looking for basic server virtualization at the low end of the market. Each instance will be separate, with no option to manage multiple instances centrally.
Prashanth Shenoy, vice president of product marketing in Broadcom’s VMware Cloud Foundation, said the product was tested for small implementations. He cautioned against running it across thousands of cores.
How it fits VMware’s products
The enterprise-focused vSphere Foundation product and Cloud Foundation private cloud suite are intended for customers with more complex requirements. vSphere Express will follow the same release schedule as those products.
VMware has also added disaster recovery and policy-based networking for virtual private clouds to vSphere Foundation and Cloud Foundation. These capabilities were previously sold as add-ons, and Shenoy described the changes as a way to add value to the bundles.
Pricing and trust questions
VMware was asked how much vSphere Express will cost, but the article gives no price. Its maximum capacity is 128 cores, and it will be sold through distributors’ marketplaces.
Broadcom has sharply reduced the number of resellers in VMware’s channel program, leaving fewer partners suited to this product. Some users and former partners may also be wary of vSphere Express because of their experience with Broadcom.
Key points
- vSphere Express is VMware’s low-end server virtualization product, capped at 128 cores.
- Instances cannot be managed centrally, and the product is intended for small deployments.
- The product will follow the release cadence of vSphere Foundation and Cloud Foundation.
- VMware has not provided a price, while trust and reseller availability remain concerns.