HPE tempts VMware users, partners with year of free virtualization software

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is making a bold move to attract disgruntled VMware customers with a compelling new promotion that offers a free year of its virtualization software. Announced during the HPE Discover event in Las Vegas, this initiative aims to provide an appealing alternative to those dissatisfied with Broadcom's recent VMware pricing strategies. The centerpiece of this promotion is HPE's 'Morpheus Software—VM Essentials,' described on the company's website as a viable substitute for VMware. This platform features a hardware virtual machine (HVM) hypervisor and unified management capabilities, allowing users to oversee both VMware ESXi and HVM clusters from a single console. It also facilitates a smooth migration process whenever users are ready to make the switch. According to HPE's announcement, new customers can access up to one year of free licenses for VM Essentials, along with a year of HPE Zerto for just $1 to enable non-disruptive migration to HPE virtual machines. Additionally, HPE Financial Services is offering a 0 percent interest option for software funding, making this opportunity particularly attractive compared to Broadcom's current pricing for VMware vSphere. Broadcom's acquisition of VMware has led to significant price increases, with the elimination of perpetual licenses and the bundling of products into costly packages. HPE's suggested pricing for VM Essentials stands at $600 per CPU socket annually, whereas Broadcom has controversially shifted to a per-core licensing model. Jeremiah Jenson, HPE’s VP for North American channel and partner ecosystem, highlighted the financial relief VM Essentials could provide, claiming it may result in savings of up to 90 percent compared to VMware. He also emphasized the software's role in reducing vendor lock-in and simplifying hybrid IT environments. While Broadcom has yet to comment on HPE's promotional efforts, it's clear that HPE is positioning itself as a formidable competitor in the virtualization space, particularly appealing to customers feeling the pinch from Broadcom's pricing shifts. Furthermore, HPE has also been offering a free year of VM Essentials through a rebate for customers purchasing AMD servers along with a one-year VM Essentials license, available exclusively via channel partners—a notable departure from Broadcom's strategy, which has seen a significant reduction in the number of resellers authorized to sell VMware products.