Broadcom was Sending letters of transfer and designers to owners of VMware perpetual licenses with expired support contracts, confirmed Ars Technica.
After its November 2023 acquisition of VMware, Broadcom put an end to VMware perpetual license sales. Users with perpetual licenses can always use the software they have purchased, but they are unable to renew the assistance services Unless they have a preexisting contract allow them to do this. The controversial movement aims to push VMware users to buy subscriptions to VMware product beams, with associated costs that have increased 300% or, in some cases, more.
Some customers have chosen to continue using vmware not supported, often as they Look for alternativesLike the rivals of VMware or irtualization.
In recent weeks, some users running vmware not supported reported Receiving letters to stop stopping from Broadcom informing them that their contract with VMware and, therefore, their right to receive assistance services, has expired. The letter [PDF]Examined by ARS Technica and signed by the director general of Broadcom, Michael Brown, tells users that they must stop using the maintenance versions / updates, minor versions, large versions / upgrades extensions, improvements, fixes, bugs or security fixes, except for zero-day security fixes, issued since the end of their support contract.
The letter indicates to the users that the implementation of these updates “passed on the expiration date must be immediately deleted / uninstalled”, adding: “such use of care after the expiration date constitutes an important violation of the agreement with VMware and an offense to the intellectual property rights of VMWARE, which is potentially resulting from complaints for improved damage and Vmware ”.
Some customers of IT members of membersA managed service provider (MSP) in Canada has received this letter, although it has not received VMware updates since the expiration of their support contracts, DEAN COLPITTS at CTO in ARS told. A customer, he said, received a letter six days after the expiration of their support contract.
Likewise, online users have reported Receive letters to cease-and-denominated even if they have not expressed updates since the loss of VMware support. A user on the Spiceworks Community Forum reported Receive such a letter even if they have migrated from VMware and to Proxmox.
Some users who said they had received a Broadcom letter said they had ended up legal teams. ARS also saw the online confusion, some people thinking that the letter means that Broadcom perceives that they have broken their agreement with VMware. However, it seems that Broadcom sends these letters to companies shortly after their support contracts have expired, whether they continue to use (or not) VMware.
Broadcom did not respond to a request for comments.
Broadcom warns against potential audits
The letters of transfer and dessists also indicate to the recipients that they could be subject to the audit: “Do not comply with [post-expiration reporting] The requirements can lead to a violation of the agreement by the customer[,] And VMware can exercise its right to audit the customer as well as any other contractual or legal appeal available. »»
In response, Colpitts told Ars:
“The only thing that pisses me off is the fact that Broadcom keeps the right to still do audits each time he wishes. But … it is absolutely BS anyway. If a customer wanted to hide things, it could easily be done (warning: I have never done this, but as it would be easy to make it easy to do).”
Since Broadcom put an end to the perpetual licenses of VMware and increased prices, many users and channel partners, especially small to medium, had to reduce or end the activity with VMware. Most members of the VMware customers of the IT group are now carrying out VMware not supported. The greatest concern of the MSP is to ensure that the staff do not accidentally apply to the fixes to customers, noted Colpitts.
In recent months, Broadcom has sought to brake the potential use of VMware products which he considers unjustified. For example, he has embarked on a resolution since Legal battle with AT&T on telecommunications law to renew support services and have accused Siemens of Pirat VMware software.
Broadcom changes in the way VMware are distributed led to various companies abandon VMware and doubt Broadcom care for customers. While Broadcom financial success Given that the acquisition of VMware suggests that its business plan will remain firm, sending letters to cease-free to VMware users is likely to harm its reputation with current and old customers.
This story originally appeared on Ars Technica.
