VMware to Nutanix: Why Customers Are Migrating
The acquisition of VMware by Broadcom has led to significant changes, prompting many customers to seek alternative virtualization solutions. This article delves into the reasons behind the migration of former VMware customers to Nutanix, highlighting real-world examples and expert insights.
Customer Dissatisfaction with VMware Post-Broadcom Acquisition
Since Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, several customers have expressed dissatisfaction due to increased costs, reduced support quality, and changes in licensing models. These factors have driven many to explore alternative solutions, with Nutanix emerging as a popular choice.
Real-World Examples of VMware Migrations
Several companies have already made the switch from VMware to Nutanix, citing various reasons for their decision. Here are a few notable examples:
- Golding: An Australian civil construction and mining contractor, Golding, used VMware Cloud on AWS for hosting workloads and disaster recovery. Following the acquisition, they experienced support failings and the termination of on-demand server capabilities. This led them to migrate to Nutanix NC2 clusters in AWS for a more reliable and flexible solution.
- MSIG Insurance Asia: A long-time VMware user since 2007, MSIG Insurance Asia faced a 300-400% price hike in licensing costs after the Broadcom takeover. Unwilling to accept the bundled VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) offering without adequate support, they migrated their entire fleet of 1,500 to 2,000 virtual machines to Nutanix.
- Toshiba: The Japanese giant Toshiba decided to move from VMware to Nutanix after Broadcom's licensing quote came in at ten times the previous cost. They will commence migration in October, and expects to spend one to two years migrating 2,200 VMs.
Key Reasons for Migrating to Nutanix
The decision to migrate from VMware to Nutanix is often driven by a combination of factors. Here are some of the most common reasons:
- Increased Licensing Costs: Broadcom's new licensing models have resulted in significant price increases for many VMware customers, making Nutanix a more cost-effective alternative.
- Reduced Support Quality: Some customers have reported a decline in the quality of VMware support since the acquisition, leading them to seek more responsive and reliable support from Nutanix.
- Strategic Shifts: Changes in VMware's product offerings and strategic direction have not aligned with the needs of some customers, prompting them to explore more suitable solutions like Nutanix.
- Loss of Elasticity: The bust-up between Broadcom and AWS ended the ability to spin up on-demand servers in VMware Cloud on AWS.
Nutanix's Strategy to Attract VMware Users
Nutanix has been actively targeting VMware users who are dissatisfied with the changes under Broadcom's ownership. Their strategy includes:
- Enhanced Migration Tools: Nutanix offers tools to simplify the migration process, including replicating firewall rules from VMware's NSX software-defined networking stack.
- Support for External Storage: Recognizing that many users prefer to maintain their existing storage infrastructure, Nutanix now supports external storage, making it easier for VMware customers to adopt their platform.
- Focus on Customer Needs: Nutanix emphasizes its commitment to meeting customer needs and providing responsive support, differentiating itself from VMware under Broadcom.
The Competitive Landscape
While Nutanix has emerged as a leading alternative to VMware, other players are also vying for the attention of dissatisfied customers. These include:
- Red Hat: Offers server virtualization products as part of its broader open-source portfolio.
- HPE: Provides hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solutions and virtualization software.
- Citrix: Has re-entered the virtualization market with its own offerings.
- Scale Computing: A smaller HCI player that offers simple and affordable virtualization solutions.
- Open Source Projects: Projects like XCP-NG and Proxmox provide free and open-source virtualization platforms.
The Future of Virtualization
The changes in the virtualization landscape following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware have created new opportunities for alternative solutions like Nutanix. As customers continue to evaluate their options, the focus will likely be on factors such as cost, support, flexibility, and alignment with their strategic goals.
Conclusion
The migration of VMware customers to Nutanix is a direct result of dissatisfaction with Broadcom's policies and changes. Companies like Golding and MSIG Insurance Asia have demonstrated that Nutanix offers a viable alternative for those seeking cost-effective, reliable, and customer-focused virtualization solutions. As the competitive landscape evolves, it will be interesting to see how VMware responds and how other players capitalize on the opportunities created by this shift.