Musings on VMware "Replacement"

Disclaimer: I have a limited scope of subject matters I speak/write about in my role as a VMware by Broadcom's employee. On these subjects, I am happy to have my words quoted as an auhtoritative source. On other subjects, like the one presented here, I am just writing as a Technologist who works for VMware, not as a VMware Spokeperson or authoritative source.

I finally got a chance to watch the full episode of Dan Tomaszewski and Josh liberman's webcast with Tom Lawrence and others today. The frank and objective observations and submissions were quite refreshing, especially given the admittedly seismic change occasioned by the Broadcom acquisition of VMware, and the resulting series of focus and products re-alignments. I have a feeling that if the organizers were given the opportunity, they will be amenable to changing the title from "VMware got Broadsided and Alternatives in the Post ESXi Era" to something else more accurate and reflective of the actual substance of the Session.

I mentioned that the Session was objective and I didn't have much to disagree with. However, there was an expression of "disappointment" by a Speaker that VMware somehow abandoned "The Community" in the course of this transition. Because there appeared to be a concurrence amongst the attendees, I would be remiss if I fail to briefly address this continued misinformation that, by discontinuing "Free ESXi", VMware has abandoned "The Community". This is an incorrect statement. VMware by Broadcom made a product-repackaging decision - a common occurrence in the industry. Such repackaging often lead to product obsolesce/discontinuance. ESXi no longer exists as a sellable/giftable product. This doesn't mean that its replacement is no longer available to the VMware Communities. #LinkedIn has been littered with announcements of #vExpert Community members who just received their membership renewals this past week or so. The premier Community group for VMware users (#VMUG) announced a few weeks ago that its VMUG Advantage Program continues to be available to the Community. As a Program Manager in charge of one of these Communities, I can attest to the fact that my Community Members continue to have access to the same benefits they enjoyed pre-acquisition.

One of the key take-aways from the Session was the uniform consensus that "VMware" was much more than a mere product or series of products. The perceptible and appreciable values which endeared enterprises to the VMware brand flow directly from what has been the primary driving force behind VMware's success over the years - a singular, non-negotiable, non-compromising dedication to creating solutions which don't just work but actually solve enterprises pain-points, enabling them to focus on driving their business objectives. When Customers want a wrench to loosen a nut, you don't offer them a hammer. Yes, a hammer can (eventually) loosen a nut, but at what cost implications? When your solutions solve actual problems for enterprises without burdening them with distractive undertakings and complications, they tend to love and stand by you.

I do not seek to argue that these recent changes were friction-less. The Trusted Advisor in me won't permit that. Changes are never without challenges. Rather, I am stating that, as evident in the aforementioned webcast, fear in the face of change is innate, but a stampede is hardly ever the best recourse in those situations. In most situations where changes become inevitable, rational humans tend to assess the situations, evaluate options, then make informed decisions as to the safest course of action. Where it makes the most sense, the best, safest and most profitable course of action would be inaction.

This is why we don't all just burst open windows on Airplanes and jump into the void at the slightest turbulence.

As VMware's impacted Customers tuned out the cacophony and started to receive and digest the actual effects of this transition on their infrastructure and bottom line, and as they weigh and compare these against the alternatives, they invariably tend to re-establish equilibrium and achieve equanimity. They begin to understand that they chose VMware originally because, well, there is a reason the purveyors of the "alternatives" don't even drink their own champagne. If you can't give enterprises a coherent explanation for why you can't do in 2024 what VMware has been doing since 2009, no amount of table pounding or incestuous twerking will help you move them out of their comfort zone.

The reason they didn't look at you in the first place is the same reason they won't look at you now. The proof is in the pudding, not on the package.