Companies Ditch VMware for OpenNebula, Citing Cost and Support Concerns
Beeks Group’s Migration
Companies have been discussing the possibility of migrating away from VMware since Broadcom’s takeover a year ago, which led to increased costs and other changes. Now, we have an inside look at one of the larger customers that has recently made the move.
From VMware to OpenNebula
According to a report from The Register, Beeks Group, a cloud operator headquartered in the United Kingdom, has moved most of its 20,000-plus virtual machines (VMs) off VMware and to OpenNebula, an open-source cloud and edge computing platform. Beeks Group sells virtual private servers and bare metal servers to financial service providers. While it still has some VMware VMs, "the majority" of its machines are currently on OpenNebula, The Register reported.
Cost and Support Concerns
Beeks’ head of production management, Matthew Cretney, cited a VMware bill for "10 times the sum it previously paid for software licenses" as one of the reasons for the migration. OpenNebula has enabled the company to dedicate more of its 3,000 bare metal server fleet to client loads instead of to VM management, as it had to with VMware. With OpenNebula reportedly requiring less management overhead, Beeks is reporting a 200 percent increase in VM efficiency since it now has more VMs on each server.
Additional Drivers for Migration
Beeks also pointed to customers viewing VMware as non-essential and a decline in VMware support services and innovation as drivers for its migration from VMware.
Broadcom’s Response
Broadcom did not respond to Ars Technica’s request for comment.
Broadcom Loses VMware Customers
Broadcom will likely continue to see some of VMware’s older customers decrease or abandon reliance on VMware offerings. However, Broadcom has emphasized the financial success it has seen from its VMware acquisition, suggesting that it will continue with its strategy even at the risk of losing some business.
Conclusion
Companies may be rethinking their reliance on VMware due to cost and support concerns, and OpenNebula is gaining traction as an alternative. While Broadcom may see some customers abandon its offerings, it remains committed to its strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did Beeks Group migrate from VMware to OpenNebula?
A: Beeks Group cited a VMware bill for "10 times the sum it previously paid for software licenses" and a decline in VMware support services and innovation as reasons for the migration.
Q: What are the benefits of using OpenNebula?
A: OpenNebula requires less management overhead, allowing Beeks to dedicate more resources to client loads and resulting in a 200 percent increase in VM efficiency.
Q: Will Broadcom see a decline in customers due to the migration?
A: While some customers may abandon VMware, Broadcom has emphasized the financial success it has seen from its VMware acquisition and is likely to continue with its strategy.
