If your business runs its servers on VMware, your renewal may not look like the last one. Since Broadcom acquired VMware, the way products are packaged, licensed and sold has changed. Many small firms have found out only when the renewal notice arrives.
This guide is for owners and managing directors, not specialists. It gives you five questions to ask now, while you still have time to choose.
1. When does our VMware support or licence end?
Find the date. Your IT provider or reseller should be able to tell you in one email. Everything else in this list depends on it.
2. What are we actually using?
Many small firms run a handful of virtual servers on one or two hosts. Ask for a short list: how many servers, what runs on them, and which VMware features you rely on. Often the answer is simpler than the licence suggests.
3. What will the renewal look like?
Ask for a written quote in the new format and compare it with your last one. Check what is included, the term, and any minimum commitment. Do not rely on last year’s figures.
4. What are our options?
There are usually three: renew as is, renew for a shorter term while you plan, or move to another platform such as Microsoft Hyper-V. For some firms, moving key services to Microsoft 365 or the cloud removes the need for a local server altogether. None is right for everyone. The right choice depends on your applications, your hardware age and your budget.
5. If we move, how do we avoid downtime?
A well-planned migration happens in stages, with a tested backup and a rollback plan before anything changes. Agree a quiet period, such as an evening or weekend, and test the new setup before staff rely on it.
What to do this week
- Write down your renewal date.
- Ask for a list of your virtual servers.
- Request a written renewal quote.
If it would help to have a second opinion, we are happy to review your setup and explain the options in plain English. Our team supports businesses from London, Riyadh and Dubai. See our managed IT services, or read our earlier guide to a risk-first approach to server migration.
Questions? hello@anantek.solutions
