Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/05/rackspace_vmware_planet9_migration/
Source: The Register
Title: Rackspace moving some of its own workloads off VMware to address bigger Broadcom bills
Feedly Summary: New home, Planet9, says it’s also helping a Fortune 500 company to migrate 40,000 VMs
Exclusive Rackspace is moving some of its back-office workloads off VMware and onto a platform called Private Cloud Director offered by cloud infrastructure outfit Platform9.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: Rackspace is transitioning its workloads from VMware to Platform9’s Private Cloud Director (PCD) in response to rising software costs from Broadcom’s licensing changes. This strategic migration reflects a broader trend among organizations seeking alternatives to VMware, leveraging Platform9’s vJailbreak tool for efficient transitions. This move underscores the importance of infrastructure efficiency and cost management in cloud computing.
Detailed Description: The shift by Rackspace toward Platform9’s Private Cloud Director (PCD) is a significant development in the cloud infrastructure landscape, driven largely by economic reasons and changing vendor dynamics. Key points include:
– **Cost Concerns**: Rackspace’s decision arises from increasing licensing costs associated with VMware, particularly due to Broadcom’s changes. The growing software bills prompted a reevaluation of their infrastructure approach.
– **Migration Strategy**: The company is leveraging Platform9’s vJailbreak tool to facilitate automated migrations from VMware, allowing them to transition approximately 50 virtual machines (VMs) consisting of databases, application servers, and third-party software systems efficiently.
– **Platform9’s Offering**: Launched in 2024, PCD aims to replicate VMware’s capabilities using open-source technologies like KVM, OpenStack, and Kubernetes, offering a robust platform for hosting VMs and containers while addressing Polygroup’s technical requirements.
– **Adoption by Major Companies**: Platform9 has already secured significant clients, with reports of migrations involving over 40,000 VMs from VMware, indicating confidence in its technology and a trend among large organizations seeking alternatives to VMware.
– **Market Sentiment**: Insights from industry executives reveal a mix of motivations driving the migration trend, from dissatisfaction with Broadcom’s pricing strategies to a desire for diversification and control over IT infrastructure.
– **Future Trends**: Market predictions suggest that more organizations will consider migrating from VMware as they reassess their vendor relationships and seek to avoid future pricing uncertainties.
Overall, this development highlights a critical shift in cloud infrastructure management and a drive for organizations to seek cost-effective and flexible alternatives in their computing environment, especially in light of vendor consolidation. The implications for security, compliance, and infrastructure management are profound, as businesses weigh their options in maintaining effective governance over their cloud resources while managing changing vendor dynamics.