Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/04/vmware_vcf_9_beta_starts/
Source: The Register
Title: Broadcom starts beta for VMware Cloud Foundation 9, the release it reckons will douse user anger
Feedly Summary: Pricing, licensing changes won’t feel so bad once you take this private cloud stack for a spin, apparently
Exclusive Broadcom has quietly started a closed beta of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) version 9, a major release that fully expresses the tech giant’s vision for what a private cloud should be.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: Broadcom has initiated a closed beta for VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) version 9, which aims to streamline private cloud creation and management. The release has notable improvements, including better automation, self-service features, and integrated management, although it has faced criticism regarding increased costs and customer dissatisfaction.
Detailed Description: The text discusses Broadcom’s ongoing development and closed beta program for VMware Cloud Foundation version 9. This release is significant for professionals in cloud computing and infrastructure security due to its focus on private cloud solutions.
Key insights include:
– **Closed Beta Introduction**: Broadcom has begun testing VCF 9 with select customers, aiming to refine the private cloud experience.
– **Feature Enhancements**:
– Creation of private clouds is now integrated within VMware’s central management tool, vCenter, simplifying the process that previously relied on multiple tools.
– Implementation of single sign-on across various components increases user convenience.
– Enhanced license management and improved automation for provisioning virtual machines, Kubernetes resources, and storage.
– **Customer Sentiment**: There’s a noted dissatisfaction among customers regarding the increased costs following Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware and the shift to subscription models, which have reportedly resulted in higher overall bills despite initial promises of cost efficiency.
– **Industry Reaction**: Analysts, including Gartner, have reported on the discontent among VMware customers, which Broadcom’s CMO attributes to lagging perceptions rather than actual revenue trends.
– **Future Expectations**: Broadcom aims to regain customer trust by focusing on R&D, with hopes that VCF 9 will encourage users to shift public workloads back to VMware platforms.
– **Market Position**: Improved pricing strategies now position VCF competitively with rival platforms.
The article portrays Broadcom’s efforts to facilitate a more manageable private cloud infrastructure while grappling with legacy customer issues. The developments in VCF 9 not only indicate significant technological advancements but also highlight the necessity for companies in cloud computing to balance innovation with customer satisfaction and transparent pricing.