While working with recent VMware ESXi versions, I noticed the traditional license key option isn’t exposed the same way.
Earlier, assigning license keys directly at host level via VCSA was straightforward, but the workflow now seems more abstracted
| Feature | VMware VVF | Nutanix NCI Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Price/Core | ~$135 | ~$110 |
| Hypervisor Cost | Included in VVF | $0 (AHV is free) |
| Storage License | 250 GiB/core included | Included (AOS) |
| Management UI | vCenter (Included) | Prism (Included) |
| Winner on Price | Higher software cost | Lower software cost |
| Winner on TCO | Winner (No hardware change) | Loser (Requires NVMe/TCP network) |
"Nutanix is like moving to a new, cheaper apartment. The rent is lower ($110 vs $135), but you have to buy all new furniture because your old stuff (Fibre Channel/SAN) won't fit through the door.
VMware is like staying in your current apartment. The landlord (Broadcom) just raised the rent, but you don't have to spend a dime on movers or new furniture. For a 72 or more-core company, the 'moving cost' is often more expensive than the 'rent increase'."
I agree that for very small customers, a requirement of fewer than 72 cores might be an issue. Most medium enterprises and above usually have 72 cores or more, so could you help me understand why there's so much noise?
I'd like your feedback on whether your company has moved out of VMware.