VMware by Broadcom – License Changes

There is a fair amount of misinformation going round about the VMware by Broadcom licence changes, particularly the 72-core minimum. Here is what is actually true.

The facts

Update 07.04.2025 – The 72-core minimum order has been withdrawn. The minimum remains 16 cores.

• The 72 cores are not per physical CPU (socket)
• The 72 cores are not per host
• The 72 cores do not apply to additional licences bought against a running contract
• A minimum of 16 cores per socket still has to be ordered (except for the VCF Edge SKU, where 8 is the minimum)
• The changes apply to vSphere Standard, Enterprise Plus, VVF and VCF

The 72 cores are a minimum order for new contracts. Increasing or topping up licences on an existing contract is not affected by the 72-core minimum. Renewals do fall under it. For additional cores a co-term, so the same term for existing and additional licences, makes sense.

Renewals

Late renewals carry a fee of +20%. That applies to migrations from perpetual to subscription-based licences as well.

The changes take effect on 10 April 2025.

Examples

Some worked examples for small environments with low-core CPUs.

Not affected by the change:

• 3 hosts, dual socket at 16 cores = 96 cores, so 96 cores have to be ordered (not 6×72=432)
• 3 hosts, dual socket at 24 cores = 144 cores, so 144 cores have to be ordered (not 6×72=432)
• 5 hosts, dual socket at 16 cores = 160 cores, so 160 cores have to be ordered

Affected by the change:

• 3 hosts, single socket at 16 cores = 48 cores, so 72 cores have to be ordered

We do not see this as dramatic, because it only hits very small environments. What matters is that hardware sizing in environments this small is matched closely to the licensing: SKU, core count and term.

If you have questions about the changes, we are here for you.