Imagine having the ability to set up a complete VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) environment in just a few hours without changing IP addresses, retraining staff, or rewriting operational runbooks. This ideal scenario is now possible with Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) latest offering, Amazon Elastic VMware Service (Amazon EVS). Geared towards aligning with Broadcom’s VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) licensing and bundling schemes, this new service enables users to run Broadcom’s VCF private cloud stack seamlessly within the AWS cloud ecosystem.
Amazon EVS allows organizations to employ a comprehensive VCF environment, integrating compute, storage, and network virtualization tools, alongside management and automation products. Broadcom markets VCF as a robust private cloud solution that utilizes public cloud resources as dedicated hosts. This differentiates it from a hybrid cloud model, where compute resources are shared among various clients.
Although AWS’s announcement did not clarify the use of dedicated hosts, it assured users of a consistent experience with other VCF implementations. This includes support for third-party backup, disaster recovery, and storage solutions. Broadcom has significantly invested in VCF, advocating for its cost-effectiveness, despite a shift to a per-core subscription pricing strategy that generally increases costs for existing VMware customers holding perpetual licenses.
Historically, AWS and VMware have shared a close partnership. AWS was VMware’s initial cloud partner, and together they developed VMware Cloud on AWS, managed by VMware and hosted by AWS. Notably, this service did not utilize VCF. After Broadcom acquired VMware, it discontinued the bundled products and restricted AWS from reselling the service. These changes prompted AWS to steer users away from VMware Cloud on AWS, motivating the development of Amazon EVS in alignment with Broadcom’s updated licensing frameworks.
During this transitional phase, other major cloud providers, such as Oracle, Microsoft, and IBM, have introduced cloud services based on VCF, with numerous smaller cloud providers following the trend. Broadcom’s CEO, Hock Tan, has positioned VMware’s offerings to emphasize on-premises solutions, reflecting Broadcom’s strategic focus post-acquisition of VMware.
Acknowledging that VMware Cloud on AWS was no longer a sustainable long-term service, AWS introduced Amazon EVS to adapt to Broadcom’s licensing model. This new service demonstrates a strategic win for Broadcom, showcasing their ability to reshape AWS services according to their vision. Consequently, Amazon EVS represents a significant step in AWS’s cloud offerings, allowing users to maintain and extend their VCF environments within the AWS cloud.
AWS’s announcement subtly encourages users to leverage other native AWS capabilities and consider modernizing their workloads over time. This reflects the evolving landscape where modern applications are typically not built on traditional virtual machines. Despite VMware’s efforts with the Tanzu Kubernetes platform, it has yet to achieve considerable traction among developers.
In summary, AWS and Broadcom’s VMware have showcased a collaborative yet evolving relationship, adapting their cloud offerings to modern licensing frameworks. This new strategic direction supports broader modernization and flexibility for end-users, aligning with contemporary IT needs and cloud adoption trends.
