VMware swings its focus back to low-end server virt, promises vSphere Standard upgrade
- ID
- 20931
- Status
- summarized
- Published
- 03 Sep 2026, 5:49 AM
- Fetched
- 03 Sep 2026, 7:51 AM
- Provider
- The Register
- Category
- technology
- Original URL
- https://www.theregister.com/virtualization/2026/09/02/vmware-swings-its-focus-back-to-low-end-server-virt-promises-vsphere-standard-upgrade/5294083
- Source URL
- https://www.theregister.com/headlines.atom
Summary
- Score
- 5.0
- Created
- 03 Sep 2026, 7:52 AM
- Tags
- Audience
- developerssaas_founders
What happened
VMware will release an updated vSphere Standard, its neglected low-end server virtualization bundle, after years of steering customers toward the pricier, more complex Cloud Foundation (VCF) suite. Paul Turner, VMware Cloud Foundation Division CPO, said Broadcom 'corrected' sales incentives that had pushed users to VCF, acknowledging VMware had 'too big a focus on VCF.' vSphere Standard hasn't had a major update since version 8 in 2022; vSphere 9 shipped in 2025 only for VCF.
Why it matters
If you run or quote basic server virtualization for SMBs or on-prem workloads in Malaysia, vSphere Standard may become available again at renewal instead of being forced into VCF pricing. Watch for the new vSphere Standard release and pricing to see if it's viable for small datacenter or colo setups where VCF is overkill.
Discussion angle
Whether this signals a real retreat from Broadcom's aggressive VCF-only bundling strategy or just a tactical concession, and what it means for Malaysian SMBs running aging vSphere 8 environments facing renewal pressure.