Depending on what you plan to do with your virtual environment: virtual servers, virtual desktops, or multitenant hosting – VMware vSphere 5 licenses could get confusing.
This FAQ* will help you answer some of the questions before you meet with a VMware sales representative.
VMware License Questions:
Q: Does the new VMware vSphere 5 licensing model—per-CPU without limitation on the number of VMs, cores, or amount of physical RAM—apply to both vSphere 5.0 and vSphere 5.1?
A: Yes. The VMware vSphere 5 licensing model applies to both vSphere 5.0 and 5.1 customers.
Q: Does the new VMware vSphere 5 licensing models apply to existing VMware vSphere 4.x or prior?
A: No. The new VMware vSphere licensing model applies only to new purchases of VMware vSphere licenses or to existing licenses of VMware vSphere 4.x or older that are upgraded toVMware vSphere 5.
Q: When upgrading to existing licenses for VMware vSphere 4.x or older to VMware vSphere 5, may I maintain the VMware vSphere 4.x licensing model?
A: No. In order to complete the upgrade, the new VMware vSphere 5 EULA must be accepted.
Q: Does my SnS calculation change?
A: SnS continues to be linked to VMware vSphere processor licenses.
Q: Do the licensing terms differ depending on which server VMware vSphere is deployed on?
A: No. VMware vSphere license entitlement is linked tophysical characteristics of the server on which VMware vSphere is deployed.
Q: Can I apply the vCenter Operations or vCenter Protect functionality included with vSphere Standard with Operations Management to virtual machines running on hosts that are not licensed with vSphere Standard with Operations Management?
A: No, the vCenter Operations and vCenter Protect functionality included with vSphere Standard with Operations Management can only be used for virtual machines running on hosts that are properly licensed with vSphere Standard with Operations Management. Virtual Machines running on other hosts would need to be licensed separately.
Q: Which customers are eligible for vSphere Desktop?
A: vSphere Desktop is available to all commercial, academic, and government customers who want to purchase new licenses of vSphere to host desktop virtualization. Customers who purchase the VMware View bundles get vSphere Desktop.
Q: I am currently using vSphere Enterprise+ to deploy a third-party desktop virtualization solution. Can I continue to do so?
A: Yes. Customers currently using vSphere as backend for a third- party VDI deployment can continue to do so.
Q: Can vSphere Desktop be used to run third-party desktop management and infrastructure tools or third-party server products for desktops?
A: As per the vSphere 5 EULA, vSphere Desktop standalone can be used for hosting virtual desktop machines or desktop management and monitoring tools that are used for VDI deployments only.
Q: What is the impact on View bundles or View add-on SKUs?
A: There is no change to the price of the View bundles. We encourage customers to consider View bundles for all their new desktop virtualization deployments. The bundles are designed as the cost-effective solutions for large-scale desktop deployments.
For information on VMware Pricing
*Source: VMware White Paper for Licensing, Pricing, and Packaging.
