Whitepaper: VMware Infrastructure 3: Pricing, Packaging and Licensing Overview

With the announcement of ESX Server 3.0 and VirtualCenter 2.0 (aka Virtual Infrastructure 3.0) VMware launched a series of whitepapers to clarify technical and marketing aspects of the new offering.

The first one of the series:

VMware® Infrastructure is the industry?s first full infrastructure virtualization suite that empowers enterprises and small businesses alike to transform, manage and optimize their IT systems infrastructure through virtualization. VMware Infrastructure 3 includes:

  • VMware ESX Server 3 with VMware VMFS, VMware VirtualCenter Agent, and VMware Virtual SMP
  • VMware VirtualCenter 2 with VMware VMotion?, VMware HA, VMware DRS
  • VMware Consolidated Backup

With the introduction of VMware Infrastructure 3, VMware is making significant changes to how these products are priced, packaged and licensed. VMware is also making several significant changes and additions to its support offerings and pricing.

This paper explains these important changes and reviews both entitlements for existing customers and upgrade paths available for new and existing customers.

Strongly recommended. Read it here.