The 8 Most Frequently Asked Questions About VMware: vSphere, Licenses, Costs, and Security

Do you have questions about VMware?
In this FAQ, you’ll find clear answers to the most important questions about VMware solutions, ranging from the basics to licensing and deployment scenarios. In this VMware FAQ, we address the most common questions about vSphere, ESXi, licensing models, perpetual VMware licenses, costs, security, and alternatives. The answers are intended for companies that use VMware on-premises or have deliberately chosen not to use a subscription model.

What is VMware, and what is it used for?

VMware by Broadcom is a leading provider of server virtualization software solutions and is used in both small and large IT environments. With VMware by Broadcom products, multiple virtual machines can be run on a single piece of hardware.

What is the difference between ESXi Free and vSphere?

The key difference is that ESXi Free is simply a free, basic version of the hypervisor, whereas vSphere is the fully licensed virtualization platform with comprehensive management, security, and automation features.

I don’t want a VMware subscription—what can I do?

If you want to continue using VMware products but do not want to pay annual subscription fees , you can purchase used VMware licenses from earlier versions. These perpetual licenses are fully legally transferable and allow you to operate your VMware environment cost-effectively without any dependencies.

What types of VMware perpetual licenses are available?

Perpetual licenses cover vSphere Standard, Enterprise, and Enterprise Plus; vCenter Server; and optional extensions such as vSAN or NSX. According to the European Court of Justice, these licenses are fully transferable in a legally compliant manner.

When is vSphere Standard sufficient, and when do I need Enterprise Plus?

In short:
vSphere Standard for stable, smaller setups.
vSphere Enterprise Plus for enterprise environments requiring high performance, automation, and scalability.

vSphere Standard is the perfect fit for a small business, a small consulting firm, or a medical practice with 1 to 3 servers. The IT department manages only a few basic systems, including file servers, mail servers, accounting software, and a small database. In these cases, vSphere Standard ensures reliable operation, the number of required updates is limited, and administration remains straightforward. It’s ideal if you want stability without incurring additional costs.

Enterprise Plus is a good fit for manufacturing companies, online retailers, or logistics firms with 5 to 15 hosts that use ERP systems, production control, web stores, and database clusters across multiple locations. With this version, fewer manual interventions are required, and operations run more smoothly—especially as the company grows and IT processes become more complex.

For large corporations, the operation of extensive data centers, or in business-critical 24/7 environments—such as in the financial sector, healthcare, energy, or internationally operating corporate structures— vSphere Enterprise Plus is the clear choice. Especially for installations with 20 or more hosts and a large number of business-critical virtual machines (real-time databases, SAP environments, medical systems, high-availability web platforms, and AI- and GPU-based workloads—maximum stability and consistent operational readiness are essential.

Which vSphere edition is best suited for which company size?

For larger, growing companies—such as manufacturing firms, logistics providers, or e-commerce services—that use modern workloads like AI, machine learning, GPU computing, or complex databases, vSphere Enterprise Plus 8 is the ideal solution. This version offers improved performance, modern security mechanisms, and features specifically tailored to enterprises that manage many hosts and rely on maximum automation.

For SMBs with 5 to 15 hosts, typical systems such as ERP, databases, online stores, or production control, and regular peak loads, vSphere Enterprise Plus 7 offers the perfect balance: A mature and highly stable system with comprehensive automation (such as DRS, Host Profiles, and Distributed Switch)—ideal for companies that are growing and want to manage their IT reliably.

If you operate an existing data center or an established IT environment without Kubernetes requirements—for example, in the public sector, healthcare, or with traditional enterprise applications—and prioritize maximum compatibility, stability, and perpetual licensing models, vSphere Enterprise Plus 6 remains an extremely robust and cost-effective solution. Many companies with stable workloads (e.g., file servers, domain controllers, older ERP systems) deliberately choose this version because it is low-maintenance and technically very reliable.

How long are the various vSphere versions supported (EOL)?

The duration of support for VMware vSphere varies depending on the major version. Although perpetual licenses are valid indefinitely, VMware (by Broadcom) determines how long updates, patches, and security fixes will be provided.

Currently, the following time periods apply to the standard perpetual versions (simplified overview):

vSphere 6 – General support has already ended
vSphere 7 – General Support through 2025, Technical Guidance through 2027
vSphere 8 – General Support through 2027, Technical Guidance through 2029

However, support cycles do not restrict continued operation, as perpetual licenses allow you to continue using the software without restriction. In companies operating in stable environments where no functional changes are planned, a conscious decision is often made to continue using older versions of vSphere.

How does per-CPU licensing actually work?

You need exactly one license for each physical CPU socket on a server. If there are two CPUs on a server, two licenses are required; if there are four CPUs, four licenses are required. The number of cores is irrelevant.

All hosts in a cluster should use the same edition (for example, either all Standard or all Enterprise Plus).

In short: 1 CPU in the server = 1 license, and the license is yours permanently.

What security features do VMware perpetual licenses offer?

VMware ensures a very high level of security even in the perpetual vSphere versions, as virtual machines are strictly isolated from one another and features such as Secure Boot, VM Encryption, vTPM, and role-based access control (RBAC) are fully available on-premises—without any reliance on the cloud or subscriptions. In sensitive sectors such as healthcare, public administration, or traditional data centers, a stable and proven on-premises security architecture is advantageous. It reliably ensures data protection, compliance, and long-term operational security.