Answer 7 questions to assess the impact of VMware\x27s shift to per-core licensing and identify cost reduction strategies.
📘 This guide is part of our Oracle Licensing Knowledge Hub — your comprehensive resource for Oracle licensing, compliance, and cost optimization.
Per-Core
New Model
7
Questions
3 min
To Complete
Question 1 of 7VMware Licensing Advisory
Question 1 of 7
🖥️
How many physical servers are in your VMware environment?
Each server contributes cores to your licensing obligation. Total server count is the starting point.
Under 10 servers
10-50 servers
50-200 servers
200+ servers
Question 2 of 7
⚙️
What is the typical core count per server?
Modern servers have 32-128 cores per socket, 2 sockets = 64-256 cores per server. Higher core counts dramatically increase licensing costs under per-core pricing.
Under 32 cores per server
32-64 cores per server
64-128 cores per server
128+ cores per server
Maximum cost impact
Question 3 of 7
💰
What was your previous VMware per-socket licensing cost?
Understanding your old cost is essential for calculating the per-core impact. Previous model: licence per physical socket.
Known and documented
Roughly known from invoices
Only total cost known, not per-socket
Unknown — perpetual licences purchased years ago
Question 4 of 7
📊
Have you calculated your new per-core licensing cost?
BroadcomVCF/VVF pricing is per core with a minimum of 16 cores per CPU. Understanding your exact new cost is critical.
Yes — exact per-core cost calculated
Estimated — rough calculation done
Only total new quote reviewed
Not calculated — accepted Broadcom proposal
Question 5 of 7
🔄
Are any of your VMware hosts under-utilised?
Under-utilised hosts still require full per-core licensing. Consolidating workloads onto fewer hosts directly reduces licensable cores.
All hosts at 60%+ utilisation
Most well-utilised, some at 30-60%
Several hosts under 30% utilisation
Utilisation not monitored
Question 6 of 7
📦
Do you have hosts with high core counts that run few VMs?
A 128-core server running 5 VMs pays the same per-core licensing as one running 50 VMs. Right-sizing hardware to licensing is now essential.
No — hosts well-matched to workload
A few over-provisioned hosts
Several high-core hosts with low VM density
Many large servers with low utilisation
Question 7 of 7
📅
When is your next VMware/Broadcom renewal?
Renewal timing determines your urgency for optimisation. Earlier renewals = less time to prepare.
More than 12 months away
6-12 months away
3-6 months away
Imminent or recently renewed at high cost
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