Date:
22 Jul 2026
Author:
PREO AG
Used software
The VMware Dilemma: Caught Between End of Support and Forced Subscriptions
Since Broadcom's takeover of VMware, the virtualisation world has been turned upside down. The classic model of perpetual purchase licences has been discontinued entirely. Instead, the manufacturer is pushing existing VMware customers towards expensive subscription models such as VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF). This became especially clear at the start of October 2025: since then, customers still running a version of vSphere 7 or vSAN 7 have received no product support, security patches or updates. Broadcom support for these versions was also discontinued after 2 October 2025. Anyone who instead wishes to upgrade – for example to the latest version, VCF 9.1, available since the end of May – is confronted with a purely core-based subscription structure. Existing purchase licences, on the other hand, cannot be renewed or upgraded.
Many mid-sized companies, large corporations and public administrations face the dilemma of a noticeable increase in budget combined with significantly greater vendor dependency. In this blog post, we show why used VMware licences should be considered as an alternative, and how the right third-party support underpins this strategically over the long term.
VCF 9.1: What's Inside the Latest VMware Version and What Existing Customers Need to Know Now
VCF 9.1 is a feature update for VCF 9.0, intended to improve AI infrastructure, ransomware recovery and the management layer.
What's technically new in VCF 9.1: licensing previously ran through VCF Operations, but in the new version a separate, standalone License Server Appliance takes over. The appliance is deployed automatically during the upgrade, so the workflow for VMware customers remains unchanged – the cost burden, however, does not.
A single subscription per core covers vSphere, vSAN, NSX, HCX, VCF Operations, VCF Automation, vSphere Kubernetes Service and VCF Private AI Services.
Advanced services such as ACC, Advanced Security, Load Balancing and Data Services are not included and must be licensed separately. The decisive point for existing customers: existing perpetual VCF licences cannot be upgraded to VCF 9. A switch to the subscription model is therefore unavoidable – Broadcom permits no alternative.
On-Premises and Used Software: More Control, Lower Costs
At a time when subscription fees for cloud services are rising unpredictably, on-premises operation with used software offers a strategic, secure and sustainably more cost-effective alternative. It is no coincidence that the majority of German companies, according to the industry association Bitkom, rely on hybrid IT infrastructures and therefore, at least in part, on on-prem solutions. Whereas subscription models withdraw all usage rights once the term expires, used perpetual licences secure lasting independence.
This way, companies retain full control over their sensitive data structures, meet their own industry-specific and statutory requirements for digital security and sovereignty, and escape the manufacturers' update diktat. It also removes the sometimes considerable effort involved in Software Asset Management that arises from the typically asynchronous terms of the new Broadcom subscriptions.
Why Used VMware Licences from PREO Are an Ideal Solution
Using used software licences is an established practice, both economically and legally. As far back as 2012 and 2013, the European Court of Justice and the German Federal Court of Justice confirmed the legal trade in them under clearly defined conditions. As one of Europe's leading providers of used software, PREO has been winning customers over for more than 20 years with an absolutely audit-proof foundation:
- Substantial cost savings: Reduce your ongoing licence fees by up to 70 per cent and avoid unpredictable subscription surcharges instead.
- Legal certainty & transparency: PREO provides seamless documentation of the chain of rights, including proof of deletion by the previous owner. Every used software licence on offer has been checked under licensing law and is audit-proof. Customers also benefit from the purpose-built Safe3 system with an integrated blockchain solution.
- The ideal bridging strategy: VMware customers gain valuable time to plan upcoming migrations or platform changes cleanly – technically, legally and financially.
PREO's licensing experts will be glad to advise you personally on the basis of your current licence portfolio and prepare a free, no-obligation quote, including your potential savings.
Worry-Free Virtualisation with PREO and Origina's Third-Party Support
A common pain point with perpetual licences is the loss of manufacturer support. This is where PREO's strategic alliance with Origina, a world-leading provider of independent software support, comes in.
Through this partnership, companies gain specialised third-party support that proactively defuses security risks and prevents system outages. The existing software infrastructure continues to run independently of the manufacturer's upgrade cycles. A leading industrial company, for instance, was able to cut its costs for the following three years by 68 per cent by combining used licences from PREO with Origina support – successfully cushioning the impact of forced upgrades.
You can find this and many other reference examples here.
PREO tip: Use the secondary software market as a lever for both liquidity and security in your licence management. PREO's licensing experts will be happy to advise you personally and, on request, prepare a free, no-obligation quote.
