VMware customers must purchase additional license for CPUs with more than 32 cores

VMware is adjusting its licensing model. As of April 2, customers must purchase a 2CPU license for CPUs with more than 32 cores. Currently that is a 1CPU license regardless of the number of CPU cores. The rule does not yet apply to existing customers.

VMware will apply the new licensing rules to its entire software offering for which CPU-based licenses are available. For processors with a maximum of 32 cores, one license is sufficient, but with more cores a second license must be purchased.

For now, VMware is showing examples of processors with 64 cores, which require two licenses. There are no x86 processors with more cores yet, but it seems that with the new rules, VMware will require, for example, four licenses for a 128-core processor in the future.

According to VMware, the vast majority of its customers are currently using existing Intel and AMD processors with fewer than 32 cores. Both manufacturers have released CPUs with more than 32 cores. Intel’s Xeon line currently goes up to 56 cores per CPU and AMD’s Epyc server processors have a maximum of 64 cores.

Customers who already have a license and want to install new hardware with more than 32 cores per CPU are eligible for a free second license if they apply before April 30. VMware says it will make the adjustment in response to the ‘expected changes’ in the hardware market.