Broadcom raised the VMware minimum from 16 cores to 72, then restored the 16-core minimum the same day.
On April 10, 2025, a CRN report said the minimum purchase was 72 cores per order line, plus a 20% penalty for renewing late. The same day, heise reported that the 72-core rule was dropped and the 16-core minimum was back. The late-renewal penalty still stands. Neither source published a license dollar price. The first report was dated March 2025, with no day given.
Was
16-core minimum
Then
72-core minimum (reversed)
Was
72-core minimum
Then
16-core minimum
Who is affected. Anyone buying vSphere or VMware Cloud Foundation, especially if a subscription could lapse.
Before renewal
- Do not let a VMware subscription lapse. Start the renewal more than 90 days early. The 72-core rule was walked back, and the late-renewal penalty was not.
- Get the quote in writing with the core counts on it.
- Keep a costed exit plan, such as Proxmox, Hyper-V, or Nutanix, so you have leverage. The terms have already changed once.