Broadcom did not reply to Ars Technica’s request for remark for this text.
Compatibility issues
Migrating off of VMware hasn’t solely resulted in delayed tasks for the Indiana college district; it has additionally introduced issues for its HCI {hardware}. The district’s IT director informed Ars that Dell gained’t present long-term help for the {hardware} if it is not working VMware. That is regardless of Dell reportedly touting a “10-year lifespan” on the gadgets when the district first purchased in, in 2019, per the IT skilled.
“They’re mainly holding our service contract hostage if we do not purchase VMware,” the IT director informed Ars.
Put in a bind, the IT staff is attempting to repurpose the {hardware} with out Dell help, noting that the district had already invested $250,000 within the system over six years.
“It is made us have to return to the drafting board for the subsequent three to 4 years, primarily,” the IT chief mentioned.
The Indiana IT director mentioned Dell advised that the district may purchase a wholly new stack of server {hardware} with new help, however finances limits, particularly over the approaching years, make this unreasonable.
“New IT balloons in a short time, and [Dell workers] do not actually appear to know that I am unable to simply spend that amount of cash randomly,” the director mentioned.
The Indiana district is now utilizing the unsupported {hardware}, too.
“We’re at present flying blind,” the IT director mentioned.
Ars reached out to Dell Applied sciences concerning the college district’s scenario and the impression that greater VMware costs have on organizations which have relied on Dell expertise tied to VMware. A spokesperson shared the next assertion:
Dell Applied sciences stays dedicated to supporting all VxRail prospects with energetic help agreements. VxRail continues to ship worth for 1000’s of organizations globally, and we work intently with prospects to make sure they will maximize their funding. Dell has a protracted historical past of providing alternative by way of a broad portfolio of expertise companions and options, serving to organizations to pick the trail that finest aligns to their technique, infrastructure wants, and long-term IT targets.
Over in Idaho, VMware was a part of Idaho Falls College District 91’s IT setup since no less than 2008. The varsity district operated about 80 VMs working on 4 ESXi hosts, all managed centrally by way of vCenter. The VMs hosted mission-critical programs, together with the scholar data system, key databases, and different functions that straight help instructing and studying, Donovan Gregory, the district’s IT SysNet administrator, informed Ars.
