VMware Explore 2024 in Las Vegas symbolized big changes for VMware. Under Broadcom's ownership, the company shifted its focus away from end-user computing (EUC) and towards private cloud and AI. This year, VMware made substantial changes to its overall market strategy, including the sale of Horizon and the consolidation of its product portfolio.
As the core theme shifted from "multi-cloud" to "only private cloud" in just one year since VMware Explore 2023, customers at the event shared mixed feedback. There was some surprise at the smaller scale of the expo and concerns about the price hikes and licensing. Overall, the technical sessions were well-received, with many finding value in the detailed discussions on the future of VMware.
You can hear the full recap from our CPO, Andrew Parlette, in partnership with VMblog, here:
We understand that these developments create both opportunities and challenges for our customers and the ecosystem as a whole. Let’s break down the core updates from the event and what they mean for your VDI, hybrid, and cloud infrastructure and user workflows.
Broadcom CEO Hock Tan's keynote set the tone for the conference with a bold opening:
The future of the enterprise - your enterprises - is private cloud.
VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9 was the headline product announcement at VMware Explore 2024, and for good reason. VCF 9 caters to Broadcom's large enterprise customer base, promising scalability and agility of the public cloud combined with control, security, and compliance of on-premise setups.
For Tricerat customers, especially larger enterprises evaluating cloud costs and performance, VCF 9 represents an option for migrating workloads back from the public cloud, offering more options to control costs without sacrificing the agility of their environments. However, this
The sale of VMware Horizon to Omnissa was one of the major shifts in the ecosystem this year, especially for businesses relying on VMware for virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). This move signals VMware’s exit from EUC, a core focus for Tricerat and many of our customers.
Overall, some customers showed concerns about the drastic reduction in VMware's product portfolio—going from 4,000 SKUs to just four. While streamlining can help with efficiency, it remains to be seen how this will impact the broader customer base.
For businesses considering alternatives to Horizon, Tricerat’s ScrewDrivers suite is platform-agnostic. It can seamlessly support printing and user management across any environment—whether it’s Nutanix, Citrix, or another VDI solution. This flexibility ensures that our customers can transition smoothly to new platforms without disrupting critical workflows.
Another highlight at VMware Explore 2024 was the introduction of the VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA. This platform allows businesses to deploy AI models and manage Generative AI workloads within their private cloud, ensuring complete control over sensitive data—something public cloud solutions often can’t guarantee.
From a technical standpoint, the Private AI Foundation integrates NVIDIA GPUs with AI frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch, enabling enterprises to run AI-powered applications at scale, as claimed in the session. This solution particularly appeals to industries with strict data privacy requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government. This AI platform has the potential for deeper integration of AI into the private cloud with powerful data processing without sacrificing security or compliance.
One of the more contentious issues raised at the event and online was the shift from perpetual licensing to a subscription model. This change, often called the “Broadcom tax,” has resulted in higher costs for some customers, especially across the SMB and smaller enterprise base. Although VCF subscriptions were reduced to $350 per core from $700, many businesses are feeling the pinch regarding the overall costs of supporting the infrastructure.
We understand that rising costs may lead customers to explore alternatives, like Nutanix or other infrastructure solutions. Our ScrewDrivers suite ensures that no matter what direction you take—whether sticking with VMware or transitioning to new platforms—we’ll keep your printing and user management processes seamless, ensuring a smooth migration with minimal disruption.
As VMware pivots toward private cloud and AI, Tricerat remains committed to supporting our customers with platform-agnostic solutions. Whether you’re exploring alternatives like Nutanix or fully embracing VMware’s VCF for your cloud infrastructure, ScrewDrivers will ensure that your printer fleet and end user workflows remain consistent, reliable, and simple to manage.
Our suite of tools is designed to make infrastructure transitions as smooth as possible—whether you’re operating in an on-prem, hybrid, or cloud environment. We reduce complexity, enabling your IT team to focus on what matters most: delivering excellent user experiences without service interruptions.
VMware Explore 2024 made it clear that the company’s focus is shifting toward private cloud infrastructure and AI-driven solutions, moving away from the EUC space that has long been integral to VMware’s identity. For many companies, including many of Tricerat’s customers, this means adapting to a new VMware or exploring alternative platforms.
At Tricerat, we are ready to guide you through this transition. Whether you’re staying with VMware or exploring other options like Nutanix, our ScrewDrivers suite will provide seamless integration, reliable printing, and support across all environments.
To learn more about how Tricerat can support your business through these changes, check out our exclusive video interview from VMware Explore 2024, where we break down the key takeaways and how they impact your IT strategy.