KVM, short for kernel-based virtual machine, is emerging as a lower-cost alternative to VMware's ESXi hypervisor. Michael Thacker, director of corporate public relations, said the vendor doesn't comment on the status of customer ELAs or other agreements.

Army ELAĬRN untangles the maze of products and pricing involved with VMware's enterprise licensing agreement with the U.S.

The abruptness of Apple's decision may indicate that it wasn't satisfied with the licensing terms VMware offered for the ELA extension, said the sources. One of the sources said the VMware ELA extension would have cost around $20 million. The sources said Apple's decision to cancel the VMware ELA came about a month after its representatives had verbally agreed to extend the deal, which was first signed in 2011 and renewed for two years in 2013. Apple has decided not to renew an expiring VMware enterprise licensing agreement and will be stepping up deployment of KVM, an open-source alternative to VMware server virtualization, multiple sources with knowledge of the matter told CRN this week.Īpple has been using VMware server virtualization and cloud management software to run parts of its corporate IT infrastructure, according to the sources, who all spoke on condition of anonymity because they're not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Apple virtualization software