3 Months to 2+ Years: Time based VMware Migration Strategies

Navigating VMware Renewal Deadlines

• Learn specific actions to take based on VMware subscription renewal deadlines.
• Explore trade-offs and DartIQ VeeMigrate’s AI-driven VMware migration solutions

The virtualization world is undergoing a seismic shift, thanks to Broadcom’s VMware acquisition and the resulting VMware cost increase. With VMware subscription cost increasing by up to 10x* for customers who are not using the full stack, many organizations are exploring alternatives such as AWS, Azure, IBM Cloud, GCP, OCI, or on-premises options like Nutanix, Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization.

But timing is everything—especially with looming renewal deadlines. Think of VMware migration like planning a cross-country move amid rising rent costs. If your lease ends tomorrow, you grab essentials and relocate quickly (lift and shift). With more time, you declutter, renovate, and optimize for the long haul (refactor).

In this blog, we will outline step-by-step approaches for different timelines of VMware subscription renewals. We’ll cover trade-offs, specific examples, and how DartIQ VeeMigrate—an AI-native, end-to-end platform—accelerates processes with up to 60% faster execution and up to 74% cheaper costs, delivering TCO savings VMware users look for.

One of the things we see is that few enterprises may still need part of their workloads on premises on VMware, due to considerations other than cost. The below provides a sample view of step-by-step approach and trade-offs. Your specific case will depend on your specific needs.

Less than 3 Months to Renewal: Focus on Quick Wins with Rehost or Replatform

When renewal is imminent, prioritize speed over perfection to avoid locking into higher costs. The goal is immediate relief via lift and shift (Rehost) or minor adjustments (Replatform), ensuring business continuity.

Step-by-Step Approach:

1. Assess Urgently: Inventory VMs, dependencies, and costs using automated tools. Identify critical workloads.
2. Choose Destination: Opt for compatible platforms like Azure VMware Solution (AVS), AWS Elastic VMware Solution, or Nutanix AHV for quick compatibility.
3. Validate and Optimize: Post-migration, monitor performance and retire unused assets.
4. Plan Next Steps: Secure a short-term extension if possible, then roadmap longer-term optimizations.

Trade-Offs:

• Speed and Low Risk: Avoid immediate cost hikes; minimal changes preserve operations.
• Limited Optimization: Retains some VMware-like costs (e.g., licensing in AVS); defers full TCO savings to a later time.
• Feature Gaps: Replatforming might sacrifice advanced VMware features like NSX-T without reconfiguration time.

Situational Example:

A mid-sized retail MSP with 500 VMs faces a 3x VMware cost increase in 2 months. Their e-commerce platform can’t afford downtime. They can Rehost to Azure AVS (for example), migrating VMs intact.

Key trade-off is that they pay partial VMware licensing short-term but save some subscription cost because of the volume that Azure can bring vs. complete renewal. This allows them to buy time for full cloud-native shift.

With DartIQ VeeMigrate, even in <3 months, we enable Replatform options. Our AI provides VM-level R-factor recommendations (e.g., Replatform 80% of VMs to Azure VMs for up to 40% faster setup), automating landing zones in days to weeks. This pulls Replatforming forward, helping drive better ROI. Assessment will tell you if your environment is complex. What is complex? What trade-offs should I be prepared for? Take a look here

3 to 6 Months to Renewal: Balance Speed with Initial Optimizations (Rehost + Replatform)

This window allows blending quick exit with targeted improvements, focusing on Rehost for critical workloads and Replatform for others.

Step-by-Step Approach:

1. Deep Assessment: Map dependencies and run TCO simulations for alternatives like Nutanix or Azure.
2. Prioritize Waves: Group workloads into Packages (waves); migrate non-prod first.
3. Automate Setup: Create landing zones; Replatform storage/networking where feasible.
4. Migrate Phased: Use change block tracking for low-downtime cutovers.
5. Post-Migration Review: Optimize resources and plan refactoring for high-value apps.

Trade-Offs:

• Moderate Savings – Achieve partial TCO savings VMware via partial optimizations.
• Partial Disruption – Some reconfiguration (e.g., vSAN to Azure NetApp Files) may cause brief downtime, but with proper planning, this can be solved.
• Skill Investment – Teams need quick upskilling for new platforms, trading time for long-term efficiency.

Situational Example:

A healthcare client with 400 VMs under GDPR compliance has 4 months left. Their patient database requires high IOPS. They Rehost prod VMs to Nutanix AHV for familiarity, then Replatform non-prod to Azure (for example) for scalability.

Nutanix preserves performance but requires few weeks of training. Azure could save you budget on storage but adds initial setup complexity. DartIQ VeeMigrate offers application or package-level R-factors (e.g., Replatform database VMs to Azure while Rehosting others) for you to take a quick decision. Read more here

6 to 12 Months to Renewal: Strategic Shifts with Replatform and Initial Refactor

With half a year, incorporate deeper changes like Replatforming most workloads and piloting Refactor (VM to containers) for select apps.

Step-by-Step Approach:

1. Comprehensive Planning: Conduct full audits; simulate trade-offs for destinations like AWS or Red Hat OpenShift.
2. Wave Planning: Define Waves (aka Packages) by affinity; start with test/dev.
3. Replatform Core: Adjust for cloud-native (e.g., NSX-T to AWS Transit Gateway).
4. Pilot Refactor: Containerize non-critical apps without code changes.
5. Execute and Iterate: Monitor migrations; refine based on performance data.

Trade-Offs:

• Balanced Optimization – Unlock TCO savings with hybrid setups.
• Increased Complexity – Refactoring risks if not tested, trading speed for scalability.
• Resource Allocation – Diverts IT from daily ops, but yields future-proofing.

Situational Example:

A manufacturing MSP with 500 VMs spread across datacenters has 8 months. Their ERP system needs low latency. They Replatform networking to AWS for a cost reduction, especially when they use Reserved Instances, then Refactor edge apps to containers on OpenShift.

Trade-offs include time to be spent for rule mapping and skill development on a new platform.

12 to 24 Months to Renewal: Full Optimization with Replatform and Refactor

This timeframe supports ambitious transformations, emphasizing Replatform for efficiency and Refactor for modernization.

Step-by-Step Approach:

1. Holistic Strategy: Build a roadmap with TCO projections; engage stakeholders.
2. Advanced Assessment: Use AI for dependency mapping at scale.
3. Replatform Broadly: Migrate to optimized platforms like IBM Cloud or Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).
4. Refactor Actively: Convert VMs to containers for cloud-native benefits.
5. Test Extensively: Simulate full environments; retire/retain as needed.

Trade-Offs:

• High Savings – Realize TCO savings VMware through refactoring.
• Higher Upfront Effort – Refactoring demands testing, trading immediate speed for long-term agility.
• Vendor Lock-In Risk – Deep integration (e.g., GCP containers) may limit future flexibility.

Situational Example:

A financial firm with PCI-DSS needs and strong internal business controls has 18 months left to migrate 1000 VMs. They Replatform storage to IBM Cloud for compliance, then Refactor trading apps to Kubernetes without code tweaks.

Sample trade-offs may be a possible higher initial cost though IBM Cloud, but this meets your data residency needs. Refactoring scales apps but requires time validation.

More than 24 Months to Renewal: Long-Term Modernization with Refactor and Beyond

Ample time enables complete optimization that includes Refactoring, including VM to containers, alongside Retain/Retire for legacy.

Step-by-Step Approach:

1. Vision Setting: Align migration with business goals; forecast multi-year TCO.
2. Iterative Planning: Phase Packages over time; incorporate emerging tech.
3. Replatform Foundation: Build hybrid setups (e.g., Nutanix + GCP).
4. Deep Refactor: Containerize broadly; optimize for microservices.
5. Continuous Improvement: Retire obsolete VMs; retain for niche needs.

Trade-Offs:

• Maximum Innovation – Achieve up to 55% TCO savings and full scalability.
• Extended Timeline – Delays savings, risking market changes.

Situational Example:

An enterprise with 1,000 VMs and 30 months plans a hybrid shift. They Refactor core apps to containers on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), retaining VMware for certified legacy systems.

Sample trade-offs include time needed for application testing. Hybrid footprint with partial workloads on VMware and the rest in Azure builds some complexity for management.

Ready to Accelerate Your VMware Migration?

Whether facing a time crunch or whether you are planning ahead, DartIQ VeeMigrate can help you to analyze best plan of action from the entire Datacenter level down to Wave/package level and even down to the individual VM level. This helps you to get tailored options, including specific trade-offs that need to be made, in order to hyper-automate your journey to the alternatives.

Practical Checklist Before Deciding on VMware Alternatives:

• How long do you have, before your deadline for subscription renewal?
• What are your primary pain points with VMware (e.g., costs, scalability)?
• What are your objectives for the future?
• Do we need to move all workloads off VMware?
• Would you allow data to dictate if you’ll need a partial or full migration from VMware?
• What trade-offs are you willing to make (e.g., control vs. agility)?

How long do you have left in your contract? Contact us today for a demo and start your journey to TCO savings you deserve. Talk to us

*Few customers saw a decrease or modest increase in VMware subscription cost at the time of their renewal.