VMware Product Build Version

There is a VMware KB1014508 article which helps you correlate build numbers of a product with the version number which could be useful.


https://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1014508

vSphere Licensing Changing

VMware has just announced the way vSphere editions will be offered soon. Currently there are 6 SKU available which are:

• vSphere Standard
• vSphere Enterprise 
• vSphere Enterprise Plus
• vSphere with Operations Management Standard
• vSphere with Operations Management Enterprise
• vSphere with Operations Management Enterprise Plus

VMware will be reducing this down to 3 SKU which will be: 

• vSphere Standard
• vSphere Enterprise Plus
• vSphere with Operations Management Enterprise Plus

As you can see VMware has removed the following:

• vSphere Enterprise
• vSphere with Operations Management Standard
• vSphere with Operations Management Enterprise

So what options do I have if I have one of the editions listed above?

1. Existing customers with vSphere Enterprise who have a valid Support and Subscription (SnS) will be entitled to an optional upgrade to vSphere Enterprise Plus at 50% discount off the upgrade licence prices. This promotion is valid from 10th February 2016 to 25th June 2016.
2. Existing customers with vSphere with Operations Management Enterprise who have a valid Support and Subscription (SnS) will be entitled to an optional upgrade to vSphere with Operation Management Enterprise Plus at 50% discount off the upgrade licence prices. This promotion is valid from 10th February 2016 to 25th June 2016 
3. Existing customers with vSphere with Operations Management Standard will not be impacted, as the component products of these bundles will still be available as standalone products. 
4. Do nothing and you will be supported till 12th March 2020 where vSphere 6 support will end.

VMware has set a date of 30th June 2016 where you will  not be able to purchased any of the retired edition (exception cases will be considered) so if you intend to stick with do nothing then you may need to plan ahead for your growth of your estate so that you purchases the licences sooner.

As a nice sweetener and incentive for peoplpe to try vRealize Log Insight for vCenter. VMware is offering 25 Operating Systems Instances (OSIs) of vRealize Log Insight limited to monitoring logs from VMware vCenter Server, vSphere and vRealize Log Insight content packs for existing and new customers.

There is also some pricing changes to vSphere with Operations Management Enterprise Plus and vCenter Server Standard which you should speak to your reseller to get a better picture.

As you can see with this change in vSphere edition offering changing you will need to see if you need to upgrade or purchases more licences for your environment going forward.


Sources:

VMware Blog Announcement
http://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2016/02/vmware-simplifies-lineup-core-virtualization-offerings.html

Product Editions Offering
http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/compare.html

FAQ around pricing and upgrades
http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/products/vsphere/VMware-vSphere-vSOM-Pricing-FAQs.pdf

vSphere Beta 2016 - Register Your Interest

VMware has opened up their vSphere Beta Program so it's time to register if you would like to see what is coming for vSphere. Being able to participate and possibly shape the outcoming of a product is always a plus.

http://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2016/02/vsphere-beta-indicate-your-interest.html

Virtualising Windows Domain Controllers White Paper

There is a great VMware white paper around virtualising Domain Controllers which documents the best practices and steps on how to make the changes

https://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/solutions/Virtualizing-Active-Directory-Domain-Services-on-VMware-vSphere.pdf