VMware
VMware vSphere Standard 8 / 1 year subscription / 16-core
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vSphere Standard 8 — 1 Year Subscription
Virtualization platform for running and managing virtual machines in enterprise environments. Subscription billed per core — includes updates and access to support for 12 months.
The essentials (summary)
- vMotion & DRS — continuous VM migration and automatic load balancing.
- High Availability (HA) — automatic VM recovery in case of host failure.
- Central management via vCenter — inventory, orchestration and routine operations.
- Basic host security — policies and hardening practices applicable to the virtual infrastructure.
- Updates and fixes provided during the subscription period (1 year).
Summary: Standard delivers fundamental virtual infrastructure capabilities without HCI/advanced automation layers.
Licensing — what you need to know (no fluff)
- Metric: licensed per core (annual subscription).
- Minimum per socket: common rule: count a minimum number of cores per CPU/socket (e.g. 16 cores per socket on many SKUs). This is crucial for servers with low-core CPUs.
- Pack sizing: the product is typically sold in blocks (core packs). Always round up to the next full pack.
- For each CPU/socket, take the greater of (physical CPU cores) and (minimum cores counted per socket — e.g. 16).
- Sum the values for all CPUs across all hosts ⇒ total accounted cores.
- Divide by the pack size (e.g. 16 cores/pack) and round up ⇒ packs required.
What it DOES NOT include (avoid surprises)
- vSAN, NSX, NSX-T, Tanzu — additional products/features that require separate licenses.
- vCenter Server — integration with vCenter is supported; in some scenarios vCenter Server is licensed separately.
- Professional services (installation, migration, tuning) — not part of the subscription.
- Enterprise backup/replication — backup solutions require separate compatible software.
Note: verify specific functional requirements (e.g. vSAN for shared storage) before finalizing the architecture.
Compatibility and essential requirements
- Compatible with: ESXi 8.x and vCenter 8.x (check compatibility matrices / HCL).
- Hardware: validate CPU, firmware and controllers against the official HCL before upgrading/installing.
- Integrations: storage, network and backup solutions must be checked for vSphere 8 compatibility.
- Inventory: hosts, CPUs, cores per CPU, memory, firmware.
- Validate HCL for every critical component.
- Confirm need for vCenter, vSAN, NSX or other additional licenses.
- Plan backups and a rollback strategy before any upgrade.
Compare vSphere Editions — concise summary
Official documents — reference
- SPD — Specific Program Documentation for vSphere Standard — the legal document that defines licensing metrics, usage rights and — crucially — the rule of a minimum of 16 cores per socket when applicable. Consult the SPD for legal confirmation of what you must license.
- TechDocs / Product docs (vSphere 8.0) — technical documentation and release notes (installation, compatibility, requirements, best practices). Useful to check ESXi/vCenter compatibility and operational details.
Note: consult these official documents to confirm licensing rules and technical requirements before finalizing any decision.
Product: VMware vSphere Standard 8 · Part number: VCF-VSP-STD-8 · Type: 1 year subscription · Metric: per core.
Source: official VMware documentation — product overview and product line comparison. Before any decision, confirm licensing details and compatibility matrix in the official documentation.
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