VMware has slashed the price of its VSAN virtual storage product for members of its VMware Cloud Provider Program (VCPP).
The VCPP program is a 4000-strong group of VMware partners that run VMware-powered clouds.
VSAN is positioned as VMware's lead hyperconverged infrastructure product and also its play to make hybrid cloud storage more manageable by creating logical arrays spanning diverse on-premise infrastructure and multiple cloud storage services. VSAN is also an important part of VMware Cloud Foundation, a product that bundles its wares so they can be quickly and easily deployed in multiple homogenous implementations that quickly snap together into private, hybrid or multi-clouds.
Making VSAN affordable for VCPP members is therefore very much in VMWare’s interests, won’t hurt VCPPs, and is perhaps an admission that the product has not gained as much traction as VMware would like.
VMware’s announcement of the price hints at that problem: the post says says “For partners looking to deploy vSAN as the final step to achieve Cloud Verified status, then that path now becomes even easier!” Cloud Verified status signals that a VCPP member offers “the full set of interoperable VMware Cloud Infrastructure capabilities".
Clearly some VCPP members see VSAN price as a barrier to becoming Cloud Verified!
CRN has heard whispers that while VMware’s partners appreciate its offerings many are yet to explore adopt parts of the company's portfolio. That’s a little frustrating for the vendor, as it has designed its wares as an integrated offering spanning compute, storage, networks and multi-cloud management tools.
Dropping VSAN prices for VCPPs will help address the situation for some VMware partners. The rest are being gently encourage to explore the VMware portfolio and its applicability to their clients as a way of expanding their engagements. And of course helping VMware to grow at the same time.
The price cut came into effect on 1 August.
VMware offered the following details about the change:
- The price reduction applies to the datacentre version only and does not change the pricing of vSAN for Desktops
- Partners with a standard contract do not need to do anything to receive the benefits of the reduce pricing. They will automatically see the new pricing reflected in August 2019 reporting cycle
- Cloud Providers with custom contracts will continue to benefit from the agreed to savings in their contract
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