Broadcom called time on a software kit that allows virtual machine (VM) migration from VMware to a different virtualization platform.

Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK) is a software development kit (SDK) used by VMware rivals such as Nutanix as part of their migration toolset. As of this week, the utility was removed from public download pages.

VM vendors including ShapeBlue and Platform9 protested the sudden and unannounced nature of the removal, with Platform9 marketing VP Nicole Silva labeling it the latest “hit” from Broadcom on VMware users as AI infrastructure buildout continues to hit firms in the pocket.

“Not only are they restricting your path off the platform, essentially making your data center their decision, they’re also hitting their install base with renewal after renewal, each carrying increases of 300% to 1,500%,” Silva wrote in a blog post. “This comes on the heels of rising memory costs, longer storage lead times, and an AI boom that’s taxing infrastructure everywhere. For many technology leaders, budgeting has become an impossible game of Tetris.

“By publicly restricting access, without warning, Broadcom disrupted many migrations that were already in-flight. The signal to the market was clear – they intend to lock customers in further,” Silva added, while stressing that alternative transfer mechanisms exist that do not depend on VDDK.

In an email to customers, Broadcom said its decision was to “ensure the highest standard of security, reliability, and product features,” while stressing the tool’s intended use case was backup and recovery, implying migration was an unauthorized application.

“Broadcom continues to actively maintain a variety of APIs and SDKs to enable authorized technology alliance partners to build backup and recovery software solutions,” the vendor told customers.

Such customers have broadly seen a rollercoaster ride since Broadcom acquired VMware. Migration issues, steep price increases, and antitrust probes have dogged Broadcom since its cloud-first push commenced post-acquisition, seeing disgruntlement from major clients like AT&T and U.K. retail giant Tesco.

As revealed by this title, another customer to move on from VMware was British soccer club Tottenham Hotspur FC, whose recent stadium refit saw virtualization wares courtesy of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) replace its VMware estate.

The Buffalo Bills also chose to call time on VMware by going with Nutanix for its Highmark Stadium networking refresh.

In its most recent earnings, Broadcom’s Infrastructure Software business, which includes VMware, was reported to be running at a 15% annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth level, with the caveat that actual revenues were expected to dip slightly in the upcoming quarter to $8.7 billion.