IBM joined fellow hyperscalers in warning VMware customers about impending Broadcom-forced license changes that could impact a VMware user’s ability to run those services on IBM’s cloud infrastructure.

IBM noted in a support document that Broadcom’s impending changes to its VMware Cloud Services Provider (VCSP) partner program set to go in effect November 1, which means it will no longer be able to “sell VMware on IBM Cloud offerings to customers who do not have at least one active VMware workload running on IBM Cloud before that date.”

An “active VMware workload” is at least one host machine running on IBM’s VMware on Bare Metal Servers for Classic, VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) for Classic – Automated, VCF for Classic-Flexible, VCF for VPC, and VCF as a service (VCFaaS) Single-tenant; or at least one deployed or migrated virtual machine (VM) on VCFaaS Multitenant.

IBM added that those existing customers can continue to use and expand their VMware environments, but with a handful of restrictions. These include an inability to order a different VMware offering that what they are currently using; an inability to expands VCFaaS workloads beyond their current region or resource pool; a limit on those current VCFaaS workloads to an existing consumption model; an inability to backup VMs with Veeam Backup add-on services or expand existing backup services if that option is not already active; and a limit on new dedicated Veeam Scale-Out Backup Repositories to Cloud Object Storage-only storage.

IBM did note that these limitation is only for new or expanding a VMware environment and that IBM would continue to offer support.

IBM does have a history of VMware support, including a renewal of that partnership in mid-2022. That deal, which was made prior to Broadcom’s acquisition, included expanded work to address requirements of modernizing critical workloads in hybrid cloud environments for clients in regulated industries.

IBM has since leaned more heavily on its own Red Hat offering in catering to enterprise hybrid cloud environments.

Broadcom’s VCSP moves

IBM’s move is tied to Broadcom’s changes that will vet VCSP partners for their commitment to the new program.

Broadcom instituted changes to the VCSP program shortly after it closed on the VMware acquisition. The changes included adding Broadcom’s Advantage Partner Program that allows qualified partners to now offer VCF and any accompanying cloud or managed services.

The VCSP program includes third-party organizations that partner with VMware and act as a go-between in offering VMware’s virtualization and cloud services to organizations. These VCSPs provide software-defined data centers to run the VMware services; multicloud support to run those services in different cloud environments, including on-premises and in public cloud environments; and additional functions like disaster recovery services, cybersecurity, and storage.

Ahmar Mohammad, VP for partners, managed services, and solutions for Broadcom’s VCF division, last month blogged about the breadth, depth, and importance of those upcoming program changes.

“With this action, we are deepening our commitment to partners we feel are best equipped to drive customer value,” Mohammad wrote. “Our goal is to cultivate an environment where highly capable and highly trained partners can deliver exceptional value and a superior experience to customers.”

Mohammad also explained that program changes will steer current VCF licensees to those committed partners.

“Additionally, going forward, customer entitlement to port VCF licenses to public cloud services will be only to those that are on the then-current Certified Cloud Services, which will include the then-current active VCSP and Hyperscale cloud partners,” Mohammad added, before reiterating that, “to be clear, this also means that non-renewing partners will not be certified for VCF license portability.”

IBM’s move follows that of Google Cloud, which earlier this month released its own “reminder” of the upcoming VMware license changes.