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🔄VMware Ends Public VDDK Downloads, Impacting Migration Projects

VMware's move could complicate VM migrations

TL;DR

VMware has stopped public downloads of its Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK), a move that could complicate VM migrations. VDDK is crucial for backup, recovery, and moving VMs to other environments. Now, only licensed users through select partners can access it.

VMware has ended public downloads of its Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK), a tool that enables software developers to create applications that access and manipulate virtual disks. This move affects migration projects and backup operations. VDDK is essential for moving VMs from VMware to other virtualization environments, and its rivals like Nutanix and Red Hat have used it extensively in their migration tools. Now, only licensed users through select Technology Alliance Partners (TAPs) can access VDDK, complicating migration plans for many organizations. VMware defends its decision, stating VDDK is not a customer entitlement and is only licensed for backup and recovery. However, rivals argue this could disrupt migration projects, especially for smaller vendors with fewer resources. VMware's rivals have found workarounds, but the move still raises questions about the company's approach to migration tools.

VMware Ends Public VDDK Downloads, Impacting Migration Projects — theregister

Key Points

1

VMware ended public downloads of VDDK, impacting migration projects and backup operations.

2

VDDK provides APIs for backup and recovery, cloning, and other virtual disk operations.

3

Nutanix and Red Hat use VDDK in their migration tools, now only available through TAPs.

4

VMware's rivals argue the move could disrupt migration projects, especially for smaller vendors.

5

VMware defends its decision, stating VDDK is licensed for backup and recovery only.

Why It Matters

If you're planning to migrate VMs from VMware to another platform, VDDK's removal complicates your plans. VDDK was a key tool for backup, recovery, and migration, but now only licensed users through select partners can access it. This shift could impact migration projects, especially for smaller vendors with fewer resources to find alternatives.

VMwareVDDKmigrationvirtualizationcloud

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this matter?

If you're planning to migrate VMs from VMware to another platform, VDDK's removal complicates your plans. VDDK was a key tool for backup, recovery, and migration, but now only licensed users through select partners can access it. This shift could impact migration projects, especially for smaller vendors with fewer resources to find alternatives.

What happened?

VMware has stopped public downloads of its Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK), a move that could complicate VM migrations. VDDK is crucial for backup, recovery, and moving VMs to other environments. Now, only licensed users through select partners can access it.

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