View source for VMware

{{Short description|Multi-cloud service provider for all apps}}
{{About|the company|the hypervisor|VMware Workstation|the discontinued free hypervisor|VMware Workstation Player}}
{{For|the mainframe software company founded in the 1980s|VM Software}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use MDY dates||date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = VMware LLC
| logo = Vmware-by-broadcom.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| image = VMware HQ campus 3401 Hillview entrance.JPG
| image_caption = Entrance to campus headquarters, [[Palo Alto, California]]
| former_names = VMware, Inc. (1998–2023)
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| traded_as = {{NYSE was|VMW}} (2007–2023)
| industry = {{Unbulleted list|[[Cloud computing]]|[[Virtualization]]|[[Computer software]]}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1998|02|10}}<br />[[Palo Alto, California]], U.S.
| founders = {{ubl|[[Mendel Rosenblum]]|[[Diane Greene]]|Scott Devine|Ellen Wang|[[Edouard Bugnion]]}}
| hq_location = [[Stanford Research Park]]<br />Palo Alto, California, U.S.
| key_people = {{ubl|Raghu Raghuram ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])}}
| products = {{hlist
 | [[VMware ESXi|ESXi]]
 | [[VMware Fusion|Fusion]]
 | [[VMware Horizon|Horizon]]
 | [[VMware Infrastructure|Infrastructure]]
 | [[VMware Player|Player]]
 | [[VMware ThinApp|ThinApp]]
 | [[VMware vSphere|vSphere]]
 }}
| revenue = {{nowrap| {{increase}} {{US$|13.4 billion|link=yes}} (2023)}}
| operating_income = {{nowrap| {{decrease}} {{US$|2.0 billion}} (2023)}}
| net_income = {{nowrap| {{decrease}} {{US$|1.3 billion}} (2023)}}
| assets = {{nowrap| {{increase}} {{US$|31.2 billion}} (2023)}}
| equity = {{nowrap| {{increase}} {{US$|1.5 billion}} (2023)}}
| parent = [[Broadcom]]
| num_employees = 38,300 (2023)
| website = {{url|https://www.vmware.com|vmware.com}}
| footnotes = Financials {{as of|2023|02|03|df=US|lc=y}}<ref name=10K>{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1124610/000112461023000015/vmw-20230203.htm |title=VMWare, Inc. Annual Report (Form 10-K) |date=March 28, 2023 |publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] |access-date=March 28, 2023}}</ref>
| module = {{infobox network service provider|child=yes|asn=53766}}
}}

'''VMware LLC''' is an American [[cloud computing]] and [[virtualization]] technology company headquartered in [[Palo Alto, California|Palo Alto, California, USA]].<ref>{{cite news
 | url   = http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3315817
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160516160405/http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3315817
 | url-status = dead
 | archive-date = May 16, 2016
 | title = Gartner Says Worldwide Server Virtualization Market Is Reaching Its Peak
 | publisher = [[Gartner]]
 | date  = May 12, 2016}}</ref> On November 22, 2023, [[Broadcom]] acquired VMware in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $69 billion,<ref name="bbc-broadcom3">{{Cite news |last=Oi |first=Mariko |date=2023-11-22 |title=Chipmaker Broadcom completes $69bn deal to buy VMware |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67505114 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130092002/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67505114 |archive-date=2023-11-30 |website=BBC News}}</ref> with the [[End-user computing|End-User Computing]]  division of VMware then sold to [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts|KKR]] and rebranded to Omnissa. VMware was the first commercially successful company to virtualize the [[x86 architecture]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bugnion |first1=Edouard |last2=Devine |first2=Scott |last3=Rosenblum |first3=Mendel |last4=Sugerman |first4=Jeremy |last5=Wang |first5=Edward Y. |title=Bringing Virtualization to the x86 Architecture with the Original VMware Workstation |journal=ACM Transactions on Computer Systems |date=1 November 2012 |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=12:1–12:51 |doi=10.1145/2382553.2382554 |url=https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/183742?ln=en |access-date=13 February 2024}}</ref>

VMware's desktop software runs on [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Linux]], and [[macOS]]. [[VMware ESXi]], its [[enterprise software]] [[hypervisor]], is an operating system<ref>{{Cite web |last=Awati |first=Rahul |title=What is VMkernel and how does it work? |url=https://www.techtarget.com/searchvmware/definition/VMkernel |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=TechTarget |language=en |publication-place=SearchVMware |archive-date=2022-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924183725/https://www.techtarget.com/searchvmware/definition/VMkernel |url-status=live }}</ref> that runs on [[Server (computing)|server]] hardware.<ref name="ESXArch">{{cite web
 | url       = https://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere-hypervisor.html
 | title       = vSphere Hypervisor
 | publisher       = VMware
 | access-date       = 2018-12-08
 | archive-date       = 2018-12-03
 | archive-url       = https://web.archive.org/web/20181203113023/https://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere-hypervisor.html
 | url-status       = live
 }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:VMware logo.svg|right|thumb|Original logo from 1998 to 2009]]

===Early history===
In 1998,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.californiaexplore.com/company/2069963/vmware-inc|title=VMware, Inc. - Company Profile|work=California Explore|access-date=2023-11-02|language=en|archive-date=2023-11-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102214314/https://www.californiaexplore.com/company/2069963/vmware-inc|url-status=live}}</ref> VMware was founded by [[Diane Greene]], [[Mendel Rosenblum]], Scott Devine, Ellen Wang, and [[Edouard Bugnion]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.acm.org/media-center/2019/april/thacker-award-2018|title=Inaugural ACM Chuck Thacker Breakthrough Award Recognizes Fundamental Contributions that Enabled Cloud Computing: Stanford's Mendel Rosenblum Transformed Datacenters by Reinventing Virtual Machines|work=Association for Computing Machinery|access-date=2019-04-10|language=en|archive-date=2019-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411025815/https://www.acm.org/media-center/2019/april/thacker-award-2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Greene and Rosenblum were graduate students at the [[University of California, Berkeley]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/10/15/100536853/index.htm|last=Lashinksky|first=Adam|date=2007-10-02|title=50 Most Powerful Women in Business&nbsp;— Full speed ahead|work=CNN|quote=In 1988 she picked up a second master's, in computer science, at the University of California at Berkeley, where she met Rosenblum|access-date=2020-08-03|archive-date=2020-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810162229/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/10/15/100536853/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Edouard Bugnion remained the chief architect and [[Chief technology officer|CTO]] of VMware until 2005<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/01/23/04FEctoedouard_1.html?s=feature| title=Edouard Bugnion lives in the virtual world| access-date=2008-09-16| archive-date=2009-01-08| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108203917/http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/01/23/04FEctoedouard_1.html?s=feature| url-status=live}}</ref> and went on to found Nuova Systems (now part of [[Cisco]]). VMware operated in [[stealth mode]] for the first year, with roughly 20 employees by the end of 1998. The company was launched officially early in the second year, in February 1999, at the [[DEMO conference]] organized by [[Chris Shipley]].<ref name=resources>{{cite web
| url=https://www.vmware.com/company/news/media-resources/press-kits.html
| title=VMware Media Resources
| publisher=VMware
| access-date=2018-12-08
| archive-date=2018-11-24
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124235853/https://www.vmware.com/company/news/media-resources/press-kits.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref> The first product, [[VMware Workstation]], was delivered in May 1999, and the company entered the server market in 2001 with VMware GSX Server (hosted) and VMware ESX Server (host-less).<ref name=resources/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnet.com/news/vmware-ready-to-capitalize-on-hot-server-market/ | title=VMware ready to capitalize on hot server market | first=Stephen | last=Shankland | work=[[CNET]] | date=January 2, 2002 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=May 2, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502212142/https://www.cnet.com/news/vmware-ready-to-capitalize-on-hot-server-market/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2003, VMware launched VMware Virtual Center, vMotion, and Virtual Symmetric Multi-Processing (SMP) technology. 64-bit support was introduced in 2004.

===Acquisition by EMC===
On January 9, 2004, under the terms of the definitive agreement announced on December 15, 2003, EMC (now [[Dell EMC]]) acquired the company with US$625 million in cash.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emc.com/about/news/press/us/2004/20040109-2025.htm|title=EMC Press Release : EMC Completes Acquisition of VMware|website=www.emc.com|access-date=2018-12-08|archive-date=2018-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124526/https://www.emc.com/about/news/press/us/2004/20040109-2025.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/2004/emc2.html | title=EMC Completes Acquisition of VMware | publisher=VMware | date=January 9, 2004 | access-date=December 8, 2018 | archive-date=June 26, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626164302/https://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/2004/emc2.html | url-status=live }}</ref> On August 14, 2007, EMC sold 15% of VMware to the public via an [[initial public offering]]. Shares were priced at {{US$|29|link=yes}} per share and closed the day at {{US$|51}}.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/824712/data-center-vmware-the-bright-spot-on-a-gray-wall-street-day.html | title=VMware the bright spot on a gray Wall Street day | first=Robert | last=Mullins | work=[[International Data Group]] | date=August 14, 2007 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=April 26, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426184452/https://www.networkworld.com/article/824712/data-center-vmware-the-bright-spot-on-a-gray-wall-street-day.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2007/08/14/vmware-shares-soar-after-ipo-prices-at-29-a-share.html | title=VMware Shares Soar after IPO Prices at $29 a Share | agency=[[Reuters]] | work=[[CNBC]] | date=August 14, 2007 | access-date=September 17, 2017 | archive-date=May 2, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502212733/https://www.cnbc.com/id/20258076 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On July 8, 2008, after disappointing financial performance, the [[board of directors]] fired VMware co-founder, president and CEO Diane Greene, who was replaced by [[Paul Maritz]], a 14-year [[Microsoft]] veteran who was heading EMC's [[cloud computing]] business unit.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2008-07-08/vmware-ousts-ceo-diane-greenebusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice | title=VMware Ousts CEO Diane Greene | first=Aaron | last=Ricadela | work=[[Bloomberg News]] | date=July 8, 2008 | access-date=2017-06-14 | archive-date=2018-01-02 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102073002/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2008-07-08/vmware-ousts-ceo-diane-greenebusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice | url-status=live }}</ref> Greene had been CEO since the company's founding, ten years earlier.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/what-diane-greenes-departure-means-google-cloud/|title=What Diane Greene's Departure Means for Google Cloud|last=Simonite|first=Tom|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|date=November 16, 2018|access-date=November 17, 2018|archive-date=November 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117023655/https://www.wired.com/story/what-diane-greenes-departure-means-google-cloud/|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 10, 2008, Mendel Rosenblum, the company's co-founder, chief scientist, and the husband of Diane Greene, resigned.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/the-end-of-an-era-at-vmware/ | title=The End of an Era at VMware | first=ASHLEE | last=VANCE | author-link=Ashlee Vance | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=September 10, 2008 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=January 2, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102013309/https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/the-end-of-an-era-at-vmware/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

On September 16, 2008, VMware announced a collaboration with Cisco Systems.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/2008/cisco_vmworld08.html | title=Cisco and VMware Accelerate Innovation in Data Center Virtualization | publisher=VMware | date=September 16, 2008 | access-date=December 8, 2018 | archive-date=June 26, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626163854/https://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/2008/cisco_vmworld08.html | url-status=live }}</ref> One result was the Cisco [[Nexus 1000V]], a distributed virtual software switch, an integrated option in the VMware infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/switches/nexus-1000v-switch-vmware-vsphere/solution-overview-listing.html | title=Cisco Nexus 1000V Series Switches and VMware vSphere 4: Accelerate Data Center Virtualization | publisher=[[Cisco Systems]] | access-date=2017-06-14 | archive-date=2018-05-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503042537/https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/switches/nexus-1000v-switch-vmware-vsphere/solution-overview-listing.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2011, EMC transferred control of the [[Mozy]] backup service to VMware.<ref>{{cite news | title=VMware 'buys' Mozy for its cloudy goodness | url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/05/vmware_gets_mozy/ | last=Mellor | first=Chris | work=[[The Register]] | date=April 5, 2011 | access-date=August 10, 2017 | archive-date=July 7, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707182659/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/05/vmware_gets_mozy/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 12, 2011, VMware released an [[open-source software|open-source]] platform-as-a-service system called [[Cloud Foundry]], as well as a hosted version of the service. This supported application deployment for [[Java (programming language)|Java]], [[Ruby on Rails]], [[Sinatra (software)|Sinatra]], [[Node.js]], and [[Scala (programming language)|Scala]], as well as database support for [[MySQL]], [[MongoDB]], [[Redis]], [[PostgreSQL]], and [[RabbitMQ]].<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/2011/cloud-foundry-apr2011.html | title=VMware Delivers Cloud Foundry, The Industry's First Open PaaS | publisher=VMware | date=April 12, 2011 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=October 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020142742/https://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/2011/cloud-foundry-apr2011.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.itworld.com/article/2743376/cloud-computing/vmware-launches-open-source-cloud-platform.html | title=VMware launches open-source cloud platform | first=Kevin | last=Fogarty | work=[[International Data Group]] | date=April 12, 2011 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=April 2, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402234026/http://www.itworld.com/article/2743376/cloud-computing/vmware-launches-open-source-cloud-platform.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2012, [[Pat Gelsinger]] was appointed as the new CEO of VMware, coming over from EMC. Paul Maritz went over to EMC as Head of Strategy before moving on to lead the Pivotal spin-off.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://wikibon.org/wiki/v/Gelsinger_Maritz_Management_Swap_Signals_New_Era_in_Enterprise_Computing | title=Gelsinger Maritz Management Swap | first=David | last=Foyer | work=Wikibon | date=August 27, 2012 | access-date=June 2, 2020 | archive-date=September 20, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920210717/http://wikibon.org/wiki/v/Gelsinger_Maritz_Management_Swap_Signals_New_Era_in_Enterprise_Computing | url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2013, VMware announced the [[corporate spin-off]] of [[Pivotal Software]], with [[General Electric]] investing in the company. Most of VMware's application- and developer-oriented products, including Spring, tc Server, Cloud Foundry, RabbitMQ, GemFire, and SQLFire were transferred to this organization.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2036305/pivotal-launched-from-vmware-emc-technologies.html | title=Pivotal launched from VMware, EMC technologies | first=Joab | last=Jackson | work=[[International Data Group]] | date=April 24, 2013 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=June 7, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607140245/http://www.pcworld.com/article/2036305/pivotal-launched-from-vmware-emc-technologies.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2013, VMware launched its own [[IaaS]] service, [[vCloud]] Hybrid Service, at its new Palo Alto headquarters (vCloud Hybrid Service was rebranded [[vCloud Air]] and later sold to cloud provider [[OVH]]), announcing an early access program in a [[Las Vegas]] data center. The service is designed to function as an extension of its customer's existing vSphere installations, with full compatibility with existing virtual machines virtualized with VMware software and tightly integrated networking. The service is based on vCloud Director 5.1/vSphere 5.1.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tomsitpro.com/articles/vmware-vchs-vcloud-hybrid-service,1-1066.html | title=VMware Introduces vCloud Hybrid Service (vCHS) | first=Kevin | last=Parrish | work=Tom's IT Pro | date=May 23, 2013 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=July 22, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722044728/http://www.tomsitpro.com/articles/vmware-vchs-vcloud-hybrid-service,1-1066.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2013, at [[VMworld]] San Francisco, VMware announced the general availability of vCloud Hybrid Service and expansion to [[Sterling, Virginia]], [[Santa Clara, California]], [[Dallas, Texas]], and a service beta in the UK. It announced the acquisition of Desktone in October 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2013/10/17/vmware-adds-vcloud-data-centers-acquires-desktone/ | title=VMware Adds vCloud Data Centers, Acquires Desktone | first=John | last=Rath | work=Data Center Knowledge | date=October 17, 2013 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=May 2, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502213449/http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2013/10/17/vmware-adds-vcloud-data-centers-acquires-desktone/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Acquisition by Dell ===
In January 2016, in anticipation of [[Dell]]'s acquisition of EMC, VMware announced a restructuring to reduce about 800 positions, and some executives resigned.<ref name="fourth2015">{{cite press release | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2016/01/26/1325940/0/en/VMware-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2015-Results.html | title=VMware Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results | publisher=[[GlobeNewswire]] | date=January 26, 2016 | access-date=October 13, 2019 | archive-date=October 13, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013183807/https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2016/01/26/1325940/0/en/VMware-Reports-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2015-Results.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="axes">{{cite web | url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/01/27/vmware_fusion_and_workstation_development_team_fired/ | title=VMware axes Fusion and Workstation US devs | first=Simon | last=Sharwood | work=[[The Register]] | date=January 27, 2016 | access-date=August 10, 2017 | archive-date=August 6, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806202359/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/01/27/vmware_fusion_and_workstation_development_team_fired/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="decline">{{cite web | url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/01/27/vmware_fy_2015_results/ | title=VMware says vSphere in decline, new multi-cloud plan will ensure growth: Virtzilla beats the street, fires 800, crimps vCloud Air, doubles down on new products | first=Simon | last=Sharwood | work=[[The Register]] | date=January 27, 2016 | access-date=August 10, 2017 | archive-date=August 10, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810171949/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/01/27/vmware_fy_2015_results/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="confirms">{{cite web | url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/01/26/vmware-confirms-layoffs-in-earnings-statement-as-it-prepares-for-dell-acquisition/ | title=VMware Confirms Layoffs In Earnings Statement As It Prepares For Dell Acquisition | first=Ron | last=Miller | work=[[TechCrunch]] | date=January 26, 2016 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=June 29, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629073216/https://techcrunch.com/2016/01/26/vmware-confirms-layoffs-in-earnings-statement-as-it-prepares-for-dell-acquisition/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="chip">{{cite web | title=A Tribute to VMware Workstation, Fusion, and Hosted UI | url=https://blog.chipx86.com/2016/01/26/a-tribute-to-vmware-workstation-fusion-and-hosted-ui/ | first=Christian | last=Hammond | publisher=ChipLog | date=January 26, 2016 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=June 25, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625143708/https://blog.chipx86.com/2016/01/26/a-tribute-to-vmware-workstation-fusion-and-hosted-ui/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The entire development team behind VMware Workstation and Fusion was disbanded and all US developers were immediately fired.<ref name="fourth2015"/><ref name="axes"/><ref name="decline"/><ref name="chip"/> On April 24, 2016, maintenance release 12.1.1 was released. On September 8, 2016, VMware announced the release of Workstation 12.5 and Fusion 8.5 as a free upgrade supporting [[Windows 10]] and [[Windows Server 2016]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.co.uk/information-technology/2016/08/vmware-fusion-workstation-12-5-details-download/ | title=VMware says "we're not dead," updates Fusion and Workstation for free | first=Jon | last=Brodkin | work=[[Ars Technica]] | date=August 30, 2016 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=August 10, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810171542/https://arstechnica.co.uk/information-technology/2016/08/vmware-fusion-workstation-12-5-details-download/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2016, VMware president and COO Carl Eschenbach left VMware to join [[Sequoia Capital]], and [[Martin Casado]], VMware's general manager for its Networking and Security business, left to join [[Andreessen Horowitz]]. Analysts commented that the cultures at Dell and EMC, and at EMC and VMware, are different, and said that they had heard that impending corporate cultural collisions and potentially radical product overlap pruning, would cause many EMC and VMware personnel to leave;<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/04/11/cracks_show_in_vmware_exec_ranks/ | title=Cracks show in VMware exec ranks | first=Chris | last=Mellor | work=[[The Register]] | date=April 11, 2016 | access-date=August 10, 2017 | archive-date=August 10, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810170736/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/04/11/cracks_show_in_vmware_exec_ranks/ | url-status=live }}</ref> VMware CEO [[Pat Gelsinger]], following rumors, categorically denied that he would leave.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/05/13/vmware_ceo_pat_gelsinger_quashes_departure_rumours/ | title=VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger quashes departure rumours | first=Simon | last=Sharwood | work=[[The Register]] | date=May 13, 2016 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=May 11, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511152935/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/05/13/vmware_ceo_pat_gelsinger_quashes_departure_rumours/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="confirms"/>

In August 2016 VMware introduced the VMware Cloud Provider website.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cloudsolutions.vmware.com/ | title=VMware Cloud Provider website homepage | publisher=VMware | date=Aug 12, 2016 | access-date=April 12, 2019 | archive-date=April 12, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412142634/https://cloudsolutions.vmware.com/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Mozy was transferred to Dell in 2016 after the merger of Dell and EMC.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.eweek.com/security/dell-unveils-portfolio-of-endpoint-security-products | title=Dell Unveils Portfolio of Endpoint Security Products | first=Jeff | last=Burt | work=[[EWeek]] | date=October 19, 2016 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=January 23, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123202456/https://www.eweek.com/security/dell-unveils-portfolio-of-endpoint-security-products/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2017, according to [[Glassdoor]], VMware was ranked 3rd on the list of highest paying companies in the United States.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-12/these-are-the-highest-paying-companies-in-america | title=These Are the Highest-Paying Companies in America | last=Verhage | first=Julie | work=[[Bloomberg News]] | date=April 12, 2017 | access-date=2017-04-18 | archive-date=2017-04-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419100926/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-12/these-are-the-highest-paying-companies-in-america | url-status=live }}</ref>

In Q2 2017, VMware sold vCloud Air to French cloud service provider OVH.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ovh.com/world/news/cp2456.ovh_completes_acquisition_of_vmwares_vcloud_air_business|title=OVH News - OVH Completes Acquisition of VMware's vCloud Air Business|date=2019-09-23|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190923211210/https://www.ovh.com/world/news/cp2456.ovh_completes_acquisition_of_vmwares_vcloud_air_business|archive-date=2019-09-23|access-date=2019-09-23}}</ref>

On January 13, 2021, VMware announced that CEO Pat Gelsinger would be leaving to step in at [[Intel]].<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/13/intel-ceo-bob-swan-to-step-down-in-february.html | title=Intel CEO Bob Swan to step down, VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger to replace him | publisher=<MSNBC> | date=January 13, 2021 | access-date=January 14, 2021 | archive-date=January 13, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113140853/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/13/intel-ceo-bob-swan-to-step-down-in-february.html | url-status=live }}</ref>  Intel is where Gelsinger spent 30 years of his career and was Intel's first chief technology officer. CFO Zane Rowe became interim CEO while the board searched for a replacement.

=== Spinoff from Dell ===
On April 15, 2021, it was reported that Dell would spin off its remaining stake in VMware to shareholders and that the two companies would continue to operate without major changes for at least five years.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharwood|first=Simon|title=Dell to spin out remaining VMware stake, cements Friends With Benefits status for at least five years|url=https://www.theregister.com/2021/04/15/dell_spins_out_vmware/|access-date=2021-04-15|website=[[The Register]]|language=en|archive-date=2021-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415013054/https://www.theregister.com/2021/04/15/dell_spins_out_vmware/|url-status=live}}</ref> The spinoff was completed on November 1, 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Waters|first=Richard |date= October 31, 2021  |title=Dell spins off $64bn VMware as it battles debt hangover|work=Financial Times |url= https://www.ft.com/content/3ca808da-d0a7-4f42-98c4-b49745289616 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/3ca808da-d0a7-4f42-98c4-b49745289616 |archive-date=2022-12-10 |url-access=subscription|access-date= November 1, 2021 }}</ref>
On May 12, 2021, VMware announced that Raghu Raghuram would take over as CEO.<ref>{{Cite news |title= VMware just named a new CEO |author= Jonathan Vanian |date= May 12, 2021 |url= https://fortune.com/2021/05/12/vmware-new-ceo-raghu-raghuram-pat-gelsinger/ |work= Fortune |access-date= December 2, 2021 |archive-date= December 2, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211202195012/https://fortune.com/2021/05/12/vmware-new-ceo-raghu-raghuram-pat-gelsinger/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
In May 2022, VMware announced that the company had partnered with [[Formula One]] motor racing team, [[McLaren Racing]].<ref>{{cite journal|date=11 May 2022|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220511005138/en|title=VMware Becomes an Official Partner of McLaren Racing|journal=Business Wire|access-date=12 May 2022|archive-date=30 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530035844/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220511005138/en|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Acquisition by Broadcom===
On May 26, 2022, [[Broadcom Inc.|Broadcom]] announced its intention to acquire VMware for approximately $61&nbsp;billion in cash and stock in addition to assuming $8&nbsp;billion of VMware's net debt, and that Broadcom Software Group would rebrand and operate as VMware.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/company/vmware-broadcom.pdf |title=Broadcom to acquire VMware |date=25 May 2022 |publisher=VMware |access-date=27 May 2022 |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527132521/https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/company/vmware-broadcom.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=avgo>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/chipmaker-broadcom-buy-vmware-61-bln-deal-2022-05-26/ |title=Chipmaker Broadcom to buy VMware in $61 bln deal |work=[[Reuters]] |date=26 May 2022 |first1=Chavi |last1=Mehta |first2=Krystal |last2=Hu |access-date=2022-05-26 |archive-date=2022-05-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526155430/https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/chipmaker-broadcom-buy-vmware-61-bln-deal-2022-05-26/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2022, the UK's [[Competition and Markets Authority]] regulator announced it would investigate whether the acquisition would "result in a substantial lessening of competition within any market or markets in the United Kingdom for goods or services".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Broadcom / VMware merger inquiry |url=https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/broadcom-slash-vmware-merger-inquiry |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=GOV.UK |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121101614/https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/broadcom-slash-vmware-merger-inquiry |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-21 |title=Broadcom's $61 bln deal for VMware on UK regulator's radar |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/broadcoms-61-bln-acquisition-vmware-uk-regulator-radar-2022-11-21/ |access-date=2022-11-21 |archive-date=2022-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121114618/https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/broadcoms-61-bln-acquisition-vmware-uk-regulator-radar-2022-11-21/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The transaction closed on November 22, 2023,<ref name="bbc-broadcom">{{Cite news |last=Oi |first=Mariko |date=2023-11-22 |title=Chipmaker Broadcom completes $69bn deal to buy VMware |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67505114 |website=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130092002/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67505114 |archive-date=2023-11-30 |url-status=live}}</ref> after a prolonged delay in getting approval from the [[State Administration for Market Regulation|Chinese regulator]] on an additional condition that VMware's server software should maintain compatibility with third-party hardware and not require the use of Broadcom's hardware products.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/broadcom-plans-close-69-billion-vmware-deal-wednesday-2023-11-21/ |title=Broadcom plans to close $69 billion VMWare deal on Wednesday |date=2023-11-21 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Dan |date=2023-11-21 |title=China relents: Broadcom-VMware merger approved at last |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/21/china_relents_broadcomvmware_merger_cleared/ |website=The Register}}</ref> On completion, Broadcom reorganized the company into four divisions: VMware Cloud Foundation, Tanzu, Software-Defined Edge, and Application Networking and Security,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=2023-11-23 |title=Broadcom re-orgs VMware into four divisions – none of which mention end-user compute products |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/23/broadcom_vmware_reorg/ |website=The Register}}</ref> and subsequently laid off over 2,800 employees.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |date=2023-12-02 |title=Broadcom cuts at least 2,800 VMware jobs following $69 billion acquisition |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/12/broadcom-cuts-at-least-2800-vmware-jobs-following-69-billion-acquisition/ |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> Broadcom also relocated its headquarters from North San Jose to VMware's headquarters campus in Palo Alto.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=Kevin V. |date=November 29, 2023 |title=Broadcom to relocate headquarters to former VMware campus in Palo Alto |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2023/11/29/broadcom-takes-over-vmware-palo-alto-offices.html |publisher=Silicon Valley Business Journal}}</ref>

On December 13, 2023, VMware ended availability for perpetually licensed products such as vSphere and Cloud Foundation, moving exclusively to subscription-based offerings. The company stated that this had been planned as an eventuality prior to the Broadcom acquisition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rama |first=Gladys |title=Post-VMware Buy, Broadcom Kills Perpetual Licenses in Favor of Subscriptions |url=https://redmondmag.com/articles/2023/12/13/broadcom-kills-perpetual-vmware-licenses.aspx |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=Redmondmag |language=en-US}}</ref>

In February 2024 private equity firm [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts|KKR]] and Broadcom agreed for KKR to acquire Broadcom's End-User Computing (EUC) Division, formerly a division of VMware, for about $4&nbsp;billion.
<ref>
{{Cite press release|title=KKR to Acquire Broadcom's End-User Computing Division |url=https://media.kkr.com/news-details/?news_id=48701629-ae4d-4d88-b1a9-90a438c6bf6c |date=2024-02-26 |website=media.kkr.com}}
</ref> 
The EUC division, renamed to [[Omnissa]], includes the desktop and app virtualization product [[Omnissa Horizon|Horizon]] and the device management suite [[Workspace ONE UEM]] (formerly [[AirWatch]]).

On May 14, 2024, it was announced that [[VMware Workstation|VMware Workstation Pro]] and [[VMware Fusion|VMware Fusion Pro]] would be made free for personal use, with commercial use still requiring payment.
<ref>
{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Michael |date=May 14, 2024 |title=VMware Desktop Hypervisor Pro Apps Now Available for Personal Use |url=https://blogs.vmware.com/cloud-foundation/2024/05/14/vmware-desktop-hypervisor-pro-apps-now-available-for-personal-use/ |access-date=May 14, 2024 |website=VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) Blog}}
</ref> 
In November 2024, VMware announced that commercial use would be free too.
<ref>
{{Cite web |last=Chuang |first=Mark |date=2024-11-11 |title=VMware Fusion and Workstation are Now Free for All Users |url=https://blogs.vmware.com/cloud-foundation/2024/11/11/vmware-fusion-and-workstation-are-now-free-for-all-users/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) Blog |language=en-US}}
</ref>

===Acquisitions===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Announcement date
! Company
! class="unsortable" | Description
! {{Abbr|Ref(s).|References}}
|-
| {{dts|2005|October}}
| Asset Optimization Group
| Specialized in capacity planning.
| <ref>{{cite web
 | url   = http://virtualization.info/en/news/2010/02/look-at-vmwares-past-acquisitions.html
 | title   = A look at VMware's past acquisitions
 | date   = February 2010
 | access-date   = 2013-04-29
 | archive-date   = 2016-04-23
 | archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20160423041916/http://virtualization.info/en/news/2010/02/look-at-vmwares-past-acquisitions.html
 | url-status   = dead
 }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2006|June}}
| Akimbi Systems
| Specialized in lab management.
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/840046/data-center-vmware-acquires-virtualization-company-akimbi.html | title=VMware acquires virtualization company Akimbi | first=Deni | last=Connor | work=[[International Data Group]] | date=June 26, 2006 | access-date=January 12, 2015 | archive-date=April 26, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426184704/https://www.networkworld.com/article/840046/data-center-vmware-acquires-virtualization-company-akimbi.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2007|April}}
| Propero
| London-based VDI provider.
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://virtualization.info/en/news/2007/04/vmware-acquires-propero.html |title=VMware acquires Propero |date=April 26, 2007 |access-date=December 20, 2016 |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402160258/http://virtualization.info/en/news/2007/04/vmware-acquires-propero.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2007|September}}
| Dunes Technologies
| VMware acquired the [[Switzerland]]-based company for an undisclosed sum.
| <ref>{{cite press release | title=VMware Acquires Dunes Technologies | url=https://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/2007/dunes.html | publisher=VMware | date=September 11, 2007 | access-date=June 8, 2017 | archive-date=October 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020150648/https://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/2007/dunes.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=VMware Acquires Dunes Technologies | url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/813765/asset-management-vmware-acquires-virtualization-management-vendor-dunes.html | first=Denise | last=Dubie | work=[[International Data Group]] | date=September 11, 2007 | access-date=June 8, 2017 | archive-date=May 4, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504010548/https://www.networkworld.com/article/2285425/asset-management/vmware-acquires-virtualization-management-vendor-dunes.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|October 2007
|Sciant
|VMware acquired the Bulgaria-based outsourcing company for an undisclosed sum.
|
|-
|January 2, 2008
|Foedus
|VMware acquired the New Hampshire (U.S.) based professional services company for an undisclosed sum. 
|
|-
| {{dts|2008|July}}
| B-hive Networks
| VMware acquired the [[Israel]]-based start-up for an undisclosed sum. Following the acquisition VMware opened an R&D center in Israel, based initially on B-Hive's facilities and team in Israel.
| <ref>{{cite news | last=Vidra | first=Eze | title=VMware Snatches B-Hive, Opens R&D Center in Israel | url=http://www.vccafe.com/gemini/vmware-snatches-b-hive-opens-rd-center-in-israel/ | newspaper=VCcafe | date=May 28, 2008 | access-date=December 12, 2011 | archive-date=October 27, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027144140/http://www.vccafe.com/gemini/vmware-snatches-b-hive-opens-rd-center-in-israel/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2008|October}}
| [[Trango Virtual Processors]]
| Was a Grenoble-based ARM hypervisor developer.
| <ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vmware-trango-idUSTRE4A977220081110 | title=VMware buys Trango mobile virtualization company | first=Jim | last=Finkle | work=[[Reuters]] | date=November 10, 2008 | access-date=July 3, 2017 | archive-date=May 2, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502211246/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vmware-trango-idUSTRE4A977220081110 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1287552 | title=VMware acquires Trango | work=[[EE Times]] | date=November 10, 2008 | access-date=June 8, 2017 | archive-date=May 3, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503041243/https://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1287552 | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2008|October}}
| Blue Lane Technologies
| Virtual firewall. Was integrated into vCloud networking but ultimately replaced by the much broader NSX virtual networking capabilities.
| <ref>{{cite press release | title=VMware and Blue Lane Technologies | url=https://www.vmware.com/in/company/acquisitions/bluelane.html | publisher=VMware | access-date=2018-01-12 | archive-date=2018-01-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113035538/https://www.vmware.com/in/company/acquisitions/bluelane.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| style="white-space:nowrap" | {{dts|2008|November|26}}
| Tungsten Graphics
| Core expertise in [[3D computer graphics|3D graphics]] driver development.
| <ref name=tungsten>{{cite news | url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/2638430/virtualization/vmware-s-year-end-acquisition-of-tungsten-graphics.html | title=VMware's year end acquisition of Tungsten Graphics | work=[[InfoWorld]] | last=Marshall | first=David | date=December 16, 2008 | access-date=June 8, 2017 | archive-date=February 15, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215211657/http://www.infoworld.com/article/2638430/virtualization/vmware-s-year-end-acquisition-of-tungsten-graphics.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2009|August|10}}
| [[SpringSource]]
| Inventors of Spring Java open source, the most popular enterprise Java app framework for building web apps and microservices. The acquisition expanded VMware's education services to include SpringSource University and its authorized training partners such as Spring People in India. Spring became part of the [[Pivotal Software]] spin-out, spin-in.
| <ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/2009/springsource.html | title=VMware to Acquire SpringSource | publisher=VMware | date=August 10, 2009 | access-date=June 8, 2017 | archive-date=May 3, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503110926/https://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/2009/springsource.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/08/10/vmware-acquires-springsource/ | title=VMware Acquires SpringSource | first=Cameron | last=Christoffers | work=[[TechCrunch]] | date=August 10, 2009 | access-date=June 8, 2017 | archive-date=July 19, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719085653/http://techcrunch.com/2009/08/10/vmware-acquires-springsource/ | url-status=live }}</ref> 
|-
| {{dts|2010|January|12}}
| [[Zimbra]] (software)
| Open source email system looking to challenge Exchange et al. Acquired from [[Yahoo]] and (later sold in July 2013 to [[Telligent Systems]]).
| <ref>{{cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/01/12/yahoo-sheds-zimbra-vmware-gains-a-foundation-for-web-apps/ | title=Yahoo Sheds Zimbra, VMware Gains A Foundation For Web Apps | first=Leena | last=Rao | work=[[TechCrunch]] | date=January 12, 2010 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=June 3, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603231844/https://techcrunch.com/2010/01/12/yahoo-sheds-zimbra-vmware-gains-a-foundation-for-web-apps/ | url-status=live }}</ref> 
|-
| {{dts|2010|May|6}}
| [[GemStone Systems]]
| A highly scalable, distributed in-memory database. The Java product was included in the Pivotal spin-out and ultimately open sourced as Apache Geode. The Smalltalk product was bought by GemTalk Systems.
| <ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/195782/article.html | title=VMware's SpringSource to Buy In-memory Vendor GemStone | first=Joab | last=Jackson | work=[[International Data Group]] | date=May 6, 2010 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=September 27, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927124444/http://www.pcworld.com/article/195782/article.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|Jan 2011
|[[NeoAccel|NeoAccel Inc]]
|Incorporated into NSX.
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=VMware and NeoAccel Corporation, Hybrid Cloud Environments|url=https://www.vmware.com/company/acquisitions/neoaccel.html|access-date=2021-02-02|website=VMware|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207162451/https://www.vmware.com/company/acquisitions/neoaccel.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2011|April|26}}
| [[SlideRocket]]
| A startup which developed a SaaS application for building business presentations that are stored online. Through a Web-based interface, users can handle all parts of the process, from designing slides and compiling content, to reviewing documents and publishing and delivering them. VMware subsequently sold SlideRocket to [[ClearSlide]] on March 5, 2013.
| <ref>{{cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/04/26/vmware-acquires-online-presentation-application-sliderocket/ | title=VMware Acquires Online Presentation Application SlideRocket | first=Leena | last=Rao | work=[[TechCrunch]] | date=April 26, 2011 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=July 4, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704192237/https://techcrunch.com/2011/04/26/vmware-acquires-online-presentation-application-sliderocket/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/03/05/vmware-exits-collaboration-market-with-sale-of-sliderocket-to-clearslide/ | title=VMware Exits Collaboration Market With Sale of SlideRocket To Clearslide, A Sales Engagement Platform | first=Alex | last=Williams | work=[[TechCrunch]] | date=March 5, 2013 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=May 2, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502213549/https://techcrunch.com/2013/03/05/vmware-exits-collaboration-market-with-sale-of-sliderocket-to-clearslide/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| May 31, 2011
| Socialcast
| "Like Facebook, but private and for your own employees". Enterprise Social Networking and Collaboration. 
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ir.vmware.com/overview/press-releases/press-release-details/2011/VMware-Acquires-Enterprise-Social-Collaboration-Provider-Socialcast/default.aspx|title=VMware Acquires Enterprise Social Collaboration Provider Socialcast|website=ir.vmware.com|language=en-CA|access-date=2018-10-21|archive-date=2018-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022033552/https://ir.vmware.com/overview/press-releases/press-release-details/2011/VMware-Acquires-Enterprise-Social-Collaboration-Provider-Socialcast/default.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/05/31/vmware-acquires-enterprise-microblogging-platform-socialcast/|title=VMware Acquires Enterprise Microblogging Platform Socialcast|work=[[TechCrunch]]|access-date=2018-10-21|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022033520/https://techcrunch.com/2011/05/31/vmware-acquires-enterprise-microblogging-platform-socialcast/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2011|August}}
| PacketMotion
| User Activity Monitoring startup. Its PacketSentry product was planned to be incorporated into VMware vCloud Networking and Security but then it was discontinued by the end of 2012.
| <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vmware.com/company/acquisitions/packetmotion.html | title=VMware and PacketMotion: Data Access Monitoring, Network Security & Compliance | publisher=VMware | access-date=2017-06-14 | archive-date=2017-06-17 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617151943/https://www.vmware.com/company/acquisitions/packetmotion.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://blogs.gartner.com/neil_macdonald/2011/08/27/building-context-aware-security-vmware-acquires-packetmotion/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014095832/http://blogs.gartner.com/neil_macdonald/2011/08/27/building-context-aware-security-vmware-acquires-packetmotion/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 14, 2011 | title=Building Context-Aware Security: VMware Acquires PacketMotion | first=Neil | last=MacDonald | work=[[Gartner]] |date=August 27, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2012|May|22}}
| [[Wanova]]
|
| <ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2012/05/22/1327191/0/en/VMware-to-Acquire-Wanova-Intelligent-Desktop-Solutions-Provider.html | title=VMware To Acquire Wanova, Intelligent Desktop Solutions Provider | publisher=[[GlobeNewswire]] | date=May 22, 2012 | access-date=October 13, 2019 | archive-date=October 13, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013183805/https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2012/05/22/1327191/0/en/VMware-to-Acquire-Wanova-Intelligent-Desktop-Solutions-Provider.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2012|July|2}}
| [[DynamicOps]]
| A cloud management system originally spun out of [[Credit Suisse]]. VMware rebranded products as {{Proper name|vRealize}} Automation and vRealize Orchestrator, and ultimately incorporated into the {{Proper name|vRealize}} Suite—now branded as VMware Aria Automation.
| <ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2012/07/02/1327204/0/en/VMware-to-Acquire-DynamicOps-Inc.html | title=VMware to Acquire DynamicOps, Inc | publisher=[[GlobeNewswire]] | date=July 2, 2012 | access-date=October 13, 2019 | archive-date=June 26, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626111218/http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/vmware-to-acquire-dynamicops-inc-nyse-vmw-1675989.htm | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/vmware-acquires-hybrid-cloud-solution-company-dynamicops/ | title=VMware acquires hybrid cloud solution company DynamicOps | first=Charlie | last=Osborne | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=July 3, 2012 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=March 8, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308215417/https://www.zdnet.com/article/vmware-acquires-hybrid-cloud-solution-company-dynamicops/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2012|July|23}}
| [[Nicira]]
| Software for [[network virtualization]], rebranded as VMware NSX. Acquired for $1.2 billion. Nicira was founded in 2007 by [[Martin Casado]], [[Nick McKeown]] and [[Scott Shenker]]. 
| <ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2012/07/23/1327218/0/en/VMware-to-Acquire-Nicira.html | title=VMware to Acquire Nicira | publisher=[[GlobeNewswire]] | date=July 23, 2012 | access-date=October 13, 2019 | archive-date=October 13, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013183804/https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2012/07/23/1327218/0/en/VMware-to-Acquire-Nicira.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=niciracrunch>{{cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/07/23/vmware-buys-nicira-for-1-26-billion-and-gives-more-clues-about-cloud-strategy/ | title=VMware Buys Nicira For $1.26 Billion And Gives More Clues About Cloud Strategy | first=Alex | last=Williams | work=[[TechCrunch]] | date=July 23, 2012 | access-date=June 25, 2017 | archive-date=September 25, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925102527/https://techcrunch.com/2012/07/23/vmware-buys-nicira-for-1-26-billion-and-gives-more-clues-about-cloud-strategy/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nsx">{{cite news | url=http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-the-1-billion-vmware-nicira-buy-2014-10 | title=The Inside Story Of A $1 Billion Acquisition That Caused Cisco To Divorce Its Closest Partner, EMC | first=Julie | last=Bort | work=[[Business Insider]] | date=October 26, 2014 | access-date=August 25, 2016 | archive-date=August 25, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825190945/http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-the-1-billion-vmware-nicira-buy-2014-10 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sdncentral.com/technology/vswitch-the-new-battleground-what-every-datacenter-operator-must-know/2012/07/ | title=vSwitch the New Battleground for Network Virtualization | first=Matthew | last=Palmer | work=Sdncentral.com | date=July 13, 2012 | access-date=August 25, 2016 | archive-date=March 26, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326003236/http://www.sdncentral.com/technology/vswitch-the-new-battleground-what-every-datacenter-operator-must-know/2012/07/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2013|February|11}}
| [[Virsto]]
|
| <ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/vmw-virsto-021113.html | title=VMware to Acquire Virsto | publisher=VMware | date=February 11, 2013 | access-date=May 20, 2013 | archive-date=July 12, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712042844/http://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/vmw-virsto-021113.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://venturebeat.com/2013/02/11/vmware-acquires-virsto-software-to-boost-its-virtual-storage-capabilities/ | title=VMware acquires Virsto Software to boost its virtual storage capabilities | first=CHRISTINA | last=FARR | work=[[Venture Beat]] | date=February 11, 2013 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=September 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920171330/https://venturebeat.com/2013/02/11/vmware-acquires-virsto-software-to-boost-its-virtual-storage-capabilities/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/13/vmware_virsto/ | title=Hands off my disk! VMware gobbles Virsto for software-ruled arrays | first=Chris | last=Mellor | work=[[The Register]] | date=February 11, 2013 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=June 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620034442/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/13/vmware_virsto/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2013|October|15}}
| Desktone
| Desktop-as-a-service provider
| <ref>{{cite press release | url=http://ir.vmware.com/overview/press-releases/press-release-details/2013/VMware-Acquires-Desktone-Pioneer-of-Desktop-as-a-Service/default.aspx | title=VMware Acquires Desktone, Pioneer of Desktop-as-a-Service | publisher=VMware | date=October 15, 2013 | access-date=May 2, 2018 | archive-date=December 16, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031114/https://ir.vmware.com/overview/press-releases/press-release-details/2013/VMware-Acquires-Desktone-Pioneer-of-Desktop-as-a-Service/default.aspx | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/vmware-acquires-desktone-is-your-next-desktop-going-to-live-in-the-cloud/ | title=VMware acquires Desktone: Is your next desktop going to live in the cloud? | first=Dan | last=Kusnetzky | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=November 11, 2013 | access-date=June 8, 2017 | archive-date=July 14, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714181440/http://www.zdnet.com/article/vmware-acquires-desktone-is-your-next-desktop-going-to-live-in-the-cloud/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2014|January|22}}
| [[AirWatch]] and [[Wandering WiFi]]
| System for managing the security, audit and configuration of mobile devices in enterprises. Acquired for {{US$|1.54 billion}}.
| <ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2014/02/24/1325198/0/en/VMware-Completes-Acquisition-of-AirWatch.html | title=VMware Completes Acquisition of AirWatch | publisher=[[GlobeNewswire]] | date=February 24, 2014 | access-date=October 13, 2019 | archive-date=October 13, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013183803/https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2014/02/24/1325198/0/en/VMware-Completes-Acquisition-of-AirWatch.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2014/02/07/iphone-apis-ultimately-led-to-vmwares-airwatch-acquisition/ | title=iPhone APIs Ultimately Led to VMware's AirWatch Acquisition | first=MICHAEL | last=HICKINS | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=February 7, 2014 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=August 6, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806040332/http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2014/02/07/iphone-apis-ultimately-led-to-vmwares-airwatch-acquisition/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2014/02/20/vmwares-airwatch-acquisition-to-enhance-mobility-in-end-user-computing/ | title=VMware's AirWatch Acquisition To Enhance Mobility In End-User Computing | work=[[Forbes]] | date=February 20, 2014 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=July 29, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729210254/https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2014/02/20/vmwares-airwatch-acquisition-to-enhance-mobility-in-end-user-computing/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2014|March|06}}
| ThirdSky
| ITIL/ITSM Consulting.
| <ref>{{cite news | url=https://blogs.vmware.com/kb/2014/03/investing-services-announcing-acquisition-third-sky-inc.html | title=Investing in Services – Announcing Acquisition of Third Sky, Inc | first=Scott | last=Bajtos | publisher=VMware | date=March 6, 2014 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=October 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020121322/https://blogs.vmware.com/kb/2014/03/investing-services-announcing-acquisition-third-sky-inc.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2014|August|20}}
| CloudVolumes (formerly SnapVolumes)
| Real-time application delivery and virtualization to virtual desktop infrastructure
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/vmware-buys-cloudvolumes-for-real-time-desktop-app-delivery/ | title=VMware buys CloudVolumes for real-time desktop app delivery | first=Natalie | last=Gagliordi | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=August 20, 2014 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=July 1, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701082626/http://www.zdnet.com/article/vmware-buys-cloudvolumes-for-real-time-desktop-app-delivery/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2515640/vmware-acquires-cloudvolumes-for-faster-virtual-app-delivery.html | title=VMware acquires CloudVolumes for faster virtual app delivery | first=Joab | last=Jackson | work=[[International Data Group]] | date=August 20, 2014 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=May 23, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523032510/https://www.pcworld.com/article/2515640/vmware-acquires-cloudvolumes-for-faster-virtual-app-delivery.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{dts|2014|October|29}}
| Continuent
| Database clustering and replication software
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://blogs.vmware.com/vcloud/2014/10/vmware-acquires-continuent.html | title=VMware Acquires Continuent | publisher=VMware | date=October 29, 2014 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=July 7, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707135022/https://blogs.vmware.com/vcloud/2014/10/vmware-acquires-continuent.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|October 2014
|MomentumSI
|Austin, Texas–based professional services firm specializing in cloud migration and DevOps expertise
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/300074831/vmware-acquires-professional-services-firm-to-boost-cloud-migration-devops-expertise.htm | title=VMware Acquires Professional Services Firm To Boost Cloud Migration, DevOps Expertise | publisher=CRN | date=November 18, 2014 | access-date=July 1, 2020 | archive-date=July 3, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703135447/https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/300074831/vmware-acquires-professional-services-firm-to-boost-cloud-migration-devops-expertise.htm | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://blogs.vmware.com/consulting/2015/02/momentumsi-brings-new-devops-cloud-professional-services-vmware.html | title=MomentumSI Brings New DevOps and Cloud Professional Services to VMware | publisher=VMware | date=February 2, 2015 | access-date=July 1, 2020 | archive-date=July 2, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702010057/https://blogs.vmware.com/consulting/2015/02/momentumsi-brings-new-devops-cloud-professional-services-vmware.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|June 13, 2016
|Arkin Net
|{{Proper name|vRealize}} Network Insight - Discover, Optimize and Troubleshoot App Security and Network Connectivity 
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=VMware and Arkin|url=https://www.vmware.com/company/acquisitions/arkin.html|access-date=2020-06-23|website=VMware|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-06-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626104130/https://www.vmware.com/company/acquisitions/arkin.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-06-13|title=VMware to acquire Arkin Net|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/vmware-to-acquire-arkin-net/articleshow/52731457.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2020-06-23|archive-date=2020-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905162158/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/vmware-to-acquire-arkin-net/articleshow/52731457.cms?from=mdr|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=VMware Acquires Virtual Network Manager Arkin Net|url=https://www.informationweek.com/cloud/infrastructure-as-a-service/vmware-acquires-virtual-network-manager-arkin-net/d/d-id/1325901|access-date=2020-06-23|website=InformationWeek|date=14 June 2016|language=en|archive-date=2020-06-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626081504/https://www.informationweek.com/cloud/infrastructure-as-a-service/vmware-acquires-virtual-network-manager-arkin-net/d/d-id/1325901|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| April 12, 2017
| Wavefront
| Cloud-based metrics and monitoring (now VMware Tanzu Wavefront Observability)
| <ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/04/12/1326170/0/en/VMware-to-Acquire-Wavefront-to-Accelerate-Delivery-of-its-Cross-Cloud-Management-Services.html | title=VMware to Acquire Wavefront to Accelerate Delivery of its Cross-Cloud Management Services | publisher=[[GlobeNewswire]] | date=April 12, 2017 | access-date=October 13, 2019 | archive-date=October 13, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013183807/https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/04/12/1326170/0/en/VMware-to-Acquire-Wavefront-to-Accelerate-Delivery-of-its-Cross-Cloud-Management-Services.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://blogs.vmware.com/management/2017/05/vmware-completes-wavefront-acquisition.html | title=VMware Completes Wavefront Acquisition | first=Ajay | last=Singh | publisher=VMware | date=May 19, 2017 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=October 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020151144/https://blogs.vmware.com/management/2017/05/vmware-completes-wavefront-acquisition.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/vmware-acquires-wavefront-to-boost-cloud-management-portfolio/ | title=VMware acquires Wavefront to boost cloud management portfolio | first=Natalie | last=Gagliordi | work=[[ZDNet]] | date=April 12, 2017 | access-date=June 15, 2017 | archive-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614021157/http://www.zdnet.com/article/vmware-acquires-wavefront-to-boost-cloud-management-portfolio/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| May 15, 2017
| Apteligent
| Mobile application performance.
| <ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.vmware.com/company/acquisitions/apteligent.html | title=VMware and Apteligent | publisher=VMware | date=May 15, 2017 | access-date=September 15, 2017 | archive-date=September 15, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915161208/https://www.vmware.com/company/acquisitions/apteligent.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| December 12, 2017
| VeloCloud Networks
| [[SD-WAN|Software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN)]].
| <ref>{{cite press release | url=https://blogs.vmware.com/networkvirtualization/2017/12/vmware-closes-velocloud.html/ | title=VMware Closes Acquisition of VeloCloud Networks | publisher=VMware | date=December 12, 2017 | access-date=January 22, 2018 | archive-date=January 23, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072908/https://blogs.vmware.com/networkvirtualization/2017/12/vmware-closes-velocloud.html/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| February 18, 2018
| CloudCoreo
| Cloud configuration-management 
| <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/vmware-acquires-seattles-cloudcoreo-cloud-security-expertise/|title=VMware acquires Seattle's CloudCoreo for its cloud security expertise|work=[[GeekWire]]|date=February 14, 2018|access-date=March 30, 2018|archive-date=March 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330080019/https://www.geekwire.com/2018/vmware-acquires-seattles-cloudcoreo-cloud-security-expertise/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| February 22, 2018
| CloudVelox
| Hybrid cloud automation and orchestration software
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vmware.com/company/acquisitions/cloudvelox.html | title=VMware and CloudVelox | publisher=VMware | date=February 22, 2018 | access-date=August 9, 2020 | archive-date=October 31, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031232306/https://www.vmware.com/company/acquisitions/cloudvelox.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| March 28, 2018
| E8 Security
| Software for protecting employee devices from online threats.
| <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://siliconangle.com/blog/2018/03/28/vmware-acquires-startup-e8-security-bolster-device-management-capabilities/|title=VMware acquires startup E8 Security to bolster its device management capabilities - SiliconANGLE|date=2018-03-28|work=SiliconANGLE|access-date=2018-03-30|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-03-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330080456/https://siliconangle.com/blog/2018/03/28/vmware-acquires-startup-e8-security-bolster-device-management-capabilities/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| May 14, 2018
| [[Bracket Computing]]
| Security virtualization technology.
| <ref>{{cite web | url=https://blogs.vmware.com/networkvirtualization/2018/05/tom-gillis-new-gm-nsbu.html | title=VMware Welcomes Tom Gillis as SVP & General Manager, Networking and Security Business Unit | publisher=VMware | date=2018-05-01 | access-date=2019-05-06 | archive-date=2019-05-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506121601/https://blogs.vmware.com/networkvirtualization/2018/05/tom-gillis-new-gm-nsbu.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| August 27, 2018
| [[CloudHealth Technologies]]
| Cloud cost, usage, security, and governance management platform.
| <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/vmw-newsfeed.VMware-Announces-Intent-to-Acquire-CloudHealth-Technologies-a-Global-Platform-for-Multi-Cloud-Operations.1557121.html|title=VMware Announces Intent to Acquire CloudHealth Technologies|date=2018-08-27|work=VMware|access-date=2018-08-27|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021094657/https://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/vmw-newsfeed.VMware-Announces-Intent-to-Acquire-CloudHealth-Technologies-a-Global-Platform-for-Multi-Cloud-Operations.1557121.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Nov 6, 2018
| Heptio
| Kubernetes Software and Services.
| <ref>{{Cite news| url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/06/vmware-acquires-heptio-the-startup-founded-by-2-co-founders-of-kubernetes/| title=VMware acquires Heptio, the startup founded by 2 co-founders of Kubernetes| date=2018-11-06| work=[[TechCrunch]]| access-date=2018-11-30| archive-date=2018-11-30| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130202302/https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/06/vmware-acquires-heptio-the-startup-founded-by-2-co-founders-of-kubernetes/| url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| February 2019
| Aetherpal
| Remote support capabilities for the Workspace ONE platform.
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://siliconangle.com/2019/02/05/vmware-acquires-partner-aetherpal-sharpen-iot-focus/|title=VMware acquires partner AetherPal to sharpen its IoT focus|date=2019-02-05|website=SiliconANGLE|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-24|archive-date=2019-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724160712/https://siliconangle.com/2019/02/05/vmware-acquires-partner-aetherpal-sharpen-iot-focus/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|May 15, 2019
|BitRock
|Cross platform installer creation tool.
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=VMware InstallBuilder|url=https://blog.installbuilder.com/2020/04/vmware-installbuilder-as-you-might-know.html|access-date=2020-09-14|website=BitRock|language=en-us|archive-date=2020-08-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811161830/https://blog.installbuilder.com/2020/04/vmware-installbuilder-as-you-might-know.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=VMware acquires Bitnami to deliver packaged applications anywhere|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/15/vmware-acquires-bitnami-to-deliver-packaged-applications-anywhere/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=TechCrunch|date=15 May 2019|language=en-US|archive-date=2023-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123202458/https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/15/vmware-acquires-bitnami-to-deliver-packaged-applications-anywhere/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| July 2019
| [[Avi Networks]]
| Cloud application services, including Load Balancer, WAF, and Service Mesh.
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/13/vmware-announces-intent-to-buy-avi-networks-startup-that-raised-115m/|title=VMware announces intent to buy Avi Networks, startup that raised $115M|website=TechCrunch|date=13 June 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-24|archive-date=2023-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123202458/https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/13/vmware-announces-intent-to-buy-avi-networks-startup-that-raised-115m/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| July 18, 2019
| Bitfusion
| computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/18/vmware-acquires-ml-acceleration-startup-bitfusion/|title=VMware acquires ML acceleration startup Bitfusion|website=TechCrunch|date=18 July 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-24|archive-date=2023-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123202458/https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/18/vmware-acquires-ml-acceleration-startup-bitfusion/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| August 20, 2019
| Intrinsic
| application and serverless security.
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/20/vmware-acquires-intrinsic-serverless-security-start-up.html|title=VMware acquires security start-up Intrinsic in ongoing cloud push.|website=CNBC|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-date=2019-08-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821004730/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/20/vmware-acquires-intrinsic-serverless-security-start-up.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| October 8, 2019
| [[Carbon Black (company)|Carbon Black]]
| Cloud-native endpoint security software that is designed to detect malicious behavior and to help prevent malicious files from attacking an organization.
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ir.vmware.com/overview/press-releases/press-release-details/2019/VMware-Completes-Acquisition-of-Carbon-Black/default.aspx|title=VMware Completes Acquisition of Carbon Black|website=VMware|language=en-us|access-date=2019-10-14|archive-date=2019-10-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014182028/https://ir.vmware.com/overview/press-releases/press-release-details/2019/VMware-Completes-Acquisition-of-Carbon-Black/default.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| December 30, 2019
| [[Pivotal Software]]
| Cloud-native platform provider of digital transformation technology and services.
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ir.vmware.com/overview/press-releases/press-release-details/2019/VMware-Completes-Acquisition-of-Pivotal/default.aspx|title=VMware Completes Acquisition of Pivotal|website=VMware|language=en-us|access-date=2020-01-03|archive-date=2020-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103074802/https://ir.vmware.com/overview/press-releases/press-release-details/2019/VMware-Completes-Acquisition-of-Pivotal/default.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|July 31, 2020
|[[Lastline]]
|Cyber security and breach detection platform provider.
|<ref>{{Cite news|title=VMware acquires network security firm Lastline, said to lay off 40% of staff – TechCrunch|language=en-US|work=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/04/vmware-lastline-staff-cuts/|access-date=2020-09-17|archive-date=2020-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925235557/https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/04/vmware-lastline-staff-cuts/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|September 29, 2020
|[[SaltStack]]
|Automation and configuration management software.
|<ref>{{Cite news|title=Intent to Acquire SaltStack|language=en-US|url=https://www.vmware.com/company/news/updates/2020/intent-to-acquire-saltstack.html|access-date=2020-09-29|archive-date=2020-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929124703/https://www.vmware.com/company/news/updates/2020/intent-to-acquire-saltstack.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Gagliordi|first=Natalie|title=VMware to acquire automation software provider SaltStack|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/vmware-to-acquire-automation-software-provider-saltstack/|access-date=2020-10-01|website=ZDNet|language=en|archive-date=2020-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930024230/https://www.zdnet.com/article/vmware-to-acquire-automation-software-provider-saltstack/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

===Litigation===
In March 2015, the [[Software Freedom Conservancy]] announced it was funding litigation by Christoph Hellwig in Hamburg, Germany against VMware for alleged violation of his copyrights in its ESXi product.<ref name=SFC-Lawsuit>{{cite web|title=Conservancy Announces Funding for GPL Compliance Lawsuit|url=http://sfconservancy.org/news/2015/mar/05/vmware-lawsuit/|publisher=Software Freedom Conservancy|access-date=6 March 2015|archive-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305223719/http://sfconservancy.org/news/2015/mar/05/vmware-lawsuit/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Hellwig's core claim is that ESXi is a derivative work of the GPLv2-licensed [[Linux kernel]] 2.4, and therefore VMware is not in compliance
with GPLv2 because it does not publish the source code to ESXi.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Phipps|first1=Simon|title=VMware heads to court over GPL violations|url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/2893695/open-source-software/vmware-heading-to-court-over-gpl-violations.html|access-date=11 March 2015|work=InfoWorld|date=5 March 2015|archive-date=8 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308153834/http://www.infoworld.com/article/2893695/open-source-software/vmware-heading-to-court-over-gpl-violations.html|url-status=live}}</ref> VMware publicly stated that ESXi is not a derivative of the Linux kernel,<ref name=VMW-no-derivative>{{cite web|title=VMware confident that ESXi is not a derivative work of Linux code|url=https://www.vmware.com/co/company/news/vmware-update-to-mr-hellwigs-legal-proceedings.html|publisher=VMware|access-date=10 Jan 2022|archive-date=10 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110200554/https://www.vmware.com/co/company/news/vmware-update-to-mr-hellwigs-legal-proceedings.html|url-status=live}}</ref> denying Hellwig's
core claim. VMware said it offered a way to use Linux device drivers with ESXi, and that code does use some Linux GPLv2-licensed code and so it had published the source, meeting GPLv2 requirements.<ref>{{cite web |title=VMware Update to Mr. Hellwig's Legal Proceedings |url=http://www.vmware.com/company/news/vmware-update-to-mr-hellwigs-legal-proceedings.html |publisher=VMware |access-date=11 March 2015 |archive-date=11 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311150214/http://www.vmware.com/company/news/vmware-update-to-mr-hellwigs-legal-proceedings.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The lawsuit was dismissed by the court in July 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bombadil.infradead.org/~hch/vmware/Judgment_2016-07-08.pdf|title=German court ruling|date=8 July 2016|access-date=2019-04-09|archive-date=2016-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220203524/http://bombadil.infradead.org/~hch/vmware/Judgment_2016-07-08.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Hellwig announced he would file an appeal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bombadil.infradead.org/~hch/vmware/2016-08-09.html |title=Hellwig To Appeal VMware Ruling After Evidentiary Set Back in Lower Court |date=9 August 2016 |access-date=2019-04-09 |archive-date=2020-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114173909/http://bombadil.infradead.org/~hch/vmware/2016-08-09.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The appeal was decided February 2019 and again dismissed by German court, on the basis of not meeting "procedural requirements for the burden of proof of the plaintiff."<ref>{{Cite web|title=VMware Suit Concludes in Germany [LWN.net]|url=https://lwn.net/Articles/784673/|access-date=2020-08-24|website=lwn.net|archive-date=2019-09-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904072948/https://lwn.net/Articles/784673/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.golem.de/news/gpl-klage-klage-von-hellwig-gegen-vmware-erneut-abgewiesen-1903-139733.html|title=Klage von Hellwig gegen VMware erneut abgewiesen|date=1 March 2019|access-date=9 April 2019|archive-date=29 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329150226/https://www.golem.de/news/gpl-klage-klage-von-hellwig-gegen-vmware-erneut-abgewiesen-1903-139733.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2023, VMware was ordered to pay $84.5 million for patent infringement on two patents belonging to Densify, a Canadian software company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brittain |first=Blake |date=2 May 2023 |title=VMware hit with $84.5 million verdict in US retrial over software patents |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/vmware-hit-with-845-mln-verdict-us-retrial-over-software-patents-2023-05-02/ |access-date=21 February 2024 |website=Reuters}}</ref>

==Current products==
VMware's most notable products are its [[hypervisor]]s. VMware became well known for its first type 2 hypervisor known as [[VMware Workstation]]. This product has since evolved into two additional hypervisor product lines: VMware's type 1 hypervisors running directly on hardware ([[VMware ESXi|ESX/ESXi]]) and their discontinued hosted type 2 hypervisors ([[VMware Server|GSX]]).

VMware software provides a completely [[Platform virtualization|virtualized]] set of hardware to the guest operating system.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.extremetech.com/computing/56702-vmware-workstation-452 | title=VMware Workstation 4.5.2 | first=Jim | last=Lynch | publisher=Extremetech.com | date=July 15, 2004 | access-date=June 14, 2017 | archive-date=October 30, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030144957/http://www.extremetech.com/computing/56702-vmware-workstation-452 | url-status=live }}</ref> VMware software virtualizes the hardware for a video adapter, a network adapter, and hard disk adapters. The host provides pass-through drivers for guest USB, serial, and parallel devices. In this way, VMware virtual machines become highly portable between computers, because every host looks nearly identical to the guest. In practice, a [[System administrator]] can pause operations on a virtual machine guest, move or copy that guest to another physical computer, and there resume execution exactly at the point of suspension. Alternatively, for enterprise servers, a feature called vMotion allows the migration of operational guest virtual machines between similar but separate hardware hosts sharing the same storage<ref>{{cite web|title=How VMotion Works|url=http://www.thegeekpub.com/8407/how-does-vmotion-work/|website=The Geek Pub|access-date=5 April 2017|date=2017-04-03|archive-date=2017-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405170641/http://www.thegeekpub.com/8407/how-does-vmotion-work/|url-status=live}}</ref> (or, with vMotion Storage, separate storage can be used, too). Each of these transitions is completely transparent to any users on the virtual machine at the time it is being migrated.

VMware's products predate the [[x86 virtualization#Hardware assist|virtualization extensions]] to the x86 instruction set, and do not require virtualization-enabled processors. On newer processors, the hypervisor is now designed to take advantage of the extensions. However, unlike many other hypervisors, VMware still supports older processors. In such cases, it uses the CPU to run code directly whenever possible (as, for example, when running [[user space|user-mode]] and [[virtual 8086 mode]] code on x86). When direct execution cannot operate, such as with kernel-level and [[real mode|real-mode]] code, VMware products use [[binary translation]] (BT) to re-write the code dynamically. The translated code gets stored in spare memory, typically at the end of the [[address space]], which [[Segmentation (memory)|segmentation]] mechanisms can protect and make invisible. For these reasons, VMware operates dramatically faster than emulators, running at more than 80% of the speed that the virtual guest operating system would run directly on the same hardware. In one study VMware claims a slowdown over native ranging from 0–6 percent for the VMware ESX Server.<ref>{{cite web| title=A Performance Comparison of Hypervisors| url=http://www.vmware.com/pdf/hypervisor_performance.pdf| publisher=VMware| date=February 1, 2007| access-date=February 1, 2010| archive-date=October 9, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009102005/http://www.vmware.com/pdf/hypervisor_performance.pdf| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Desktop software===
* [[VMware Workstation]], introduced in 1999, was the first product launched by VMware. This software suite allows users to run multiple instances of [[x86 architecture|x86]] or [[x86-64]]-compatible operating systems on a single physical [[personal computer]]. Version 17.0 was released on November 17, 2022. Originally a [[commercial software|commercial app]], VMware Workstation has become [[freeware]] in December 2024.
* [[VMware Fusion]] provides similar functionality for users of the [[Apple–Intel architecture|Intel Mac]] platform, the [[Apple silicon|Apple Silicon]] platform built on [[ARM architecture family|ARM]], along with full compatibility with virtual machines created by other VMware products. Originally a [[commercial software|commercial app]], VMware Fusion has become [[freeware]] in December 2024.

===Server software===
* [[VMware ESXi]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/data-center-consolidation.html|title=What is Data Center Consolidation?|website=VMWare|access-date=2019-02-10|archive-date=2019-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402181513/https://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/data-center-consolidation.html|url-status=live}}</ref> an [[enterprise software]] product, can deliver greater performance than the freeware VMware Server, due to lower system [[computational overhead]]. VMware ESXi, as a "bare-metal" product, runs directly on the server hardware, allowing virtual servers to also use hardware more or less directly. In addition, VMware ESXi integrates into [[vCenter|VMware vCenter]], which offers extra services.

===Cloud management software===
* VMware {{Proper name|vRealize}} Suite – a cloud management platform purpose-built for a hybrid cloud. VMware vRealize Hyperic was acquired from [[SpringSource]]<ref>{{cite web |title=VMware to Acquire SpringSource |url=https://news.vmware.com/releases/springsource |website=VMware News and Stories |access-date=2 November 2023 |language=en |date=10 August 2009}}</ref> and subsequently discontinued in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=End of Availability of VMware vRealize Hyperic |url=https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/78911 |website=VMware |access-date=2 November 2023 |date=1 June 2020}}</ref>
* VMware Go is a web-based service to guide users of any expertise level through the installation and configuration of VMware vSphere Hypervisor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.vmware.com/go|title=VMware Go Blog - VMware Go simplifies and automates your routine IT tasks|website=VMware Go Blog|access-date=2017-06-15|archive-date=2018-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503110836/https://blogs.vmware.com/go/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* VMware Cloud Foundation – Cloud Foundation provides an easy way to deploy and operate a private cloud on an integrated SDDC system.
* vSphere+ and vSAN+ – activates add-on hybrid cloud services for business-critical applications running on-premises, including [[IT disaster recovery]] and [[ransomware]] protection<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cloudcomputing-news.net/news/2022/jun/28/vmware-unveils-vsphere-and-vsan-to-simplify-operations-with-centralised-infrastructure-management/|title=VMware unveils vSphere+ and vSAN+ to simplify operations with Centralised Infrastructure Management|website=Cloud Tech|date=June 28, 2022|author=Duncan MacRae|access-date=July 15, 2022|archive-date=July 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715160640/https://www.cloudcomputing-news.net/news/2022/jun/28/vmware-unveils-vsphere-and-vsan-to-simplify-operations-with-centralised-infrastructure-management/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Application management====
* VMware Workspace Portal was a self-service app store for workspace management.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vmware.com/products/workspace-portal.html | title=Notice of VMware Workspace Portal Standalone SKU - End of Availability | publisher=VMware | access-date=2017-06-14 | archive-date=2017-05-27 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527163854/http://www.vmware.com/products/workspace-portal.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

* [[User provisioning software|Provisioning]]
** '''PlateSpin''' (does Provisioning)

===Storage and availability===
VMware's storage and availability products are composed of two primary offerings:

* VMware vSAN (previously called VMware Virtual SAN) is [[software-defined storage]] that is embedded in VMware's [[VMware ESXi|ESXi]] hypervisor.<ref>{{cite book | last1=Rajendran | first1=Cedric | title=Getting Started with VMware Virtual SAN | date=May 30, 2015 | isbn=9781784393694 | page=10 | publisher=Packt Publishing }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Rouse | first1=Margaret | title=Definition: VMware VSAN (VMware Virtual SAN) | url=http://searchvmware.techtarget.com/definition/VMware-VSAN-VMware-Virtual-SAN | website=TechTarget | access-date=April 27, 2017 | archive-date=May 14, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514201347/http://searchvmware.techtarget.com/definition/VMware-VSAN-VMware-Virtual-SAN | url-status=live }}</ref> The vSphere and vSAN software runs on industry-standard [[x86]] servers to form a [[hyper-converged infrastructure]] (or HCI). However, network operators need to have servers from HCL (Hardware Compatibility List) to put one into production.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Sanchez | first1=Ariel | title=Differences between the normal HCL and the VSAN HCL | url=http://www.vmgotchas.com/2016/05/differences-between-normal-hcl-and-vsan.html | website=VMGotchas | access-date=May 3, 2016 | archive-date=April 19, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419030846/http://www.vmgotchas.com/2016/05/differences-between-normal-hcl-and-vsan.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The first release, version 5.5, was released in March 2014.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Epping | first1=Duncan | title=Virtual SAN GA aka vSphere 5.5 Update 1 | url=http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2014/03/12/virtual-san-ga/ | website=Yellow-Bricks | date=March 12, 2014 | access-date=April 28, 2017 | archive-date=April 29, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429000456/http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2014/03/12/virtual-san-ga/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=VMware Virtual SAN General Availability Announced | url=http://www.virten.net/2014/03/vmware-virtual-san-general-availability-announced/ | website=Virten.net | date=March 6, 2014 | access-date=April 28, 2017 | archive-date=April 29, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429000908/http://www.virten.net/2014/03/vmware-virtual-san-general-availability-announced/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The 6th generation, version 6.6, was released in April 2017.<ref name=Register66>{{cite web | last1=Mellor | first1=Chris | title=VMware VSAN has six dot six appeal | url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/04/11/vmware_vsan_has_six_dot_six_appeal/ | work=[[The Register]] | date=April 11, 2017 | access-date=April 28, 2017 | archive-date=April 28, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428142533/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/04/11/vmware_vsan_has_six_dot_six_appeal/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Braren | first1=Paul | title=vSAN 6.6 arrives, baked right into those vSphere 6.5.0d bits that went GA today! | url=https://tinkertry.com/vsan66download | website=TinkerTryIT@Home | date=April 18, 2017 | access-date=April 28, 2017 | archive-date=April 29, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429092451/https://tinkertry.com/vsan66download | url-status=live }}</ref> New features available in VMware vSAN 6.6 include native [[data at rest]] encryption, local protection for stretched clusters, analytics, and optimized [[solid-state drive]] performance.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://searchconvergedinfrastructure.techtarget.com/news/450416608/VMware-vSAN-66-adds-encryption-analytics-nothing-shocking | title=VMware vSAN 6.6 adds encryption, analytics, 'nothing shocking' | last1=Raffo | first1=Dave | website=TechTarget | date=April 10, 2017 | access-date=April 28, 2017 | archive-date=April 29, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429092237/http://searchconvergedinfrastructure.techtarget.com/news/450416608/VMware-vSAN-66-adds-encryption-analytics-nothing-shocking | url-status=live }}</ref> The VMWare 6.7 version was released in April 2018.
* VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) automates the failover and failback of [[virtual machine]]s to and from a secondary site using policy-based management.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Rouse | first1=Margaret | title=VMware vSphere Site Recovery Manager (SRM) | url=http://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/definition/VMware-vSphere-Site-Recovery-Manager-SRM | website=TechTarget | access-date=April 27, 2017 | archive-date=April 29, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429092237/http://searchservervirtualization.techtarget.com/definition/VMware-vSphere-Site-Recovery-Manager-SRM | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Raffic|first1=Mohammed|title=VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM 6.0) Part 1 - Overview|url=http://www.vmwarearena.com/vmware-site-recovery-manager-srm-6-0-part-1-overview-and-achitecture/|website=VMwareArena|date=2 March 2017|access-date=April 27, 2017|archive-date=28 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428142412/http://www.vmwarearena.com/vmware-site-recovery-manager-srm-6-0-part-1-overview-and-achitecture/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Networking and security products===
* VMware NSX is VMware's network virtualization product marketed using the term [[software-defined data center]] (SDDC).<ref>{{cite book | last1=Morreale | first1=Patricia A. | last2= Anderson | first2= James M. | title= Software Defined Networking: Design and Deployment | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4RUeBQAAQBAJ | publisher= CRC Press | date = 2014 | page= 75 | isbn=9781482238631}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/03/14/vmware_nsx_nicira_nerwork_virtualization/ | title=VMware NSX mashes up Nicira and homegrown network virt: Virtualizing entire data centers, including admins for systems and networks | first=Timothy Prickett | last=Morgan | work=[[The Register]] | date=March 14, 2013 | access-date=August 10, 2017 | archive-date=August 10, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810172340/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/03/14/vmware_nsx_nicira_nerwork_virtualization/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The technology included some acquired from the 2012 purchase of Nicira.<ref name=niciracrunch/><ref name="nsx"/> Software Defined Networking (SDN) allows the same policies that govern Identity and Access Management (IAM) to dictate levels of access to applications and data through a totally converged infrastructure not possible with legacy network and system access methods.

===Other products===
* The VIX (Virtual Infrastructure eXtension)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://developercenter.vmware.com/web/sdk/60/vix | title=Virtual Infrastructure eXtension (VIX) SDK for vSphere 6.0 - VMware {code} | publisher=VMware}}</ref> [[API]] allows automated or scripted management of a computer [[hardware virtualization|virtualized]] using either VMware's vSphere, Workstation, Player, or Fusion products. VIX provides bindings for the programming languages [[C (programming language)|C]], [[Perl]], [[Visual Basic (classic)|Visual Basic]], [[VBScript]] and [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vix-api/ | title=VIX API Documentation | publisher=VMware | access-date=2017-01-11 | archive-date=2017-01-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113134201/https://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vix-api/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vix-api/vix115_reference/ | title=VIX API Reference Documentation | publisher=VMware | access-date=2017-01-11 | archive-date=2017-01-13 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113134906/https://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vix-api/vix115_reference/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Herald''' is a [[communications protocol]] from VMware for more reliable [[Bluetooth]] communication and range finding for mobile devices.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://vmware.github.io/herald/ |title=Reliable mobile Bluetooth |access-date=2021-01-05 |archive-date=2020-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222004537/https://vmware.github.io/herald/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Herald code is available under an [[open-source license]] and was implemented in the [[Australian Government]]'s [[COVIDSafe]] app for contact tracing on 19 December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dta.gov.au/news/covidsafe-uses-herald-protocol-improve-app-performance|title=COVIDSafe uses the Herald Protocol to improve app performance|date=19 December 2020|access-date=5 January 2021|archive-date=3 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103111605/https://www.dta.gov.au/news/covidsafe-uses-herald-protocol-improve-app-performance|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Former Products ==
===Desktop software===
* [[VMware Workstation Player]] (discontinued)<ref name="discontinued">{{cite web |title=Desktop Hypervisor |url=https://www.vmware.com/products/desktop-hypervisor/workstation-and-fusion#faq |website=vmware.com |publisher=[[Broadcom]] |access-date=18 January 2025 |quote=As of April 30th, 2024 Workstation Player and Fusion Player are considered EOS (End of Sale) and are unavailable for purchase going forward. Customers with active contracts will continue to be supported for the duration of their contract. This means products will receive regular updates, and support tickets can be filed.}}</ref> was freeware for non-commercial use, without requiring a license, and available for commercial use with permission. It is similar to VMware Workstation, with some features not available, including support for UEFI Secure Boot, snapshots, encrypted virtual machines, and some advanced features.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://store-us.vmware.com/compare_workstation |title=Compare Workstation Player and Workstation Pro  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531080908/https://store-us.vmware.com/compare_workstation |archive-date=31 May 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cloud management software===
* [[VMware Horizon View]] was a [[virtual desktop infrastructure]] (VDI) product, but was part of the UEC division that was sold to KKR and renamed [[Omnissa]].

===Other products===
* [[Workspace ONE UEM]] allows mobile users to access apps and data,<ref>{{cite news | last= Hernandez | first= Pedro | title= VMware Workspace ONE Anchors Mobile Management on Identity | url= http://www.datamation.com/mobile-wireless/vmware-workspace-one-anchors-mobile-management-on-identity.html | newspaper= Datamation | publisher= [[QuinStreet]] | date= June 13, 2016 | access-date= June 23, 2016 | archive-date= June 15, 2016 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160615223900/http://www.datamation.com/mobile-wireless/vmware-workspace-one-anchors-mobile-management-on-identity.html | url-status= live }}</ref> but was part of the UEC division that was sold to KKR and renamed [[Omnissa]].

== Incidents ==
Beginning in January 2022, hackers infiltrated servers using the [[Log4Shell]] [[Vulnerability (computing)|vulnerability]] at organizations who failed to implement available patches released by VMware according to ''[[PCMag]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 17, 2022 |title=Hackers Exploit Log4Shell to Infect VMware Horizon Servers |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/hackers-exploit-log4shell-to-infect-vmware-horizon-servers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520200532/https://www.pcmag.com/news/hackers-exploit-log4shell-to-infect-vmware-horizon-servers |archive-date=2022-05-20 |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=[[PCMag]] |language=en}}</ref> [[ZDNET]] reported in March 2022 that hackers utilized Log4Shell on some customers' VMware servers to install [[Backdoor (computing)|backdoors]] and for [[cryptocurrency mining]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Osborne |first=Charlie |title=Log4Shell exploited to infect VMware Horizon servers with backdoors, crypto miners |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/log4shell-exploited-to-infect-vmware-horizon-servers-with-backdoors-crypto-miners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520200533/https://www.zdnet.com/article/log4shell-exploited-to-infect-vmware-horizon-servers-with-backdoors-crypto-miners/ |archive-date=2022-05-20 |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=[[ZDNet]] |language=en}}</ref> In May 2022, ''[[Bleeping Computer]]'' reported that the [[Lazarus Group]] [[cybercrime]] group, which is possibly linked to [[North Korea]], was actively using Log4Shell "to inject backdoors that fetch information-stealing payloads on VMware Horizon servers", including [[VMware Horizon]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lazarus hackers target customers' VMware servers with Log4Shell exploits |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lazarus-hackers-target-vmware-servers-with-log4shell-exploits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519235750/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/lazarus-hackers-target-vmware-servers-with-log4shell-exploits/ |archive-date=2022-05-19 |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=[[BleepingComputer]] |language=en-us}}</ref>

CVE-2025-22230 is a [[Vulnerability (computer security)|vulnerability]] in [[VMWare Tools]] versions for [[Microsoft Windows]]. CVE-2025-22230 is an [[Privilege escalation|authentication-bypass]] vulnerability which, alongside other vulnerabilities, can permit a compromised [[virtual machine]] to perform [[virtual machine escape]]. CVE-2025-22230 has a [[CVSSv3]] score of 7.8. [[Broadcom]] disclosed the vulnerability on March 25, 2025.<ref name="bleepingcomputer">{{Cite web |last=Gatlan |first=Sergiu |date=March 25, 2025 |title=Broadcom warns of authentication bypass in VMware Windows Tools |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/broadcom-warns-of-authentication-bypass-in-vmware-windows-tools/ |website=[[BleepingComputer]]}}</ref><ref name="securityweek">{{Cite web |author=SecurityWeek News |date=March 25, 2025 |title=VMware Patches Authentication Bypass Flaw in Windows Tools Suite |url=https://www.securityweek.com/vmware-patches-authentication-bypass-flaw-in-windows-tools-suite/ |website=SecurityWeek}}</ref> The vulnerability was first disclosed by [[Positive Technologies]].<ref name="bleepingcomputer" /><ref name="securityweek" />

==See also==
* [[Comparison of platform virtualization software]]
* [[Hardware virtualization]]
* [[Hypervisor]]
* [[VMware VMFS]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<!-- <ref name="earn-2018">{{cite web
 | title     = VMWare Inc. 2018 Earnings Report
 | url       = https://s2.q4cdn.com/112802898/files/doc_financials/2019/Q4/VMW-Q4-19-Earnings-Press-Release.pdf
 | publisher = VMware.com}}</ref> -->
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official|https://www.vmware.com}}

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