VMware Licensing in the Cloud: Decoding OCVS Pricing and What It Includes
As VMware’s licensing and packaging evolves under Broadcom, many customers are evaluating cloud-based alternatives. If you’re considering Oracle Cloud VMware Solution (OCVS), you’re probably wondering: What’s included, and how much does it cost?
Here’s a breakdown of what you get with OCVS and how it compares with other VMware cloud offerings.
🎁 What’s Included with OCVS
Each OCVS node includes:
- vSphere for compute management
- vSAN for hyperconverged storage (Dense Shapes only)
- NSX for network virtualization and security
- vCenter Server
- HCX Advanced for workload migration (Enterprise version also available)
All licenses are bundled—you don’t have to bring your own VMware license or deal with complex calculations.
💰 Pricing Model
OCVS uses a per-host hourly, monthly, yearly (1 or 3) pricing model based on the shape (e.g., BM.Standard.E3) you choose.
You are billed for:
- Bare metal compute
- VMware software stack (bundled)
- OCI infrastructure resources (VCN, storage, etc.)
No hidden licensing or subscription tiers, unlike some competitors.
📉 Cost Comparison (Hypothetical Example)
| Cloud Provider | Hosts | VMware Licensing | Customization | Price Transparency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OCVS | 3 | Included | Full Control | ✅ Clear, itemized |
| AWS VMware | 3 | Subscription | Limited | ❌ Bundled tiers |
| Azure VMware | 3 | Subscription | Limited | ❌ Variable pricing |
⚠️ Licensing Changes Under Broadcom
With Broadcom consolidating VMware products into a few bundles, understanding what’s included in your cloud provider’s VMware stack is more important than ever. OCVS simplifies this.
✅ Summary
If you’re looking for clarity and control in your VMware cloud deployment, OCVS offers transparent pricing and a comprehensive feature set—without the guesswork or surprise license audits.