tech
Sheetz is quitting VMware, migrating 11,000 virtual machines
The convenience store chain will use StorMagic instead.
TL;DR
- Sheetz is migrating around 11,000 virtual machines from VMware to StorMagic's SvHCI.
- The move affects all 838 Sheetz locations, utilizing existing Dell server hardware.
- Broadcom's changes to VMware's licensing model, including subscription mandates and price hikes, were the primary drivers for the migration.
- Sheetz aims to reduce vendor dependence and budget uncertainty associated with the new VMware licensing.
- The company has already migrated over 600 stores, with the remaining migration expected to conclude in four months.
- StorMagic was selected due to Sheetz's prior positive experience with its SvSAN offering and the SvHCI platform's remote migration capabilities.
- Key challenges included automation, VM import utilities, and managing the migration in a 24/7 retail environment with limited time and resources.
- Other enterprises, including Allstate, T-Mobile, and Tesco, are also reportedly migrating away from VMware.