VMware defends ending downloads of SDK that helps VM backups– or migrations to rivals
Says license was never about moving VMs
VMware has defended its decision to stop offering public downloads of the Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK). This SDK is a set of libraries and utilities that enable software developers to create applications that can access and manipulate virtual disks used in virtualization environments. VDDK is also useful for moving virtual machines (VMs) from VMware to another virtualization environment.
VMware's rivals, such as Nutanix, Red Hat, and ShapeBlue, have recognized this and incorporated VDDK into their migration tools. ShapeBlue, an Apache CloudStack integrator, specifically highlighted the importance of VDDK as an input transport for the virt-v2v engine during VMware-to-KVM conversions. VMware's rivals also pointed out that ending public VDDK downloads could disrupt ongoing migration projects.
ShapeBlue noted that while a vendor can change its distribution methods for an SDK, doing so without warning, while still recommending the SDK for migration projects, is problematic. VMware explained that access to VDDK is still available through select technology alliance partners (TAPs) for licensed use cases, which primarily involve backup and recovery.
The company emphasized that VDDK is not a customer entitlement, but rather a software development kit covered by its own developer license. VMware's decision to stop public VDDK downloads may disrupt some migration projects, but services organizations have found workarounds to migrate VMs without relying on VDDK. This move comes as VMware has changed its licensing policies, causing some users to consider reducing their use of its products or shifting to rival platforms.
Written by urgent.news from The Register Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
