Platform9 Launches Partner Plan for VMware Migrants

Platform9 has unveiled a new Cloud Solution Provider Partner Program, specifically tailored to support cloud service providers (CSPs) in transitioning their operations away from VMware environments. This strategic move by Platform9 is a direct response to the impending conclusion of VMware's Cloud Service Provider program in March 2027, which is compelling numerous CSPs to explore and adopt alternative infrastructure solutions. The newly launched program is designed to ease this complex migration process, offering a comprehensive suite of tools and services. A key component of Platform9's offering is its focus on migration automation. The program integrates advanced automation capabilities to streamline the transfer of customer workloads from existing VMware-based infrastructure. This is crucial for CSPs who need to ensure uninterrupted service delivery during the transition, avoiding potential disruptions that could impact their clients. The program also features robust multi-tenancy support, allowing providers to maintain separate and secure environments for different customers, complete with isolated networking and single sign-on functionalities. Financially, Platform9 is introducing a 90-day unlimited-core pricing model, which is intended to help partners manage the costs associated with large-scale migrations. This model provides a predictable cost base during the intensive migration period, enabling CSPs to absorb the expenses of moving extensive customer estates without immediate financial strain. Furthermore, the program emphasizes the ability for providers to continue utilizing their existing hardware, thereby reducing the need for immediate capital expenditure on new infrastructure. Central to the technical execution of this program is Platform9's vJailbreak migration tool. This tool connects directly to VMware vCenter environments, intelligently identifying workloads, preserving critical network mappings, and automating the entire migration workflow. An early adopter of the program is reportedly migrating 40,000 virtual machines, with several hundred being moved daily, showcasing the tool's efficiency and scalability. The program also includes what Platform9 describes as per-region pricing, intended to give cloud providers a clearer cost base during migration. Platform9's Private Cloud Director software includes multi-tenancy as part of the core platform rather than through add-ons. This allows providers to operate separate customer environments with tenant isolation, scoped networking and per-tenant single sign-on. Platform9 also said service providers can maintain features commonly used in VMware estates, including virtual machine high availability, live migration and dynamic resource rebalancing, while staying on current hardware. The platform also supports GPU workloads and Kubernetes-based services alongside virtualised environments.