Replace VMware with OpenStack, One Workload Wave at a Time

Replace VMware licensing uncertainty with an open private cloud built for enterprise VM estates. Keep workloads stable, migrate in phases, and use MigrateKit to shorten cutover windows without creating a new proprietary lock-in.

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VMware licensing

100%

Upstream OpenStack

24/7

Migration support

Trusted by engineering teams at

Proof

OpenStack Operators Since 2011

A VMware exit needs more than a conversion tool. Work with engineers who know the cloud platform, the migration path, and the operations model that comes after cutover.

2011

OpenStack operators since 2011

Hands-on experience with OpenStack from its second release through modern private cloud operations.

99.99%

Uptime SLA

Production cloud operations backed by availability commitments and 24/7 engineering coverage.

100%

Upstream OpenStack

Standard APIs and upstream components, not a proprietary fork that recreates lock-in.

24/7

Migration and Day 2 support

Support for planning, cutover, troubleshooting, tuning, upgrades, and ongoing operations.

Why VEXXHOST

A VMware Exit Without Another Trap

You do not need another platform that can change the rules after you move. Build your exit on open APIs, upstream software, and an operating model your team can keep.

OpenStack Landing Zone

Design a production cloud for VMware workloads first: compute, networking, block storage, images, identity, and automation.

VMware-to-OpenStack Path

Move workloads in planned waves with discovery, dependency mapping, test runs, rollback plans, and controlled cutovers.

MigrateKit Included

Use warm migration tooling that copies a VM first, then syncs changes incrementally before the final switchover.

No New Lock-in

Run 100% upstream OpenStack with standard APIs, broad partner choice, and no proprietary forks tied to one vendor.

Infrastructure Choice

Deploy in your facilities, a hosted private cloud, or a hybrid model while keeping the same operating model.

Day 2 Operations

Get expert support or fully managed operations for upgrades, monitoring, performance tuning, and incident response.

VMware Exit Program

From Renewal Pressure to OpenStack Operations

Built for infrastructure teams with large vSphere estates, renewal pressure, data placement requirements, and production workloads that cannot move in a risky big-bang cutover.

Assess

Inventory the estate and turn uncertainty into a migration plan before production changes begin.

VM count and owners
Dependencies mapped
Renewal timeline

Build

Create the OpenStack landing zone that will receive VMware workloads and support Day 2 operations.

Compute and storage
Network design
Identity and quotas

Migrate

Move pilot groups and production waves with warm sync, validation, and rollback options.

Pilot first
Wave planning
Controlled cutover

Operate

Run the new platform with expert support or fully managed operations after the VMware exit.

24/7 support
Upgrade planning
Performance tuning

Deployment Options

Choose How You Replace VMware

Use OpenStack as the target platform and choose how much operational responsibility your team wants to keep.

Infrastructure

Cloud

On-Premise

Engagement

Support

Hosted Cloud, Your Control

Run OpenStack in a hosted environment while your team operates workloads with 24/7 architecture and migration guidance.

Hosted OpenStack
Expert guidance
Your control

Your Data Center, Your Control

Deploy OpenStack beside your existing estate and operate it with expert VMware migration and Day 2 support.

Your data center
Expert support
Your team

Managed

Hosted Cloud, Fully Managed

Move VMware estates to hosted OpenStack while we handle deployment, upgrades, monitoring, and incident response.

Hosted OpenStack
Managed operations
Fast landing zone

Recommended

Your Data Center, Fully Managed

Keep workloads in your facilities while we run OpenStack operations, patching, monitoring, and response.

Your data center
Managed operations
Full sovereignty

Cloud Infrastructure

Hosted Cloud, Your Control

Run OpenStack in a hosted environment while your team operates workloads with 24/7 architecture and migration guidance.

Hosted OpenStack
Expert guidance
Your control

Hosted Cloud, Fully Managed

Move VMware estates to hosted OpenStack while we handle deployment, upgrades, monitoring, and incident response.

Hosted OpenStack
Managed operations
Fast landing zone

On-Premise Infrastructure

Your Data Center, Your Control

Deploy OpenStack beside your existing estate and operate it with expert VMware migration and Day 2 support.

Your data center
Expert support
Your team

Recommended

Your Data Center, Fully Managed

Keep workloads in your facilities while we run OpenStack operations, patching, monitoring, and response.

Your data center
Managed operations
Full sovereignty

VMware Alternative Comparison

Why Not Just Move to Another Platform?

High-intent VMware alternative buyers are comparing more than hypervisors. The real decision is whether the next platform gives you leverage or becomes the next constraint.

Option

What to watch

Why OpenStack

VMware / Broadcom

A familiar stack can still leave teams exposed to contract pressure, bundled licensing, and roadmap uncertainty.

Move to an open private cloud with standard APIs, portable workloads, and a partner ecosystem beyond one vendor.

Nutanix

A smoother appliance path can reduce VMware pain, but it is still a commercial stack with its own platform gravity.

Keep the cloud control plane open, deploy hosted or on-premise, and avoid trading one closed path for another.

Proxmox

Strong virtualization for smaller clusters, but lighter cloud services for large VM estates and platform teams.

Add cloud APIs, identity, networking, images, storage services, quotas, and automation around the VM estate.

Public cloud lift-and-shift

Fast starts can create egress costs, placement limits, refactoring pressure, and long-term cost surprises.

Bring cloud-style automation to your own footprint while keeping cost, compliance, and data placement under control.

VMware / Broadcom

What to watch

A familiar stack can still leave teams exposed to contract pressure, bundled licensing, and roadmap uncertainty.

Why OpenStack

Move to an open private cloud with standard APIs, portable workloads, and a partner ecosystem beyond one vendor.

Nutanix

What to watch

A smoother appliance path can reduce VMware pain, but it is still a commercial stack with its own platform gravity.

Why OpenStack

Keep the cloud control plane open, deploy hosted or on-premise, and avoid trading one closed path for another.

Proxmox

What to watch

Strong virtualization for smaller clusters, but lighter cloud services for large VM estates and platform teams.

Why OpenStack

Add cloud APIs, identity, networking, images, storage services, quotas, and automation around the VM estate.

Public cloud lift-and-shift

What to watch

Fast starts can create egress costs, placement limits, refactoring pressure, and long-term cost surprises.

Why OpenStack

Bring cloud-style automation to your own footprint while keeping cost, compliance, and data placement under control.

Objections We Handle

The Hard Parts of Leaving VMware

The risk is not deciding that OpenStack is better. The risk is underestimating the migration details that keep production safe.

Challenge

Downtime windows are small, but critical workloads still need validation, rollback, and a clean final cutover.

How We Solve It

Use warm migration with pilot waves, repeated syncs, target validation, and planned cutovers instead of a big-bang move.

Challenge

Some VMs depend on VMware-specific networking, storage, backup, or peripheral capabilities that are easy to miss.

How We Solve It

Discovery maps the dependencies first, then flags poor candidates, special handling, or applications that need redesign.

Challenge

Your team knows vSphere, not OpenStack, and a skills gap can turn a migration into a long-term operations risk.

How We Solve It

Choose expert support or fully managed operations so the platform is covered during migration and after cutover.

Challenge

A lower license bill is not enough if the replacement adds hidden migration, staffing, or cloud egress costs.

How We Solve It

Compare the full operating model: licensing, hardware reuse, support, automation, placement, and Day 2 operations.

Migration Workstreams

What the VMware to OpenStack Migration Covers

A vSphere alternative succeeds when the migration plan covers the estate, the landing zone, the workload waves, and the operating model.

vSphere Estate Inventory

Group VMs by owner, dependency, network, storage profile, risk, and renewal deadline before waves begin.

ESXi Migration Waves

Move pilot, low-risk, and production workloads in phased waves with clear validation checkpoints.

Parallel Runway

Keep VMware stable while OpenStack is tested with representative workloads and production-like cutovers.

Warm-Migrate VMs

Copy workloads first, sync changes incrementally, validate the target, then cut over in a planned window.

Cloud Controls

Translate networks, security groups, images, roles, quotas, and storage classes into an open operating model.

Selective Modernization

Keep stable VMs running first, then containerize or refactor only when an application is ready.

The Platform and the Migration Accelerator

OpenStack is the private cloud VMware replacement. MigrateKit helps move VMware workloads into it with short, predictable cutover windows.

OpenStack

Enterprise private cloud for VMs, storage, networking, identity, and automation. Hosted, on-premise, expert-supported, or fully managed.

Learn more

MigrateKit

Open source warm migration tooling for VMware-to-OpenStack moves. Copy first, sync changes, test the target, then cut over.

Learn more

These products integrate seamlessly. Use any combination to build your ideal infrastructure.

FAQ

VMware Exit Questions Buyers Ask First

The right migration plan should answer downtime, phasing, operations, and application-fit questions before production changes begin.

It depends on the workload and final cutover constraints. The goal is to reduce downtime with warm migration: copy the VM first, sync changes incrementally, validate the target, then schedule a short controlled cutover.

Get a VMware Exit Assessment

Tell us about your VM estate, renewal timeline, and constraints. We'll map a practical OpenStack migration path with the right landing zone, migration waves, and operating model.

What you'll get

Assess your VMware estate before touching production — dependency mapping, workload grouping, storage review, and cutover planning come first.
Build a production OpenStack landing zone — compute, networking, identity, images, and storage are designed around your real workloads.
Move VMs with MigrateKit warm migration — copy once, sync changes incrementally, test the target, then cut over in a controlled window.
Keep the destination open after migration — standard OpenStack APIs, upstream components, and no proprietary fork tied to one vendor.
Choose the operating model that fits your team — expert support for your operators or fully managed OpenStack for hands-off Day 2.
Modernize at your pace after the VMware exit — keep stable VMs running first, then containerize or refactor only where it creates value.

Request a VMware Exit Assessment

Share your VM estate size, renewal deadline, preferred deployment model, and biggest migration concern.

Blog

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Replace VMware with OpenStack, One Workload Wave at a Time

OpenStack Operators Since 2011