VMware

VMware vShield End of Availability Information

With the launch of VMware vCloud® Networking and Security 5.1, VMware vShield functionality has been fully integrated with vCloud Networking and Security.

VMware has announced the end of availability (“EOA”) of the vShield family of products for sale as standalone products effective October 15, 2012. This EOA affects vShield Edge™, vShield App™, vShield Data Security™ and vShield Endpoint™.

vShield Edge, App and Data Security capabilities have been integrated and enhanced in vCloud Networking and Security 5.1. vShield Endpoint has been integrated in the VMware vSphere® 5.1 platform and is available in all editions and kits with the exception of Essentials Kit. VMware will continue to offer technical support and maintenance services for vShield family of products in line with our General Support Policy.

If you already own VMware vShield:

For additional questions, please contact your VMware or VMware Reseller representative.

 

FAQs

VMware vShield End of Availability

Why is VMware discontinuing sales of vShield Edge, App, Data Security and Endpoint?

As dynamic virtual and cloud infrastructure requires an integrated approach to networking and security, VMware is offering these capabilities in a single solution called VMware vCloud Networking and Security (vCloud Networking and Security).

vCloud Networking and Security incorporates the capabilities of former VMware vShield Edge, App and Data Security and offers many additional capabilities and enhancements. It includes VXLAN technology to build logical and scalable networks. It also provides an updated load balancer and enhancements to vCloud Networking and Security Edge gateway, including high availability for Edge firewall. vCloud Networking and Security also includes new APIs that enable third-party solution integration at the vNIC and the virtual datacenter edge through the VMware Ready™ for Networking and Security program.

vShield Endpoint has been integrated in the VMware vSphere 5.1 platform and is available in all vSphere editions and kits with the exception of Essentials.

In an effort to simplify and streamline our product portfolio, VMware has decided to discontinue sales of vShield family (Edge, App, Endpoint, Data Security and vShield Bundle) of products.

How can I compare vShield capabilities and list prices with vCloud Networking and Security capabilities and list prices?

How is vCloud Networking and Security licensed?

vCloud Networking and Security Can Be Purchased In Two Ways: As Part of the vCloud Suites, or Stand-Alone

Existing customers who are currently under a Support and Subscription (SnS) contract are entitled to upgrade to vCloud Networking and Security.

What is the migration path for customers who own vShield licenses?

There are two upgrade options for existing vShield Edge, App and Data Security users:

  • If you want to migrate to vCloud Suite (which includes vCloud Networking and Security), a “fair-value conversion” is used. This gives you credit for your vShield purchase that is applied to your vCloud Suite purchase.
  • If you want to convert existing vShield Edge, App or Data Security licenses to vCloud Networking and Security licenses, you can take advantage of our entitlement program. vShield owners are entitled to migrate to vCloud Networking and Security at no licensing cost. See the following chart to determine which vCloud Networking and Security edition the entitlement allows for each version of vShield.

 

Please contact Support https://www.vmware.com/support/ to discuss details for your unique needs.

Are there any prerequisites to deploying vCloud Networking and Security?

To deploy vCloud Networking and Security, you need VMware vSphere Enterprise Plus Edition™.

Will vShield Edge for vCloud Director still be available for purchase?

Yes, VMware will continue to offer Edge for vCloud Directors. See migration path chart above.

When is the last day customers can purchase vShield licenses?

vShield Edge, App and Data Security will no longer be available for sale as of October 15, 2012. After that, customers can purchase equivalent functionality in vCloud Networking and Security Standard or vCloud Networking and Security Advanced or move to vCloud Suites.

When will support and subscription services for vShield products end?

Customers will be able to get telephone and internet support for vShield until their current contract expires or until September 1, 2013, whichever is earlier. VMware will not be developing new patches or maintenance releases for vShield after September 1, 2013. Therefore, if customers experience an issue with vShield, and a patch is not produced prior to September 1, 2013, customers may be asked to upgrade to vCloud Networking and Security Standard or vCloud Networking and Security Advanced per the entitlement policy.

Will maintenance patches and minor releases continue to be released for vShield?

VMware will provide patches and maintenance releases for customers who are under a SnS contract until the end-of-support date, September 1, 2013.

Will professional services and education services continue to be offered for vShield?

No, all service offerings for vShield will be discontinued following the end-of-availability. In some instances, these services may be replaced by equivalent services for vCloud Networking and Security.

If I have a Support and Subscription (SnS) contract that terminates beyond the end-of-support date, am I entitled to a refund?

No. VMware will continue to support vShield through the term of the customer’s SnS contract or End of General Support on September 1, 2013, whichever comes first. After that, support requests should be filed for vCloud Networking and Security, which existing customers are encouraged to upgrade to per the entitlement policy.

Will vShield continue to operate even after the end-of-support date is passed?

Yes, the product will continue to function but VMware will not provide access to support services, patches or maintenance releases.

Will there be any pricing changes to existing SnS contracts for vCloud Networking and Security?

Upon SnS renewal, customers who take advantage of the upgrade offer to vCloud Networking and Security Standard or Advanced can renew SnS contracts based on the then current price for vCloud Networking and Security. SnS costs will not change prior to the renewal of an SnS contract.

I use vShield Endpoint, what are my options?

vShield Endpoint capability is available in vSphere 5.1 and as such does not require any additional license. Endpoint in included in all vSphere 5.1 editions and kits, except Essentials. For more information, visit the vSphere 5.1 page.

I have an older version of vSphere, how do I get Endpoint functionality?

All vSphere 4.1 and 5.0 customers with active support contracts are entitled to Endpoint, at no additional charge. For more information, visit the vSphere 5.1 product page.

Is vShield Zones still supported?

For information on Zones, please see the VMware Enterprise Application Support Lifecycle Policy

For sophisticated firewalling and other gateway and networking services, Zones users should consider upgrading to vCloud Networking and Security.