Hewlett Packard Enterprise Launches VMware Migration Program With Free First-Year HPE Morpheus Licenses

Hewlett Packard Enterprise launched a migration program at HPE Discover in Las Vegas that lets organizations switching from VMware to HPE Morpheus VM Essentials avoid paying license fees for the first year.

“Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s (HPE) new virtualization software promotion will likely pique the interest of end users and resellers who are unhappy with Broadcom’s pricing of VMware”

Ars Technica

The program also includes Zerto Advanced Resilience Edition for $1 for a full 12 months, with HPE positioning Zerto as a migration engine to support data security and rapid disaster recovery.

Ars Technica

HPE’s EVP and CTO Fidelma Russo described the cost barrier as the “double-bubble cost problem,” and TechRadar reported HPE said “you don't pay for the first year of licenses” as customers transform with HPE Morpheus VM Essentials.

Ars Technica said HPE’s promotion is aimed at end users and resellers unhappy with Broadcom’s pricing of VMware, noting that HPE’s website describes its virtualization platform as a “VMware alternative.”

HPE said it is expanding the program to partners, with resellers who achieve the Private Cloud with Virtualization competency by the end of 2026 receiving VM Essentials licenses free of charge for three years, while “Only support costs apply.”

IT Brief UK reported that HPE will unify the HPE and Juniper Networks partner programs under HPE Partner Ready Vantage, with the unified structure due to take effect from Nov. 1 and include one set of membership tiers, one group of competencies and one compensation model.

IT Brief UK

The Fast Mode said the unified program is intended to create a single, global framework for partners to build, sell, and offer services across networking, cloud, and AI, and it described the effort as “one portfolio, one program, and one experience.”

Techzine Global added that starting July 1, HPE Private Cloud PC3000, HPE SimpliVity PC1000, and HPE Zerto will be sold exclusively through the channel, extending the approach already used for HPE Morpheus VM Essentials.

Ars Technica reported that HPE’s website describes VM Essentials as including a hardware virtual machine (HVM) hypervisor and unified management, and it said users can “manage VMware ESXi and HVM clusters from one console and migrate when you’re ready.”

“HPE has kicked off its Partner Growth Summit in Las Vegas by announcing it's moving more of its products to a channel-only route to market on the back of success with HMP Morpheus VM Essentials”

IT Pro

Ars Technica also quoted Jeremiah Jenson, VP of HPE’s North American channel and partner ecosystem, saying VM Essentials could bring up to 90 percent cost savings compared to VMware and help “eliminate vendor lock-in and simplify hybrid IT.”

The Register framed the offer as a “year off the meter,” while TechRadar said HPE avoided mentioning VMware by name during the announcement at the Partner Growth Summit.

Looking ahead, StorageReview said HPE will consolidate partner-facing systems into a single experience beginning in November 2026, including a unified portal, onboarding process, contracting framework, development funds program, and deal registration system.