VMware has neither confirmed nor denied rumors suggesting imminent large-scale support for Arm architecture in its cloud computing offerings. While acknowledging customer demand for Arm-based processors, the company currently provides technical support for select products such as VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) and Tanzu to accommodate these users.
The company maintains that projects related to Arm compatibility are underway, but stresses there are, as yet, no plans to launch comprehensive Arm support. VMware continues to monitor market trends and customer feedback to shape its strategic direction going forward.
Arm processors gain traction in AI and cloud sectors, but x86 remains dominant
Arm-based processors have garnered attention for their favorable balance of power consumption and performance, particularly in AI server applications, where Nvidia's GPUs and various ASICs also enhance Arm's ecosystem presence. VMware's strategic focus on private cloud and AI services aligns with gradually strengthening Arm support, yet the scale of customer demand remains insufficient to justify full support at this stage.
Broadcom executives, including global AI director Chris Wolf and VCF division general manager Krish Prasad, emphasized that VMware's current collaborations with Arm architecture are limited to individual customers. They noted no significant requests from typical virtual cloud customers to adopt Arm, indicating that x86 continues to dominate mainstream cloud deployments. Prasad contended that the AI server market remains focused on maximizing GPU compute power, with power efficiency playing a limited role in strategic decisions.
Potential for expanded Arm support depends on evolving market demand
The future viability of Arm architecture in the cloud AI market depends heavily on broader adoption, particularly beyond leading cloud providers. Should demand increase among general-purpose server users, full Arm ecosystem support could become a strategic priority for VMware.
Increased AI-related computing demands in private clouds may reduce the competitive advantage historically held by x86 architectures, potentially prompting smaller enterprises with limited budgets to adopt Arm processors for their performance and energy efficiency benefits. Transitioning to Arm-based systems would, however, involve evaluating migration costs and IT adaptation challenges.
Industry observers agree that VMware's cautious stance is likely temporary, with the company positioned to enable smooth migrations and potentially broaden Arm support if customer demand grows significantly. For now, VMware prioritizes aligning its offerings with evolving customer needs while remaining watchful of the Arm architecture's market trajectory.
Article edited by Jack Wu
