The Rise and Fall of VMware: A Hypervisor's Tale of Triumph and Turmoil

 Once upon a time, in the ever-evolving world of technology, there was an extraordinary hypervisor called ESXi, crafted by the visionary team at VMware. It was a masterpiece of innovation, transforming data centers and delighting IT professionals everywhere. ESXi was efficient, reliable, and beloved, serving countless happy customers who relied on it to power their businesses. It seemed unstoppable, the jewel in VMware’s crown.

But the tech world is not without its storms. As ESXi flourished and VMware thrived, a powerful corporation named Broadcom set its sights on the company. Broadcom was not content to simply compete; they wanted to own the crown. They decided the best way to assert control was through acquisition. And so, Broadcom made a bold move: they announced their plan to acquire VMware.

At first, the industry watched in suspense. Surely, this would bring even more resources and innovation to VMware's beloved products. But Broadcom had other plans. Once the deal was in motion, they began to dramatically raise the prices for VMware's services—by thousands of percent. It wasn’t just a shift in strategy; it was a calculated squeeze designed to milk every penny from VMware’s loyal customers, even those who had been clinging to the platform for years.

One by one, customers began to fall away, unable to keep up with the exorbitant costs. Broadcom seemed unbothered, focused solely on profits. The once-glowing reputation of VMware and its star hypervisor ESXi began to dim under the weight of this new reality.

And yet, amidst the chaos, the memory of what VMware had built lingered in the minds of its users. It was a bittersweet tale of innovation overshadowed by corporate ambition—a reminder that even the brightest stars can be dimmed by forces beyond their control. The tech world moved forward, but the story of ESXi remained a legend, a symbol of what could have been.