Sheetz exits VMware citing "too much uncertainty" from Broadcom
US convenience store chain Sheetz is migrating its 838 locations away from VMware. The company cited "too much uncertainty" created by Broadcom's acquisition of VMware as the primary reason for the change.
US convenience store chain Sheetz is undertaking a large-scale migration, moving its 838 locations off VMware's virtualization platform. The company attributes the decision to significant uncertainty following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware.
Sheetz has utilized VMware virtualization on two Dell R440/R450 servers per location since 2019. The ongoing migration involves transitioning 12 to 14 virtual machines (VMs) at each store from VMware vSphere to StorMagic's SvHCI. Additionally, two VMs per store will be replaced to facilitate the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11, according to Scott Robertson, infrastructure team manager at Sheetz.
To date, Sheetz has completed the migration for over 600 stores, achieving an average pace of 200 stores per month. The company announced on Tuesday that it expects the entire migration process, involving approximately 11,000 VMs from Broadcom's platform, to conclude within four months. The existing Dell server hardware will remain in use.
This move reflects a broader trend of companies re-evaluating their core infrastructure following major technology acquisitions, prioritizing stability and predictability in their IT operations.