Hypervisors · Cost Comparison
How per-socket XenServer licensing compares with per-core VMware by Broadcom subscriptions for Citrix workloads.
For most Citrix environments, yes. XenServer is licensed per socket with no core limits, and many Citrix customers already have XenServer Premium rights in their Citrix license. VMware by Broadcom is a per-core subscription with a 16-core-per-socket minimum.
After Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, perpetual licenses ended and renewals moved to core-based subscriptions, which raised costs for many hosts with dense CPUs. XenServer is built for Citrix and supported by Citrix tools, so moving Citrix workloads to it is often the fastest way to cut hypervisor spend.
Licensing and fit, side by side.
| XenServer 8 | VMware by Broadcom | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing unit | Per CPU socket, no core limits | Per core, 16-core-per-socket minimum |
| Purchase model | Standard or Premium edition; Premium rights included with many Citrix subscriptions | Subscription only (VMware Cloud Foundation or vSphere Foundation) |
| Included with Citrix Platform License or UHMC | Yes, Premium for up to 10,000 sockets | No |
| Built for Citrix | Yes, Citrix-optimized features and support | Supported, but licensed separately |
| Best fit | Citrix desktops and apps | Mixed server estates already standardized on VMware |
Altanora does not publish hypervisor prices. Book an assessment for a quote based on your hosts.
Phased, tested and reversible.
Inventory hosts, VMs, licensing and Citrix entitlements.
Size XenServer pools, storage and networking.
Convert VMs and Citrix images in phases, with rollback.
Run XenServer 24/7 with patching and monitoring.
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24/7 XenServer operations. Managed XenServer.
For most Citrix environments, yes. XenServer Standard and Premium are licensed per socket with no core limits, while VMware by Broadcom is sold as a per-core subscription with a 16-core-per-socket minimum. Many Citrix customers already have XenServer Premium rights through their Citrix license.
Often, yes. Citrix Platform License and Universal Hybrid Multi-Cloud (UHMC) subscriptions include XenServer Premium rights for up to 10,000 sockets. We confirm your entitlements during the assessment.
XenServer 8 Standard and Premium editions are licensed per CPU socket. Running Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops on XenServer requires Premium.
VMware is now subscription-only, sold mainly as VMware Cloud Foundation or vSphere Foundation, and licensed per core with a 16-core-per-socket minimum. Perpetual licenses are no longer sold.
Yes, with planning. We migrate in phases, convert virtual machines, rebuild Citrix images where needed and keep a rollback path for every group.
XenServer is best for Citrix desktops and apps. For mixed server estates, we compare XenServer, Azure and Altanora's hosted VMware cloud. See Hosted VMware.
Use the XenServer Savings Calculator or book a free assessment for a quote based on your hosts and licensing.
Existing clients can open a ticket through the client portal, by emailing support@altanora.com, or by calling 514-849-1100 and choosing option 3. For general or sales questions, email sales@altanora.com.
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