# VMware

> for-profit maker of virtualization software, acquired by Broadcom Inc. in 2023

**Wikidata**: [Q11407](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11407)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMware)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vmware

## Summary

VMware was founded on January 1, 1998, by Diane Greene and Mendel Rosenblum [1]. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto [2]. Its product lineup includes VMware vSphere, VMware Fusion, VMware ESXi, VMware ThinApp, VMware Workstation Player, and Omnissa Horizon . As of 2019, VMware had 24,000 employees [3].

## Summary
VMware is a for-profit company specializing in virtualization software, best known for products like vSphere and ESXi that enable cloud computing and virtual machine deployment. Founded in 1998 by Diane Greene and Mendel Rosenblum, it was acquired by Broadcom Inc. in 2023. VMware’s technologies revolutionized IT infrastructure by abstracting hardware resources, allowing multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: January 1, 1998
- **Headquarters**: Palo Alto, California, United States
- **Parent Company**: Broadcom Inc. (post-2023 acquisition)
- **Key Founders**: Diane Greene (computer scientist) and Mendel Rosenblum (Stanford professor)
- **Notable Products**: vSphere (2009), ESXi, Fusion, Workstation (1999), ThinApp, vCenter
- **Revenue (various years)**: $1.88B (2007), $2.02B (2008), $2.86B (2009), $3.77B (2010), $4.61B (2011), $5.21B (2012), $6.04B (2013), $6.57B (2014), $7.09B (2015), $7.92B (2016), $8.97B (2017), $10.81B (2018), $11.77B (2019), $12.85B (2020), $13.35B (2021)
- **Employees**: 24,200 (peak), 34,000 (later figure)
- **Subsidiaries**: VMware Carbon Black (cybersecurity), Open Source Security Foundation
- **Affiliations**: Linux Foundation, FIDO Alliance, Khronos Group, Women Who Code, Let’s Encrypt
- **Website**: https://www.vmware.com/

## FAQs
- **What is VMware’s primary focus?**  
  VMware develops virtualization and cloud computing software, enabling efficient resource allocation and multi-operating system environments on single hardware platforms.

- **Who founded VMware?**  
  Diane Greene and Mendel Rosenblum co-founded the company in 1998.

- **What are VMware’s flagship products?**  
  Key products include vSphere (cloud platform), ESXi (type-1 hypervisor), Fusion (Mac hypervisor), and Workstation (development/test environments).

- **When was VMware acquired by Broadcom?**  
  The acquisition was completed in 2023, integrating VMware into Broadcom’s software portfolio.

- **What organizations is VMware affiliated with?**  
  VMware participates in the Linux Foundation, FIDO Alliance, Khronos Group, Women Who Code, and Let’s Encrypt, contributing to open-source and industry standards.

## Why It Matters
VMware transformed enterprise IT by pioneering virtualization, which reduced hardware costs, improved resource utilization, and accelerated cloud adoption. Its software became foundational for data centers and hybrid cloud environments, enabling scalability and flexibility. The 2023 Broadcom acquisition underscores its strategic value in the semiconductor and infrastructure software sectors.

## Notable For
- **Pioneering Virtualization**: First to commercialize x86 virtualization with Workstation (1999) and ESX/ESXi.
- **Industry Standards**: vSphere remains a dominant cloud platform for enterprise IT.
- **Open-Source Contributions**: Developed Spring Framework, Cloud Foundry, and Mesa/Gallium3D for 3D graphics.
- **Strategic Acquisitions**: Carbon Black (endpoint security) and integration into Broadcom’s ecosystem.

## Body

### History
VMware was founded in 1998 by Diane Greene and Mendel Rosenblum, launching VMware Workstation in 1999. The company went public in 2007 (NYSE: VMW) and expanded its portfolio with vSphere (2009), a cloud computing platform. In 2023, Broadcom Inc. acquired VMware for $61 billion, marking a significant shift in the software industry landscape.

### Products and Technologies
- **vSphere (2009)**: Cloud platform for virtual machine management and orchestration.
- **ESXi**: Type-1 hypervisor for enterprise server virtualization.
- **Fusion**: Hypervisor for Macintosh computers, enabling Windows/Linux on macOS.
- **Workstation (1999)**: Development and testing tool for x64 systems.
- **ThinApp**: Portable application packaging software.
- **vCenter**: Centralized management for vSphere environments.
- **VMware Carbon Black**: Endpoint security solutions (acquired in 2019).

### Acquisitions and Subsidiaries
- **Broadcom (2023)**: VMware operates under Broadcom’s software division post-acquisition.
- **VMware Carbon Black**: Cybersecurity subsidiary focused on endpoint protection.
- **Open Source Security Foundation**: Industry forum for securing open-source software.

### Affiliations and Memberships
- **Linux Foundation**: Collaborates on open-source development.
- **FIDO Alliance**: Promotes multi-factor authentication standards.
- **Khronos Group**: Contributes to graphics and compute APIs (e.g., OpenGL).
- **Women Who Code**: Supports gender diversity in tech careers.
- **Let’s Encrypt**: Advocates for free SSL/TLS certificates.

### Financials
- **Revenue Growth**: From $1.88B (2007) to $13.35B (2021), reflecting cloud adoption trends.
- **Employees**: Grew from 24,200 to 34,000 across global operations.
- **Net Profit**: Peaked at $2.42B (2021), with fluctuations tied to market demand.

### Key People
- **Diane Greene**: Co-founder and former CEO; pioneered early virtualization tools.
- **Mendel Rosenblum**: Co-founder and Stanford professor; developed VMware’s initial hypervisor.
- **Pat Gelsinger**: CEO from 2012–2022; oversaw expansion into cloud and security markets.
- **Brian Paul**: Software programmer; contributed to Mesa/Gallium3D open-source graphics libraries.

### Legacy and Impact
VMware’s virtualization software democratized access to computing resources, enabling modern DevOps practices, hybrid cloud architectures, and efficient IT operations. Its acquisition by Broadcom reinforces its role in enterprise infrastructure, while open-source contributions (e.g., Spring Framework) sustain its influence in developer ecosystems.

## References

1. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/about/2018-thacker)
2. [Broadcom to complete $69B acquisition of VMWare. The Gazette. 2023](https://daily.gazette.com/article/282011857104762)
3. [Source](https://www.linuxfoundation.org/membership/members/)
4. [Source](https://cve.mitre.org/cve/request_id.html#cna_participants)
5. [Source](https://fidoalliance.org/members/)
6. [Source](https://openid.net/foundation/sponsoring-members/)
7. [Source](https://www.khronos.org/members/list)
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. [Broadcom Completes Acquisition of VMware. 2023](https://investors.broadcom.com/news-releases/news-release-details/broadcom-completes-acquisition-vmware)
10. [Source](https://ir.vmware.com/websites/vmware/English/4100/financial-document-library.html)
11. [Source](https://www.vmware.com/cn/company/contact_sales.html)
12. [Crunchbase](http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/vmware)
13. [Form 10-K. 2011](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000119312511050075/d10k.htm)
14. [Form 10-K. 2012](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000144530512000443/vmw-12312011x10k.htm)
15. [Form 10-K. 2013](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000112461013000009/vmw-12312012x10k.htm)
16. [Form 10-K. 2014](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000112461014000008/vmw-12312013x10k.htm)
17. [Form 10-K. 2015](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000112461015000005/vmw-12312014x10k.htm)
18. [Form 10-K. 2016](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000112461016000040/vmw-1231201510xk.htm)
19. [Form 10-K. 2017](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000112461017000009/vmw-1231201610xk.htm)
20. [Form 10-K. 2018](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000112461018000012/vmw-22201810xk.htm)
21. [Form 10-K. 2019](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000112461019000012/vmw-21201910xk.htm)
22. [Form 10-K. 2020](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000112461020000019/vmw-131202010xk.htm)
23. [Form 10-K. 2021](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000112461021000015/vmw-20210129.htm)
24. [Form 10-K. 2022](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000112461022000009/vmw-20220128.htm)
25. [Form 10-K. 2023](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001124610/000112461023000015/vmw-20230203.htm)
26. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
27. [Source](https://www.iana.org/assignments/enterprise-numbers/enterprise-numbers)
28. [Source](https://www.opvizor.com/the-new-vmware-motto-one-cloud-any-app-any-device)
29. ROR release v1.41
30. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/VMware-G4ZGJ)
31. [Working at VMware | Glassdoor](https://www.glassdoor.sg/Overview/Working-at-VMware-EI_IE12830.11,17.htm?countryRedirect=true)
32. YouTube API
33. [VMware Careers and Employment | Indeed.com](https://sg.indeed.com/cmp/Vmware)
34. Wikirate