UK — The Register
Tesco replacing VMware with Proxmox in its stores and on the edge
Software1 min read
UK supermarket giant Tesco appears to be replacing VMware software with Proxmox, a open-source tool, in its stores and edge systems. A job ad suggests the change is already underway.
Tesco is switching from VMware to Proxmox
Tesco is a large UK retailer. A job ad for a new Head of Software Engineering: Edge Platform role says the person will lead a move from VMware to Proxmox. The move covers the computers that run inside Tesco's stores, which the ad calls the 'edge estate'.
Key facts
- Tesco operates over 5,000 stores around the world.
- The job ad mentions a migration across 'thousands of locations'.
- The job will be based in Bengaluru, India.
- Proxmox support became available 24/7 for enterprise customers in September.
What is virtualization?
Virtualization lets one physical computer run many separate virtual computers, called virtual machines. VMware and Proxmox are both software tools that do this. Proxmox is made by an Austrian company and is open source, which means its code is free to view and use. Many firms have been looking for alternatives to VMware because of higher licensing bills.
Why this matters
Store computers must keep working even when internet links fail. A badly planned change could disrupt store operations and the customer experience. The story also shows that many companies are looking for cheaper options to VMware. Tesco is also in a court fight with VMware over a contract dispute, which adds to the story.
What to watch
- How many Tesco stores will get the Proxmox system.
- Whether Tesco really chooses Microsoft Hyper-V for its core workloads, as some reports suggest.
- How the court case between Tesco and VMware ends.
- Whether Proxmox support is strong enough for a company as big as Tesco.
Glossary
- VMware
- A company whose software lets one physical computer run many virtual computers.
- Proxmox
- An open-source virtualization platform made by an Austrian company, used as an alternative to VMware.
- Tesco
- A large UK retail chain that runs thousands of grocery stores around the world.
- Virtualization
- Technology that runs several virtual computers on one real computer.
- Edge
- Computers placed close to where people use them, such as inside a store, rather than in a central data center.
- Hyper-V
- Microsoft's virtualization software for running virtual computers.