Google Cloud has introduced a self-managed VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) offering that hands customers full administrative control over their virtualization environment, running on dedicated bare-metal servers. The service, part of the Google Cloud Modernize portfolio, lets organizations bring their own portable Broadcom VCF subscriptions rather than relying on Google to manage the software stack.
Root access, bring-your-own-license
Unlike Google Cloud VMware Engine, which runs VCF 5.2 with Google handling patching, updates, and monitoring, the new self-managed option supports all VCF 9 instances and gives customers root-level access to ESXi, vCenter, NSX Manager, and other core components. Businesses can run deployments themselves or hire partners for migration, setup, and ongoing operations. Google says customers can also apply existing cloud spending commitments and usage-based discounts to the underlying infrastructure, an approach similar to Amazon's EVS offering on AWS.
Bare-metal specs and storage architecture
The platform runs on Google Compute Engine Z3 bare-metal instances built on fourth-generation Intel Xeon processors. Each node includes 96 physical cores, 1.5 TB of RAM, 72 TB of NVMe storage, and 200 Gb/s networking. Hyperconverged storage is handled through VMware's vSAN Express Storage Architecture, with external NetApp Volumes also supported. Google claims NVMe memory tiering can cut server total cost of ownership by up to 40%, and that vSAN ESA can reduce storage costs by as much as 39% versus traditional external arrays, though these figures come from the company's own estimates rather than independent benchmarks.
Networking integration and industry context
On the connectivity side, the service ties into Google's Andromeda network infrastructure and Network Connectivity Center, allowing links across multiple virtual private clouds and hybrid environments. VMware workloads can also reach native Google services such as BigQuery, Gemini, and Google Kubernetes Engine.
The launch extends a partnership that began in 2024, when Google became the first hyperscaler authorized to sell VCF licensing. Broadcom's subsequent overhaul of VMware licensing terms ended bundled license sales, making portable VCF subscriptions mandatory as of November 2025. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure offers a comparable customer-managed model, while Microsoft Azure VMware Solution remains fully managed but is retiring usage-based license pricing at the end of this month.