While basic Tanzu can run on standard VDS (Virtual Distributed Switches), advanced networking and security features for Kubernetes often require VMware NSX , which is included in the Cloud Foundation (VCF) tier.
However, the licensing model for running Kubernetes on vSphere has undergone significant changes, particularly with the release of vSphere 8. This guide breaks down the current licensing structure, the difference between Standard and Enterprise editions, and what you need to run Kubernetes on your ESXi hosts. vsphere kubernetes license
The most critical distinction in vSphere licensing regarding Kubernetes lies between the two primary editions: While basic Tanzu can run on standard VDS
| Feature | vSphere Standard (vSphere 8) | vSphere Enterprise Plus (vSphere 8) | VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | ✅ Included | ✅ Included | ✅ Included | | Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) Clusters | ❌ Not Included | ✅ Included | ✅ Included | | vSphere Pods | ✅ Included | ✅ Included | ✅ Included | | Harbor Image Registry | ❌ Separate | ❌ Separate (Usually in TKG bundle) | ✅ Often Integrated | | Advanced Networking (NSX) | ❌ Separate | ❌ Separate | ✅ Included | | License Metric | Per Core | Per Core | Per Core | The most critical distinction in vSphere licensing regarding
To enable the or Supervisor Services , you generally need one of the following bundles: VMware vSphere Kubernetes Service
If you have vSphere Standard, you have the platform foundation, but you lack the license rights to spin up the multi-node Kubernetes clusters that most development teams require.
| Product | Approx Relative Cost (per core/year) | Includes Native K8s? | Multi-cluster Mgmt? | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | (perpetual) | Low | ❌ No | ❌ | | vSphere Enterprise Plus (perpetual) | Medium | ❌ No (requires add-on) | ❌ | | VMware vSphere Foundation (VVF) | Medium-High | ✅ Yes (Basic) | ❌ (limited) | | Tanzu Platform (formerly Tanzu Standard) | High | ✅ Yes (Full) | ✅ Yes (TMC) |