Broadcom restricts VMware Virtual Disk Development Kit downloads

Broadcom has removed public download access for the VMware Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK) from its website. The kit, a collection of libraries and APIs used to access virtual VMware disk images, was originally intended for backup and recovery purposes.

However, the VDDK has become a critical component for various third-party migration tools used to move virtual machines from VMware environments to other platforms. Major providers such as Nutanix (via its Move tool), Red Hat, and Microsoft (via Azure Migrate) have relied on the kit to facilitate these transitions.

Broadcom confirmed that the change reinforces existing licensing terms, stating that the approved use case for the VDDK is limited to backup and recovery solutions used by Technology Alliance Program (TAP) partners. While selected technology partners may retain access, the removal of public downloads significantly impacts organizations and service providers attempting to migrate away from VMware infrastructure.