VMware Tanzu (TKG) Alternative Series (3): Building a Container Service Platform on Virtual Machines and Physical Servers

In the previous two articles, we discussed two VMware Alternative paths:

Article 1: VMware Tanzu (TKG) Alternative Series (1) Building with a Container Cloud Platform

Article 2: VMware Tanzu (TKG) Alternative Series (2) Unified Virtual Machine and Container Cloud Platform

This time, we will introduce a typical application scenario of ZStack Zaku in the VMware Alternative field — building an efficient and lightweight container service platform based on existing virtual machine or physical server resources.

Recently, Broadcom announced that it will terminate support for VMware vSphere 7.x and vSAN 7.x on October 2, 2025, and adjust VMware’s subscription model.This change has triggered widespread discussion among enterprises regarding container platform alternatives.Especially for organizations that already own a large number of virtual machine and physical server resources, the key issue is how to ensure historical investment while achieving an agile transformation to containerization, so as to support the development of modern enterprise applications.

Under this background, ZStack Zaku Container Service Platform provides a practical VMware Alternative to VMware Tanzu.Through an independent deployment model, ZStack Zaku can directly build a lightweight Kubernetes production environment on existing virtual machines and physical servers.This not only effectively avoids vendor lock-in but also maximizes the utilization of existing resources, reduces operation and maintenance complexity, and provides enterprises with a smooth path to gradually transform from traditional virtualization to cloud-native architecture.With its open architecture and high-performance technical advantages, ZStack has become the preferred VMware Alternative platform for more and more enterprises.

VMware Tanzu Subscription Challenges

With VMware Tanzu being fully integrated into the subscription-based system, enterprise users face not only the cost pressure caused by bundled subscription packages but also the challenges of decoupling between container and virtualization environments and the increasing complexity of multi-cloud management.

Forced Subscription Package Binding:

Enterprise users who need basic container orchestration functionality must bind VMware vSphere/VCF subscription packages.

On the other hand, the VMware VVF subscription base package cannot meet the container service requirements of most enterprise users.

High Continuous Cost:

VMware has shifted from a traditional physical CPU-based licensing model to a virtual core (vCore) subscription model, only supporting periodic subscriptions, and requiring an upfront commitment to a billing cycle.

This change causes the cost of expanding enterprise container clusters to increase exponentially.

The Value of Building a Container Service Platform on Virtual Machines and Physical Servers

For most enterprises, it is unrealistic to completely discard the existing architecture and rebuild a cloud-native platform from scratch.

Building a container service platform based on existing virtual machines and physical servers is a more rational and sustainable path.

Protect Historical Investments and Reduce Transformation Costs

Virtualization and physical server clusters have been the core infrastructure investments of enterprises over the past decade.

By directly building a container platform on top of them, enterprises can fully utilize existing resources and achieve “zero resource waste,” significantly reducing financial pressure during digital transformation.

Gradual Containerization Transformation

Enterprises do not need to migrate all their business systems at once.

They can first select part of their applications to run on the container platform and then gradually expand.

This gradual approach ensures business continuity while giving teams time to learn and adapt.

Unified Scheduling and Operations

Through the integration of virtual machines and physical servers, the container platform can realize unified scheduling of computing, storage, and networking resources.

Enterprises can manage multiple types of resources through a unified console, reducing operational complexity and improving overall resource utilization.

Solution: Building a Container Service Platform Based on Existing Virtual Machines or Physical Servers

(ZStack Zaku: Cloud-Native Scenarios for Replacing VMware Tanzu (TKG))

During the process of digital transformation, enterprises face the core challenge of balancing “resource reuse and agile transformation.”

Many enterprises hope to protect historical investments, reduce transformation costs, gradually achieve containerization, and build unified infrastructure scheduling capabilities to meet the needs of cloud-native applications.

In response to these needs, ZStack proposes the best practice of building a container platform in virtual machine and physical server environments.

Through an independent deployment model, it seamlessly integrates users’ existing virtual machine and physical server resources to build a lightweight Kubernetes production environment without vendor lock-in.

While ensuring business continuity, it achieves zero waste of existing resources, significantly reduces operational complexity, and drives enterprises to smoothly evolve from traditional architectures to cloud-native infrastructures.

Without overturning the existing architecture, enterprises can gain the agility and flexibility of cloud-native systems.

Advantages of ZStack Zaku Container Service Platform

In VMware Tanzu Alternative solutions, building container platforms based on existing resources provides unique value.

Cost Advantages

• Supports flexible CPU or vCPU licensing to avoid forced subscription bundling.
• Provides a perpetual licensing model without limiting vCPU or memory configuration.
• User cases show that for container clusters of 50 servers, the three-year TCO can be reduced by more than 50% compared with Tanzu.

Simplified Operations and Maintenance

• A unified console manages both virtual machines and containers, reducing the need for cross-platform switching.
• One-click cluster deployment and scaling significantly reduce daily maintenance complexity.
• The built-in CSI storage plug-in minimizes external component dependencies.

Smooth Evolution

• Enterprises can gradually transition to cloud-native architecture without abandoning their current systems.
• Through step-by-step containerization transformation, traditional architectures and new applications can be integrated.
• Business continuity is ensured, avoiding large-scale interruptions.

Typical Application Scenarios

ZStack’s solution has been implemented in multiple industries, verifying its feasibility and value.

Enterprise Self-Built Cloud-Native Platform

Many enterprises use the ZStack Zaku Container Service Platform to build container platforms directly on existing virtualization or physical server environments, thereby achieving low-cost cloud-native capabilities.

Hybrid Architecture Based on Virtual Machines and Physical Servers

By managing virtual machines and containers under one system, enterprises can take advantage of both types of resources, improve overall utilization, and support diverse business needs.

AI and High-Performance Computing

The platform features GPU virtualization and scheduling capabilities, making it suitable for AI training, large model inference, and high-performance computing needs, providing enterprises with flexible and elastic computing power.

ZStack: Let Every Company Have Its Own Cloud

Under the trends of AI and cloud-native development, ZStack launched the Zaku Container Service Platform to help enterprises rapidly build cloud-native container platforms based on existing virtual machine and physical server resources.

This enables a smooth evolution from traditional architectures to modern architectures.

As a new-generation cloud infrastructure software provider, ZStack has adhered to the vision of “Let Every Company Have Its Own Cloud” since its founding in 2015.

It continues to invest in R&D, with products covering virtualization, cloud platforms, container platforms, distributed storage, hyper-convergence, and multi-cloud management.

Through its comprehensive products and solutions, ZStack has helped more than 4,000 enterprises worldwide achieve digital transformation, covering more than ten key industries and sectors, including government, telecommunications, finance, energy, transportation, education, healthcare, and manufacturing.

In the field of VMware Alternatives, ZStack has already served more than 1,000 customers globally, covering over 30 countries and regions.

FAQ

Q: Why do enterprises need to look for VMware Tanzu Alternatives?

A: Because the subscription-based model increases usage costs while adding operational complexity and supply chain risks. VMware Alternatives help enterprises reduce costs and maintain architectural flexibility.

Q: How can enterprises build container service platforms on virtual machines and physical servers?

A: Through the ZStack Zaku Container Service Platform, enterprises can independently deploy Kubernetes production environments, integrate virtual machine and physical resources, and achieve unified scheduling and management.

Q: Can container platforms based on existing resources ensure business continuity?

A: Yes. The ZStack solution supports gradual VMware Migration, automated scheduling, and disaster recovery protection to ensure uninterrupted operations.

Q: What are the main advantages of ZStack in container platform VMware Alternatives?

A: Flexible licensing and cost advantages, simplified operations, compatibility with the Kubernetes ecosystem, and support for GPU scheduling and AI application scenarios.

Q: Which industries are most suitable for adopting this VMware Alternative path?

A: Industries such as finance, manufacturing, energy, public services, and AI research and development — especially enterprises that need to retain their virtual and physical resources while gradually building cloud-native platforms.