VMware stops selling SmartNIC-based distributed firewall

Withdrawal from selling a SmartNIC firewall

The Register reported that VMware has withdrawn from selling its distributed firewall for SmartNICs. SmartNICs are network cards with onboard processors that can run networking and security functions apart from a server’s main CPU.

A Broadcom executive said VMware had stepped back from the area after buyers did not purchase the product in sufficient numbers. A VMware spokesperson told the publication that the Distributed Services Engine, which lets Cloud Foundation use SmartNICs, remains part of the product and continues to receive support.

VMware had developed and sold an NSX distributed firewall designed to run on SmartNICs, also known as data processing units (DPUs).

The reported shift removes the SmartNIC-based distributed firewall from sale while keeping the Distributed Services Engine in VMware Cloud Foundation supported.

Underlying capabilities remain supported

The change reportedly narrows VMware’s SmartNIC offering from a separately sold firewall to continued support for underlying SmartNIC capabilities. It also illustrates the difficulty of transferring hardware approaches common in hyperscale cloud operations into enterprise infrastructure products.