The January 25 filing is subject to a 60-day notice period, meaning that the companies are expected to part ways on March 25.

Originally, the agreement set out: “with respect to certain technologies and [go-to-market] activities, the Parties’ respective products and services work better together to create advantages and value for customers.”

Dell’s termination of the agreement follows Broadcom’s decision to change licensing policies for VMware products, cutting perpetual licenses in favor of subscription-based models – a move that proved to be unpopular among partners, distributors, and customers alike.

Although Broadcom’s changes have sent ripples through the virtualization landscape, VMware continues to be an incredibly competitive option. It’s unclear whether some recent unsavory decisions have driven Dell to want to sever its ties with the company, or whether there’s more at play.

A Dell spokesperson shared the following statement with TechRadar Pro in an email:

“Broadcom and VMware solutions remain a part of Dell’s portfolio of products, including embedded solutions such as VxRail and Carbon Black. Broadcom is an important and valued partner of Dell Technologies, and we will continue to deliver value to our customers and partners who select Broadcom and VMware solutions.”