Is VMware SNS required for acquiring esxi "maintenance release" updates?

[gregsn]

One of my clients received an SNS subscription renewal notice which stated:

"Once your contract expires, your licenses will no longer be supported should an issue arise, nor will they receive bug fixes, patches, updates, or upgrades."

I understand that upgrading minor versions (eg. esxi 5.1 to 5.5) or major versions (eg. esxi 5.x to 6.x) would require some sort of subscription. Could someone clarify that updates and patches (maintenance releases as per 1.7(a) in https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/support/vmware-support-terms-conditions.pdf) do require a paid support subscription (eg. updating esxi 5.5GA 1331820 to  esxi 5.5 patch 11 6480324)?

[jasnyder]

Once your contract expires you will not receive bug fixes, patches, updates, or upgrades.  The one you refer to is both an update and a patch.  Basically, once your support runs out, you're entitled to the version that was current on the day your contract expired.  Any patches no matter how minor that come out after that are no longer entitled by the license.  The license itself, if perpetual, is good forever, but only for that version.