So long and thanks for all the fish

[LucD]

Just to let everyone on here know, one week from now (March 31st 2025) the VMware licenses in my homelab will expire.
Until now I always got such licenses thanks to my vExpert status, for which I'm eternally grateful.

But with the Broadcom acquisition, the rules have changed.
One now needs to take an exam to get these licenses.
Since I never took such exams, and partially due to my current status (= retired), I'm not going to start doing that now.

Unfortunately, I will no longer have a home lab where I can write and test the code snippets I have been providing in this community for a number of years.

All good things come to an end I'm afraid.

My blog will also be dismantled shortly.
There is no point in keeping that around when I don't/can't contribute any more to this wonderful community.

If you want to grab some code from there, do it now or in the not-too-far future.

Thanks for the ride, I had a **** of a time.

Update: the day after.

Thanks for all the kind words I received, in public and in private.
That means a lot to me.
Looking back, those "Your code helped me" statements mean more to me than any reward I ever received.

I also want to clarify one thing: I didn't want to start a polemic on the current vExpert requirements. I do understand "New masters, new rules".
And I admire the people behind vExpert who were able to keep the award alive, albeit in a somewhat different format.

The new rules are just a part of my decision to stop contributing.

As you might have guessed my retirement and not working daily in a VMware environment are other contributing factors.
Also, add what I perceive as a dwindling number of participants in the PowerCLI community.

On a side note, since my post, some old friends at VMware offered to get me some licenses for my Homelab, but as I appreciate the gesture, I'm afraid I had to decline.
Not only would I not feel good with the preferential treatment, but my practical knowledge of all things VMware will in any case slowly fade away over time.

So I'd rather make a clean cut now instead of providing answers on the level of an AI agent ;-)

To end on a positive note, my domain registration for my blog still seems to be valid for another 2 years.
So it will stay up (at least) till that expires.

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Blog: lucd.info  Twitter: @LucD22  Co-author PowerCLI Reference

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[Alan Renouf]

[MikeDawson]

Your code helped me a lot over the years, thank you for that. 

I wish you the best

[ITSavant]

All the Best Luc, your generosity and love of the technology was been an immensely helpful gift, for years to many of us. Thank you.

-ITSavant

$Retirement = Get-LucD -Server "LongLifeAndGreatHealth"

[Susie82]

Oh NO :-(

We all will miss you and your help you provided to the community.

Whish you all the best in your retirement :-)

You'll be missed

Cheers Susie

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regards
Susie
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[Bart van den Donk]

That is b/sad news.
So much knowledge going to waste.

Hope life will treat you right.

Good luck.

[Kent Wicker]

@LucD,

Thanks for all your help over the years!  If you didn't directly help me, you helped someone else with the same issue I was having and I got my solution from you.  It's a sad sight when corporate greed forces a volunteer to stop helping support and promote the company's product.  I suspect that this community will begin shrinking more and more with others facing the same issue as you and the companies they work for no longer able to afford this product.

[StephenMoll]

Luc, this is so disappointing to hear. I cannot understand why someone with such a proven track record of community engagement and help has to prove anything to anyone to deserve receiving the licenses to continue doing what you have been doing. Not least of all, being one of the main, positive faces of the overall Vmware (by Broadcom) community and especially in all things PowerCLI and automation. 

To be blunt... the positives are sorely needed at the moment with all the negativity going around.

But... if this must be, then...

I thank you for all you have done to help me and others, and I feel privileged that I did once meet you face-to-face and shook your hand.

Enjoy the fish.

[kwhorn]

Say it ain't so....

Luc, can't thank you enough for all the contributions to the community....you've made me and so many others better coders through the years.

Cheers!!!

[bwadbethke]

@LucD

Really sad to hear you go, but totally understandable given the foolish changes being pushed by Broadcom. Your prompt replies and sage advice will be sorely missed by the community... even after Broadcom shuts that down too.

You've helped a lot of people and deserve your well-earned break. Best of luck in retirement!

[a_p_]

Luc,

that's indeed a great loss. 

I and for sure hundreds or even thousands of other users learned so much from your contributions. 
It was a pleasure and an honor to serve this community as a user moderator together with you.

All the best,
André

[v3mattia]

I'm no one, but all my troubles with PowerCLI always found a shoulder to lean on.

Let me thank you for your kindness and support, I won't never forget it.

I'll keep to follow you on Twitter 

Thank you sir

[the1960]

Hi Luc, very bad news for the VMware world! Losing your expertise and your fast, reliable skills is a huge loss. But I can understand. Now enjoy your retirement to the fullest. My highest respect to you. Good luck, Tobias.

[rkabelich]

@LucD, they say one person can't change the world, but you have changed the world of many VMware administrators for the better. 

Actually, everything that needs to be said has been said in the thread so far, and I wholeheartedly agree.

I wish you all the best for the future! Enjoy your retirement, and maybe, just maybe, you'll stay with us with a post or two on your blog, just to see how you're doing. ;-)

Cheers! 

[Pavel Dimitrov]

Hi Luc, 

Honestly, this is a sad news! Thank you for being such a strong pillar in the PowerCLI community! I wish you well!

[bargibargi]

Great loss to the community and VMWare

all the base mate

[Fborges555]

L.

   You have touch some many of us, but I can only speak for me, you had made me better scripting even as i have still a long way to go  and in my book YOU WILL ALWAYS be a LEGEND,  wish the best and hope that in the near future you reconsider and spread your knowledge , YOU  THE KING OF THE LAB !!!!!!

[Duncan Epping]

As I said on Twitter, thanks you for all you've done for VMware as a company, the products, and for all of our customers and the community. 

[AughBT]

thanks Luc and all the best - you dug me out of many a hole!

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NetworkAdmin9845
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[Julia Klaus]

Luc,

This makes me more sad than I thought it would. You were the first person I wanted to meet when I became the VMTN Community Manager in 2021, for a reason. Your experience, your calm support, and the way you gave guidance without ever asking for anything back… it inspired me. You made me feel like I could do this. Like I belonged.

You may be retiring, but you will always be part of this space. What you shared here, selflessly and humbly, is part of the DNA of this community. You're one of its pioneers, and nothing will ever change that.

I respect your decision, and I know you're doing what feels right. But I will miss you-a lot. 

Thank you for being part of our community family.

 Forever. From my heart.

[THGjndata]

Hi Luc

I am so sorry to hear that. Your time spent on helping us in these forums, creating examples on your website, speaking at VMworld, and so on..... Have been such an inspiration to better learn Powershell and PowerCLI.

Broadcom havent done much good for the VMware communities and enthusiasts. It seems like they just want to squize every last cent out of VMware and think its a mistake to push all of you guys with the heart in VMware, out in the cold like this. Alot of VMwares succes are based on the work you have put into VMware!

Thank you for all you contributions and time spent on helping us!

Thomas H.

[DusanJanak]

It has been an honor, sir!

[Tim Kovars]

Thank you for the help over the years and being an awesome resource.  Enjoy your retirement!

[VMwareGeek_]

Wish you the best.

Whenever I need a code, just found you have already posted. Otherwise, you were the one first reply to my post. Appreciated for all your job here and grateful for your help and suggestions.