This is an excellent program that you can join through VMware User Group (VMUG) membership. Standard VMUG membership is free, and it gives you several benefits, which you can check at the following link: https://www.vmug.com.
There is a paid membership as well, called VMUG Advantage, which allows you to access the following additional benefits:
- EVALExperience
- 20% discount on VMware training classes
- 20% discount on VMware certification exams
- 35% discount on VMware certification exam preparation workshops (VCP-NV)
- 35% discount on VMware lab connect
- $100 discount on VMworld attendance
- Extended trials of VMware cloud services
Membership of the advantage program costs $200 per year, but it is worth it. The most exciting offering is the EVALExperience program. VMware's EVALExperience gives you exclusive access to 365-day evaluation licenses for a selection of VMware solutions, for personal use in a non-production environment. It includes the following products:
- VMware vCenter Server v6.x Standard
- VMware vSphere ESXi Enterprise Plus with Operations Management (six CPU licenses)
- VMware NSX Enterprise Edition (six CPU licenses)
- VMware vRealize Network Insight
- VMware vSAN
- VMware Site Recovery Manager
- VMware vRealize Log Insight
- VMware vRealize Operations
- VMware vRealize Automation 7.3 Enterprise
- VMware vRealize Orchestrator
- VMware vCloud Suite Standard
- VMware Horizon Advanced Edition
- VMware vRealize Operations for Horizon
- VMware Fusion Pro 11
- VMware Workstation Pro 15
For the price of $200, you get the licenses for all vSphere products you might ever need, which is an impressive offering. Plus, it saves you having to reinstall the environment every 60 days!
If you would like to join the program, visit the following link: https://www.vmug.com/Join/EVALExperience.