Vmware (VMW) 8-K Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

Exhibit 5.1

[Letterhead of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP]

April 7, 2020

VMware, Inc.

3401 Hillview Avenue

Palo Alto, CA 94304

Re: VMware, Inc.

Registration Statement on FormS-3 (FileNo. 333-237417)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to VMware, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a Registration Statement on FormS-3, file no.333-237417 (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the prospectus included therein, the prospectus supplement, dated April 2, 2020, filed with the Commission on April 6, 2020 pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act (the “Prospectus Supplement”), and the offering by the Company pursuant thereto of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.500% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”), $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.650% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”) and $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.700% Senior Notes due 2030 (the “2030 Notes” and, together with the 2025 Notes and the 2027 Notes, the “Notes”).

The Notes have been issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of August 21, 2017 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated April 7, 2020, relating to the 2025 Notes (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated April 7, 2020, relating to the 2027 Notes (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”) and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated April 7, 2020, relating to the 2030 Notes (the “Sixth Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the “SupplementalIndentures”; the Base Indenture, together with the Supplemental Indentures, the “Indenture”) between the Company and the Trustee.

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true and complete copies of the originals, of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indentures and the Notes and such other documents, corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable to enable us to render these opinions. In our examination, we have assumed, without independent investigation, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to any facts material to these opinions, we have relied to the extent we deemed appropriate and without independent investigation upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.

April 7, 2020

Page 2

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Notes are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

The opinions expressed above are subject to the following additional exceptions, qualifications, limitations and assumptions:

A. We render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York and the United States of America and the Delaware General Corporation Law. We are not admitted to practice in the State of Delaware; however, we are generally familiar with the Delaware General Corporation Law as currently in effect and have made such inquiries as we consider necessary to render the opinions contained herein. This opinion is limited to the effect of the current state of the laws of the State of New York, the United States of America and, to the limited extent set forth above, the laws of the State of Delaware and the facts as they currently exist. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion in the event of future changes in such laws or the interpretations thereof or such facts.

B. The opinions above are each subject to (i) the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement or similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors’ generally, including without limitation the effect of statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent transfers or preferential transfers and (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

C. We express no opinion regarding the effectiveness of (i) any waiver of stay, extension or usury laws (ii) provisions relating to indemnification, exculpation or contribution, to the extent such provisions may be held unenforceable as contrary to public policy or federal or state securities lawsor due to the negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified party; (v) any provision in the Indenture or the certificates evidencing the global Notes waiving the right to object to venue in any court; (vi) any agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of any Federal court; (vii) any waiver of the right to jury trial or (viii) any provision to the effect that every right or remedy is cumulative and may be exercised in addition to any other right or remedy or that the election of some particular remedy does not preclude recourse to one or more others.

April 7, 2020

Page 3

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and we further consent to the use of our name under the caption “Validity of Securities” in the Registration Statement and “Validity of the Notes” in Prospectus Supplement. In giving these consents, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP