Exploring VMware Alternatives: The Best Hypervisors Compared

VMware is a popular option among IT experts worldwide. This virtualization tool is extremely important for management and security. However, there are many other alternatives to this variant.

In the guide, we will share detailed information about VMware alternatives, and compare their capabilities, and features.So after reviewing all the info, you can make an informed decision about the choice of the best hypervisor.

Overview of Hypervisors and Virtualization

The virtualization mechanism is mainly based on the hypervisors. These are software that are necessary for the running/creation of the VMs. So that several OS can function on those virtual machines. Hypervisors can be divided into 2 types.

Type 1 Hypervisors: Bare-Metal Performance

Hypervisors that relate to the first type fully associate with the bare-metal performance. Because such hypervisors have direct access to the resources, the management and configuration might not be the easiest one. Among the most used options of this type, we can specify Nutanix AHV and VMware ESXi.  

Type 2 Hypervisors: Hosted Virtualization

The peculiarity of the type 2 hypervisors is that they function on the host OS. This means the performance level might be slightly influenced because the sources are shared with the underlying operating system. Usually, businesses tend to select the second type because of its efficiency and performance. As for some distinct examples, we can specify VMware Workstation and Oracle VirtualBox.  

Key Factors to Consider

Here are some major factors that you should better consider before the final decision:

• Compatibility. Prior to the final choice, you should better consider whether there is support for apps, hardware, OS, and integration.
• Price. When calculating the spending try to include both ongoing and initial investments.
• Usage complexity. The easiness of management and initial setup can be extremely important for some users. If you are searching for the easiest alternative then type 2 is your choice, but it won’t have all the advanced features.
• Security. Robust security is crucial for the minimization of all possible online threats.
• Scalability. The access to scalable resources in case there is a necessity might be also a crucial factor to consider. When comparing, type 1 is more scalable than type 2.
• Performance characteristics. Excellent and uninterrupted performance is highly important and type 1 wins in this category.

VMware vSphere: Leading the Virtualization Market

vSphere is a great example of a robust solution that is extremely popular among various clients. With its extensive features, and exceptional security it became a leader, but the price is significantly higher when compared with other available options.

Feature-Rich Virtualization Platform

vSphere is a feature-rich virtualization platform that offers everything from storage to computing, and the highest security level. This means businesses can be confident in the effectiveness of this option even with high workloads.

In addition to this, integration with other VMware products is so straightforward that you can easily work with Aria and vSAN.

Performance and Reliability

The reliability of vSphere is exceptional, and it was achieved with the usage of disaster recovery options, fault tolerance, and more. That means an environment can function 24/7 without any interruptions. Also, there is a possibility of live migration of VMS with minimal or almost zero downtime.

Premium Pricing

vSphere is the most expensive variant available, and of course, you have a huge functionality, but the price might be too high for small businesses. You should make an initial investment and further fees.

Best Use Cases

vSphere is an ideal choice for huge companies that prioritize performance and need the maximum possible uptime. Businesses with high workloads and those that need access to advanced features and exceptional support levels will also benefit from vSphere. Startups and small companies should better orient on the other alternatives, because of the price range.

vSphere is definitely a leading option that is now available on the market, because of the functionality and exceptional integration options.

Best VMware Alternatives to Explore

Microsoft Hyper-V

Hyper-V is a fantastic alternative for the previously discussed option, specifically for businesses that use Windows Server. As a bonus, users of Windows Server have it at no additional cost so the integration process is extremely simple and intuitive.

Hyper-V has replication, live migration, and scalability for all types of businesses. The only minus that users can identify is the minimal features available. That means you either use the available features or add some extra management tools in case you have more complex projects for the deployments.

Nutanix AHV

Nutanix AHV is a great alternative for VMware that can significantly simplify management as well as deployment. The scalability is so much simplified with this variant and at the same time, it is much more affordable in terms of prices. Businesses that are searching for infrastructure with built-in virtualization will surely benefit from this hypervisor.

Microsoft Hyper-V: Native Windows Server Virtualization

Hyper-V is native Windows server virtualization which makes integration within the  Windows ecosystem becomes so much easier and almost seamless. Businesses that already have Windows servers will surely benefit from this option.

Easy Deployment and Management

The management and deployment process of Hyper-V is so easy for the same exact reason that it is a part of Windows Server.  This hypervisor integrates perfectly fine with System Center VM Manager to deal with large deployments.

Compatibility with Windows and Linux

One more major benefit of Hyper-V is the compatibility both with Linux and Windows systems. Among Linux distros that are supported by this hypervisor, we can specify SUSE, Ubuntu, and RHEL. That’s why more and more users are constantly trying to use this specific hypervisor.

Scalability and High Availability

Exception scalability of this hypervisor has support for 48TB of memory, and 512 processors, and some limitations are only in storage support that depends on the host OS. To get better availability standards, there is live migration, additional clustering, and storage migration.

Robust Security Features

Robust security features that are offered by Hyper-V guarantees a virtualization-based approach and that is great for the hardware isolation of virtual machines. Among the most crucial security features, we can specify shielded VMs, Host Guardian Service, and vTPM. To get an additional level of protection, Windows Defender can be used so that all the other possible online risks will be monitored early on.

Common Use Cases

Hyper-V can be an excellentchoice for all the businesses that use Windows Server. Moreover, this hypervisor is a fantastic variant for working with Linux or Windows workloads. The only minor challenge that comes with the usage of this hypervisor is in more challenging management process in case of bigger environments. Also, there might be some companies that consider the payment for Windows Server as a huge minus.

To conclude, this hypervisor can be a fantastic option for businesses that require affordable, but at the same time powerful solutions. Also, it is a great choice for all the users who need a variant that will easily integrate with Windows Server.

Citrix XenServer: Enterprise-Grade Virtualization

For businesses that are searching for enterprise-grade virtualization and need an open-source variant, we can recommend Citrix XenServer. This alternative of VMware offers a variety of features, but the price range is way lower.

Seamless Integration and Scalability

This kind of hypervisor offers great integration with Citrix solutions so that the process of management and scaling becomes so much easier. The hypervisor provides support for 1,000 virtual machines for a host. This guarantees that the hypervisor is great for huge environments.

Reliable Performance and High Availability

High availability and reliable performance of XenServer guarantees exception access to the virtual resources. In case, there is a necessity, you can easily move virtual machines between hosts. During some situations where the failure of performance is obvious, the hypervisor provides disaster recovery.

Simplified Management Tools

For the simplified management process, users can try XenCenter which is a management console that helps with the completion of lots of tasks. A couple of the most used features in the console are connected with the multiple hosts’ managements, VM placement with drop/drag, and way more.

Cost-Effective Solution

XenServer is a rather cost-effective solution that can be a fantastic choice for lots of businesses. The hypervisor can be used free of charge in case you just need basic features, or you can easily switch to the commercial version in case your environment becomes larger. As for the price of the paid edition, it is still way cheaper when compared with the VMware.

XenServer is a good choice for the virtualization tasks where you are getting a reliable environment for a relatively small sum of money. Complex environments can easily function with the help of XenServer. In addition to this, users will get perfect integration with Citrix technology.

Proxmox VE: Open-Source Virtualization Platform

Proxmox VE is an open-source virtualization platform that is predominantly based on LXC containers and KVM hypervisor. The peculiarity of this option is in the possibility of its installation on the VMs as well as on bare metal servers. For the high-availability storage such technologies as XFS and Ceph are used. For the management of this open-source platform, users can use the command line or web-based interface.

User-Friendly Interface

The peculiarity of Proxmox VE is in its user-friendly interface that greatly simplifies the management of networking, containers, storage, and VMs, and gives really high availability. The easiness of usage is a fundamental factor for lots of IT specialists to choose this option because even users with basic tech skills can quickly complete all the necessary tasks in virtual environments. To get some additional features, you can also integrate some other tools and automate lots of processes with the command line or REST API.

Fully Open-Source and Transparent

Because of the open-source nature of this solution, the code can be modified whenever there is a necessity. Also, this virtualization platform has a GNU AGPL license, and that all in combination gives a great transparency level for the clients. Community participation in all the infrastructure processes is also huge, mainly because users can influence code, send some bug reports, and additional documentation to support new users.  

Flexible Integration and Customization

The platform is based on a modular design which means it offers extensibility via various modules and additional plugins. For the automation of lots of processes, there is a possibility to use additional tools. Specifically, Proxmox VE functions perfectly fine with vSwitch, Ceph, and Spice protocol for remote access.

Proxmox VE is a great alternative for all the users who prefer a more simplified but at the same time powerful interface. This open-source solution will greatly cope with management and additional data security so you can get more control. In addition to all we have already discussed, it is really flexible choice for working on the most complex projects.

Oracle VM VirtualBox: A Popular Desktop Virtualization Tool

VirtualBox is a free and simple solution that will perfectly suit small companies as well as individual users. Mainly because of its functioning on Linux, Windows, and even Solaris hosts. The installation and setup process makes VirtualBox the most popular desktop tool.

Intuitive and Easy to Use

The easiness of use simplifies the process of working so much more. That means users can immediately work with all the needed tasks relating to virtual machines. The intuitive interface makes it an ideal choice for clients who have minimal tech skills in terms of virtualization technology. With the help of the wizard, users can even create their first VM and that is definitely a huge benefit.

High Customizability and Flexibility

For clients who are searching for more customizable solutions, VirtualBox offers advanced options. That means users can have a higher level of control over the settings including network, memory, and CPU. Also, the solution supports the  most popular OSs and even such platforms as VMware. The flexibility of setup makes it an ideal choice for users with various needs and requirements.

Scalability Limitations

When talking about some limitations of this solution, users found the lack of capabilities for huge deployment as a major disadvantage. VirtualBox supports only 128 virtual CPUs and that might be not enough for some of the companies that are planning to expand their business needs. One more drawback of this solution is the limitation is the recovery features.

Generally, this is a fantastic solution that you can use for free for small projects or personal usage. VirtualBox is extremely customizable and easy for beginners. The limitations come when there is a necessity to scale your workload. So, during a huge enterprise growth, you would rather switch to other alternatives.

Nutanix AHV: Built for Enterprise Cloud Environments

Nutanix AHV is one more solution that was built for enterprise cloud environments. This is a rather integrative virtualization variant for those businesses that are searching for a simplified approach and want to minimize lots of managing complexities.

Because of the integrated nature of this solution, AHV has a seamless integration process with the network fabric and storage of Nutanix. So that the virtual machines can have the same networking and storage pools as physical servers. Prism interface is one more huge bonus because with its help users can work with advanced management capabilities. For instance, this interface can be used for moving virtual machines between hosts.

The management of the virtualization process will take less time than usual. The intuitive interface offers access to valuable information regarding performance characteristics, health, and security of the virtual machines.

As for the price for this specific solution, AHV doesn’t have the license fees. Moreover, users have access to disaster recovery and live migration for no extra payment. In case the company is already using Nutanix, AHV solution can be easily integrated into the already-used infrastructure.

Except for lots of benefits that come together with the usage of AHV, there are still some limitations specifically for those who are not using Nutanix hardware. In case, you are planning to use other platforms, your general functionality will be greatly minimized. Also, this solution still has fewer features when compared with vSphere.

For the majority of clients, this solution creates a simple experience of usage and integration with the Cloud platform. The management interface is also an easy one. Moreover, there are no fees for the usage of AHV and that can be a huge bonus for lots of users.

VMware Alternatives FAQ: Answering Common Questions

VMware is a fantastic choice for lots of businesses, but of course, it is not the only available option. In case, you are searching for a great solution right now, you will surely have some serious questions about all the possible alternatives. Let’s discuss some of the most common questions regarding this topic.

Are There Free and Open-Source Virtualization Options?

Sure, there are available free virtualization options, and specifically we are talking about Nutanix AHV and Linux KVM. You can use these open-source solutions without any additional payments in case you are satisfied with the basic set of features. For more advanced functionality and support, you will need to activate a paid subscription.

How Do Costs Compare Across Different Platforms?

The price range can be a rather subjective thing because it mainly depends on the individual clients’ needs and environment. When speaking more generally, cloud platforms are considered to be less expensive. We can specify such affordable variants as AHV, Hyper-V, and KVM. Whereas the more premium and pricy option is VMware.

What Features and Functionalities Do They Offer?

The full-featured variant is VMware for sure. However, Hyper-V is also a great choice with a comparable set of features. With AHV, users are getting easy, but rather capable virtualization. The most scalable options are for sure – cloud platforms.  

How Complex Is Deployment and Management?

The factor of complexity totally depends on the tech skills of the IT experts. For inexperienced users, the most straightforward variants are AHV and Hyper-V especially in case the company is already using Nutanix/Windows server infrastructure. A more complex options are cloud platforms and KVM.  

Will It Be Compatible with My Existing Infrastructure?

Start with checking your current software, hardware, network, and storage before choosing the most suitable option. Once that is done, you should know that cloud platforms can work with on-premises systems. KVM functions on Linux, Nutanix infrastructure is necessary for AHV, and Hyper-V works great with Windows environments.

Final Thoughts

Of course, VMware is an extremely popular variant that is used by lots of organizations, but luckily there are lots of alternatives as well. Now, you know all the strengths and limitations of the alternative solutions so you can make an informative decision about what works better for your specific case. Also, consider the budget, infrastructure peculiarity, and of course performance.