Comments on: Hyper-V vs. ESXi in the Small Business space http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/ The experiences of an SMB IT technician Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:28:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: ay http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-3715 ay Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:22:45 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-3715 anybody try the virtual box for Sun? so far, works great but can't run windows terminal server on it. esxi 4 is real cool but too many restrictions... anybody try the virtual box for Sun? so far, works great but can’t run windows terminal server on it.
esxi 4 is real cool but too many restrictions…

]]> By: Sam http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-3579 Sam Mon, 18 May 2009 15:27:24 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-3579 We are using ESXi because VMware got a very good tools, VMconverter. While it is very difficult to convert an running physical machine to run under HyperV. We are using ESXi because VMware got a very good tools, VMconverter. While it is very difficult to convert an running physical machine to run under HyperV.

]]> By: Martin Hell http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-3535 Martin Hell Tue, 05 May 2009 14:30:42 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-3535 I am running a small business in Germany and looked into virtualisation since I bought a MS Server 2008 license as it was released. I needed to consolidate a vintage 2000 server (the precedessor to the 2008 machine now only doing PDC work, 2 Linux machines and giving two people a virtual Windows PC for remote work. I waited til the final version of Hyper-V was released and deployed/converted the Windows evironment last summer. Last December I throw in the towel because the remote workers were complaining about the perfomance very "sluggish" even in a LAN environment. I dont know why it is the case, but although PC benchmarks running on the vm showed that the vm on Hyper-V should be about the same (roughly 15% worse performance) as a vm running under ESXi/Xen, but the "perceived" performance is much lower (as if u compare a 1ghz PC to a current 3ghz PC). Thus and the management of Hyper-V comparing to the simple VI client caused me to abandon Hyper-V and I went for a single ESXi server. It is true that most "white-box" systems arent suitable, but for me a TYAN server mainbord and Adaptec RAID controller works just fine. Most of TYAN and Supermicro server mainboards should just work out of the box with ESXi, if you look into the HCL lists. I am running a small business in Germany and looked into virtualisation since I bought a MS Server 2008 license as it was released. I needed to consolidate a vintage 2000 server (the precedessor to the 2008 machine now only doing PDC work, 2 Linux machines and giving two people a virtual Windows PC for remote work. I waited til the final version of Hyper-V was released and deployed/converted the Windows evironment last summer. Last December I throw in the towel because the remote workers were complaining about the perfomance very “sluggish” even in a LAN environment. I dont know why it is the case, but although PC benchmarks running on the vm showed that the vm on Hyper-V should be about the same (roughly 15% worse performance) as a vm running under ESXi/Xen, but the “perceived” performance is much lower (as if u compare a 1ghz PC to a current 3ghz PC). Thus and the management of Hyper-V comparing to the simple VI client caused me to abandon Hyper-V and I went for a single ESXi server.

It is true that most “white-box” systems arent suitable, but for me a TYAN server mainbord and Adaptec RAID controller works just fine. Most of TYAN and Supermicro server mainboards should just work out of the box with ESXi, if you look into the HCL lists.

]]> By: Lukas Beeler http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-3295 Lukas Beeler Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:44:50 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-3295 neoice, The free Xen Version 4 only supported 4 machines and 4GB RAM. With Version 5 (which was released after this post), this has changed. neoice,

The free Xen Version 4 only supported 4 machines and 4GB RAM. With Version 5 (which was released after this post), this has changed.

]]> By: neoice http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-3294 neoice Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:35:39 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-3294 are you positive Xen can only run 4 guests? I've never read that anywhere else and I've worked on a production box hosting more than that... are you positive Xen can only run 4 guests? I’ve never read that anywhere else and I’ve worked on a production box hosting more than that…

]]> By: ESXi - A perspective from the Microsoft World : I found it on the internet http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-3071 ESXi - A perspective from the Microsoft World : I found it on the internet Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:39:28 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-3071 [...] written a bit about ESXi before in a comparison to other free virtualization products from an SMB [...] [...] written a bit about ESXi before in a comparison to other free virtualization products from an SMB [...]

]]> By: Hyper-V vs. ESXi management » Lukas Beeler’s IT Blog » Blog Archive http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-2944 Hyper-V vs. ESXi management » Lukas Beeler’s IT Blog » Blog Archive Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:47:45 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-2944 [...] compared Hyper-V and ESXi in the past. Since then, the virtualization market has changed. I was also able to get more [...] [...] compared Hyper-V and ESXi in the past. Since then, the virtualization market has changed. I was also able to get more [...]

]]> By: Lukas Beeler http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-2943 Lukas Beeler Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:30:42 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-2943 Madan, I don't think this has any impact on running production workloads. Hyper-V server needs more than 100GB, and so does the installable ESXi. I don't really care which product is smaller, leaner, etc. but i care about why products helps my customers businesses better. The virtualization market space has changed since i wrote this blog post - Hyper-V Server is out now. Madan,

I don’t think this has any impact on running production workloads. Hyper-V server needs more than 100GB, and so does the installable ESXi.

I don’t really care which product is smaller, leaner, etc. but i care about why products helps my customers businesses better. The virtualization market space has changed since i wrote this blog post – Hyper-V Server is out now.

]]> By: Madan http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-2942 Madan Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:23:37 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-2942 One important comparison between ESXi and HyperV is the footprint. ESXi is about 32MB in size whereas HyperV is around 100MB in size.Ofcourse the Hypervisor in HyperV is only 100kb in size, but the total HyperV install takes about 100MB. One important comparison between ESXi and HyperV is the footprint. ESXi is about 32MB in size whereas HyperV is around 100MB in size.Ofcourse the Hypervisor in HyperV is only 100kb in size, but the total HyperV install takes about 100MB.

]]> By: Oczkov http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-2832 Oczkov Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:58:48 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-2832 1. Correct, the x3350 is supported, x3650 not yet, thought it was x36xx. 3. Correct. 4. Correct. 5. Right, but we talk about virtualization and should rather compare SCVMM with VC. System Center Essentials lookes like a crossing of the two well-known MS products: MOM + SCCM (SMS) - with some of the features stripped down. Seems like VMware is not really compeeting on this field. MOM and SSCM is something you would need regardless of the virtualization infrastructure you employ. SCCM has its good but pricy alternative - Altiris. 1. Correct, the x3350 is supported, x3650 not yet, thought it was x36xx.
3. Correct.
4. Correct.
5. Right, but we talk about virtualization and should rather compare SCVMM with VC. System Center Essentials lookes like a crossing of the two well-known MS products: MOM + SCCM (SMS) – with some of the features stripped down. Seems like VMware is not really compeeting on this field. MOM and SSCM is something you would need regardless of the virtualization infrastructure you employ. SCCM has its good but pricy alternative – Altiris.

]]> By: Lukas Beeler http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-2819 Lukas Beeler Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:45:47 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-2819 Hi, 1.) It's not on the list as of yet. 2.) Yep, that changed recently. This is a very good change, because it levels the playing field for competitors. 3.) These limitations are for the free ESXi, not for the for-paid ESXi. The free ESXi does not support SNMP. 4.) Again, not the free ESXi. There is a minor feature difference between the payESXi and freeESXi. 5.) SC Essentials does a lot more than VMwares offering, which are limited to VM management. But this appears to be changing... Hi,

1.) It’s not on the list as of yet.

2.) Yep, that changed recently. This is a very good change, because it levels the playing field for competitors.

3.) These limitations are for the free ESXi, not for the for-paid ESXi. The free ESXi does not support SNMP.

4.) Again, not the free ESXi. There is a minor feature difference between the payESXi and freeESXi.

5.) SC Essentials does a lot more than VMwares offering, which are limited to VM management. But this appears to be changing…

]]> By: Oczkov http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-2818 Oczkov Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:25:53 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-2818 Some important updates to this blog article: 1.) with ESXi 3.5 Update 2 IBM x3650 is supported for sure :) The list of supported servers is growing as expected by the author of this blog 2.) Microsoft does support Windows and other server products on VMware ESX Server 3.5 U2 since VMware joined the Microsoft Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP) program and as the first vendor on the market finished the validation with success: http://vmware.com/company/news/releases/svvp.html ESXi 3.5 is not mentioned, however. I assume this is only a matter of time since ESXi technology will be the mainstream in VI4 (next generation of VI). 3. I am sure you can use a limited SNMP functions of ESXi, as per documentation: ESX Server 3i ships with an SNMP management agent different from the agent that runs in the ESX Server 3 service console. Currently, the ESX Server 3i SNMP agent supports only SNMP traps, not GETS and is off by default. 4. You can script ESXi using RCLI (both on Windows, Linux and on RCLI standalone appliance, which is based on stripped-down Debian clone (why Debian??!)) More, ESXi can be scripted with PowerShell (VMware publishes the VMware Infrastructure Toolkit for Windows) http://www.vmware.com/download/vi/drivers_tools.html). 5. As System Center Virtual Machine Manager tries to offer what VirtualCenter does, the VirtualCenter can be purchased as VC Foundation Edition, which is about 30% of the price (1495 USD list price + support) and offers FULL functionality, but is limited to manage up to 3 physical ESX hosts (no matter how big they are!). This seems like a more than an alternative to SMB shops and System Center VMM or Esentials from Microsoft. Anyway - great blog! Thanks. Cheers, Oczkov Some important updates to this blog article:

1.) with ESXi 3.5 Update 2 IBM x3650 is supported for sure :) The list of supported servers is growing as expected by the author of this blog

2.) Microsoft does support Windows and other server products on VMware ESX Server 3.5 U2 since VMware joined the Microsoft Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP) program and as the first vendor on the market finished the validation with success:
http://vmware.com/company/news/releases/svvp.html ESXi 3.5 is not mentioned, however. I assume this is only a matter of time since ESXi technology will be the mainstream in VI4 (next generation of VI).

3. I am sure you can use a limited SNMP functions of ESXi, as per documentation: ESX Server 3i ships with an SNMP management agent different from the agent that runs in the ESX Server 3 service console. Currently, the ESX Server 3i SNMP agent supports only SNMP traps, not GETS and is off by default.

4. You can script ESXi using RCLI (both on Windows, Linux and on RCLI standalone appliance, which is based on stripped-down Debian clone (why Debian??!)) More, ESXi can be scripted with PowerShell (VMware publishes the VMware Infrastructure Toolkit for Windows) http://www.vmware.com/download/vi/drivers_tools.html).

5. As System Center Virtual Machine Manager tries to offer what VirtualCenter does, the VirtualCenter can be purchased as VC Foundation Edition, which is about 30% of the price (1495 USD list price + support) and offers FULL functionality, but is limited to manage up to 3 physical ESX hosts (no matter how big they are!). This seems like a more than an alternative to SMB shops and System Center VMM or Esentials from Microsoft.

Anyway – great blog! Thanks.

Cheers,
Oczkov

]]> By: ESXi - A perspective from the Microsoft World » Lukas Beeler’s IT Blog » Blog Archive http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-2663 ESXi - A perspective from the Microsoft World » Lukas Beeler’s IT Blog » Blog Archive Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:30:16 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-2663 [...] Links « Hyper-V vs. ESXi in the Small Business space [...] [...] Links « Hyper-V vs. ESXi in the Small Business space [...]

]]> By: Aaron Delp http://projectdream.org/wordpress/2008/08/11/hyper-v-vs-esxi-in-the-small-business-space/comment-page-1/#comment-2654 Aaron Delp Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:20:10 +0000 http://projectdream.org/wordpress/?p=406#comment-2654 Thank you for the links! Very good post! -Aaron Thank you for the links! Very good post!

-Aaron

]]>