VMware vSphere Reviews

Name: VMware vSphere
Brand: VMware
Rating: 4.4 (449 reviews)

Vendor: VMware

4.4 out of 5

449 reviews
95% willing to recommend

8,946 followers

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What is VMware vSphere?

VMware vSphere is a powerful and complete server virtualization platform that allows its users to create and manage virtual data centers and machines. VMware vSphere is designed to help IT departments set up and run applications using the most cost-effective computer resources. By using vSphere, organizations save the time and energy necessary for purchasing infrastructure and software and reduce ongoing maintenance and operational burdens on IT teams.

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VMware vSphere is the #2 ranked solution in best Server Virtualization Software. PeerSpot users give VMware vSphere an average rating of 8.8 out of 10. VMware vSphere is most commonly compared to Veeam Data Platform: VMware vSphere vs Veeam Data Platform. VMware vSphere is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 44% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 29% of all views.

Helped 815,854 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Vikas Dhumale

DevOps Engineer at Simple Logic IT Private Limited

Speaking about the application deployment process, I work at the L1 level in my company. In my company, the L3 is a different department that manages the application deployment process, and most of them go for tools apart from the ones under VMware to manage the VMs. I am only creating new VMs and assigning RAM space, and if something comes up, then I create new RHEL-based systems. When it comes to the application deployment process, my company manually deploys the applications. For automation purposes, our company uses Jenkins to collect the logs and provide a GUI with the help of a username and password to the end user, after which they can collect the logs from Jenkins. I work at an L1 level in my company. The integrations and infrastructure-related areas of the product are managed by another team in my company. I recommend the product to those who plan to use it. Nowadays, people don't prefer to go for cloud-based solutions. Most of the companies prefer VMware as they want some level of security in the environment. VMware allows users to have in-house products. Most companies or banks are not moving over to cloud-based tools. VMware is used in banking systems. I rate the tool an eight out of ten.

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Emanuele-Gnali

Owner at NetArt

We use the solution for clusters with shared storage on-premises with recovery. We use Veeam to back up some replication of these installations It provides stability with performance and broad support for hardware solutions. It is pricey for small business. There are bundles that make…

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NipunaNakandala

Senior System Engineer at V S Indormation Systems

From what I know, the area revolving around the licensing part of the product is not quite friendly. The licenses for those who have a partnership with VMware are not a good thing because we have to use the tool for demos and simulate it in a customer environment. In our company's setup, considering that we have a partnership with VMware, it is very hard to have licenses, making it an area where improvements are required. VMware's NFR licenses were previously available for partners, and the tool used to provide demo centers within such licenses, but the aforementioned licensing structure for partners has been presently discontinued. The product should also provide the partners with the facility to provide the tool's demo in a test environment for customers. The solution's technical team is an area with certain shortcomings where improvements are required.

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VMware vSphere mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of VMware vSphere in the Server Virtualization Software category stands at 19.8%, up from 18.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Server Virtualization Software

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Nov 6, 2024

Valuable Features

VMware vSphere excels with features like easy installation, low overhead, centralized management, and robust resource utilization. Its high availability and vMotion capabilities allow seamless server maintenance and migration. Users appreciate the system's stability, scalability, and flexibility, enabling efficient hardware resource use. It supports extensive virtualization and integrates well with other technologies, enhancing operational excellence. vSphere's security, management tools, and cost-efficient server consolidation are highly valued, providing a comprehensive virtualization platform.

"The product has good scalability."
"The tool's most valuable features are CPU virtualization and RAM allocation, which are better than those of other hypervisors."
"It offers a good return on investment because its maintenance and subscription costs are very durable."

Room for Improvement

VMware vSphere users highlight issues such as high costs, complex setup, and licensing confusion. They seek better integration, improved performance, and more user-friendly interfaces. Many request enhancements in centralized management, fault tolerance, and memory management. Users express interest in better training, automated features, and increased support for non-standard hardware. Frequent calls for enhancements in container support, security features, and price reductions suggest broad improvements are needed to meet user expectations.

"The platform's main area for improvement has increased, particularly after Broadcom acquired VMware."
"VMware vSphere requires a lot of paid add-ons that need to be integrated into it."
"It is pricey for small business."

ROI

Companies experience lower electricity bills and hardware costs, quicker server deployment, and improved corporate service management with VMware vSphere. Although initial costs seem high, virtualizing infrastructure leads to significant long-term savings and reduced management expenses. VMware vSphere reduces physical server needs and offers flexibility, making it valuable in IT environments, especially in larger setups. Users report improved system performance, increased infrastructure agility, and consolidation benefits, resulting in substantial returns on investment over time.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers evaluating VMware vSphere should consider pricing that includes licensing and setup costs, often cited as high yet justified by its robust features and support. Various editions cater to business needs, with licensing models that may become costly as the virtual environment grows. Yearly fees and support subscriptions are typical, and while the cost is competitive against physical systems, it's often higher than competitors like Hyper-V. Budget assessment and feature alignment are crucial for cost-effective implementation.

"The solution's licensing is costlier than other hypervisors."
"I rate the solution's pricing a ten out of ten due to the recent price changes."
"The tool is a bit expensive."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations utilize VMware vSphere primarily for infrastructure virtualization, server consolidation, and resource management, supporting various virtual environments from corporate networks to educational systems. They value its capacity to optimize hardware usage, enhance system reliability, and facilitate disaster recovery. Many sectors, including IT, finance, and education, depend on vSphere for hosting critical applications, easing data center operations, and enabling efficient workload management across multiple locations.

Service and Support

VMware vSphere's customer and technical support are generally efficient and responsive. Users appreciate the knowledgeable teams and quick resolution of issues, although occasional delays exist, often related to the initial support level. Some note improvements following escalation, while others mention challenges in non-English communication or lengthy resolution times. Community resources complement support efforts, offering forums and knowledge bases. Performance varies across regions, with some users finding support more satisfactory than others.

Deployment

Users consistently describe VMware vSphere's initial setup as straightforward and easy, though some mention minor complexities in certain configurations, particularly involving vCenter or large-scale deployments. They highlight that with basic understanding and compatible hardware, deployment is quick, often taking less than a day. Most users find plenty of resources and documentation available for assistance, indicating that while advanced configurations may present challenges, initial setup is typically user-friendly.

Scalability

VMware vSphere exhibits impressive scalability, enabling users to efficiently expand infrastructures by adding hosts or resources. Most reviewers note effortless scale-up or -out capabilities, though there are concerns about hardware requirements and licensing costs. Even large environments experience seamless scalability, accommodating thousands of servers and users across diverse sectors. Resource management features like vSphere DRS further ease expansion, facilitating robust vertical and horizontal scaling with limited downtime. Scalability remains a core strength.

Stability

VMware vSphere offers robust stability with minimal downtime due to frequent updates and bug fixes. Users highlight its reliability and resilience, noting that issues often stem from hardware or third-party integrations rather than vSphere itself. Its capability to maintain high availability and consistent performance in diverse environments is frequently praised. Occasional bugs are acknowledged but rarely impact core functionality. Many emphasize its longstanding stable reputation, attributing problems more to external factors than the platform itself.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our VMware vSphere Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

29%

Computer Software Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Government

University

Comms Service Provider

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Energy/Utilities Company

Insurance Company

Construction Company

Media Company

Hospitality Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Non Profit

Legal Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Transportation Company

Outsourcing Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Performing Arts

Pharma/Biotech Company

Consumer Goods Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Logistics Company

Compare VMware vSphere with alternative products

Learn more about VMware vSphere

Infrastructure administrators and network operators can access and manage the vSphere server by using a web-based cross-platform client application or via the vSphere client tool provided with vSphere.

VMware vSphere provides visibility into VMs and enables its users to carry out operations to manage VMs. This includes tasks such as:

Powering VMs on and off
Launching the VM console
Shutting down guest operating systems
Settings configurations
Taking system snapshots

VMware vSphere Benefits

Some of the benefits of using VMware vSphere include:

Reduced costs: Since VMware applications are run on a server, it is not necessary to spend large amounts of your organization’s money on hardware, software, and infrastructure.

Increased productivity and customer satisfaction: VMware is able to operate multiple complex processes simultaneously. With all your applications being managed and run on the cloud, downtime, failures, and application errors are rare. VMware easily scales up and down to meet your computing needs. The high availability that VMware provides allows your IT staff to focus on other issues and keeps your customers satisfied with the service they receive.

Unlimited access to your VMs: VMware’s user-friendly cloud-based interface allows any employee to work from any location at any time.

Enhanced security: VMware’s security tools deliver full visibility into your entire system. This keeps your applications and data more secure, in any type of environment. VMware provides multiple protective tools including antiviruses and anti-malware, as well as backup and recovery services.

VMware vSphere Features

Below is a list of some of VMware vSphere’s key features:

Transferable virtual machine images: Export and import virtual machine images from your local environment. This gives users the ability to set up and configure their systems locally and only upload them to the server once everything is working properly. VM images can be moved back and forth between vendors, ensuring that your company is never tied up to a specific cloud vendor.

User-friendly interface: Using VMware’s intuitive console, you can easily create, manage, share, and deploy virtual machines.

API integration: VMware’s APIs support integration with third-party applications for data protection, multipathing, and disk array solutions.

Distributed power management: Automate efficiency by continuously optimizing server power consumption within each cluster.

Reviews from Real Users

VMware vSphere stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. A few major ones are its virtualization abilities, its flexibility and availability, and its user-friendly interface.

Felix D., an Automation project administrator, DCS, I&E at Centennial Cayman Corp, writes, “The connectivity is fantastic, and many functions can run together in one server. If you need to scale, we can continue to add components or modules. It's a beautiful virtual solution that has many advantages over physical hardware, where you have to use devices and wiring to connect all your projects.”