Citrix XenServer vs RHEV comparison

Citrix and Red Hat are both solutions in the Server Virtualization Software category. Citrix is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.0, while Red Hat is ranked #12 with an average rating of 7.4. Citrix holds a 5.3% mindshare in SVS, compared to Red Hat’s 3.9% mindshare. Additionally, 81% of Citrix users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 78% of Red Hat users who would recommend it.

Citrix XenServer

Read 48 Citrix XenServer reviews

8,827 Views
6,211 Comparison Views

81% willing to recommend

RHEV

Read 34 RHEV reviews

5,726 Views
4,219 Comparison Views

78% willing to recommend

Citrix XenServer

RHEV

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 6, 2024

RHEV and Citrix XenServer compete in the virtualization solutions category. Citrix XenServer seems to have the upper hand due to its comprehensive feature set, while RHEV is more appealing in terms of pricing and support satisfaction.

Features: RHEV integrates with open-source platforms, manages resources efficiently, and offers powerful security with SELinux. Citrix XenServer includes advanced security features, sophisticated management tools, and exceptional performance for demanding workloads, catering well to broader enterprise needs.

Room for Improvement: RHEV could enhance its feature set to compete with proprietary systems and improve its non-Linux ecosystem adaptability. Improving cloud integration and marketplace offerings can be beneficial. Citrix XenServer can work on simplifying setup procedures, reduce complexity for novice users, and integrate more seamlessly with third-party tools to minimize initial user training.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: RHEV offers straightforward deployment in Red Hat environments with solid customer support. Citrix XenServer provides deployment flexibility across ecosystems, although it might demand more initial setup. It compensates with dedicated support options, highlighting adaptability compared to RHEV's streamlined approach.

Pricing and ROI: RHEV presents a low-cost entry with a strong ROI due to minimal setup costs, appealing to budget-conscious environments. Citrix XenServer, with its higher upfront cost, offers significant ROI by reducing long-term operational expenses through its versatile and robust feature set.

To learn more, read our detailed Citrix XenServer vs. RHEV Report (Updated: January 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Citrix XenServer vs. RHEV

January 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Citrix XenServer

Ranking in Server Virtualization Software

11th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

RHEV

Ranking in Server Virtualization Software

12th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2025, in the Server Virtualization Software category, the mindshare of Citrix XenServer is 5.3%, up from 3.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of RHEV is 3.9%, up from 2.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Server Virtualization Software

Featured Reviews

Siva Kuppala

Enterprise Architect at Wipro Limited

Allows us to allocate CPU, memory, storage, and network resources across VMs and minimizes downtime in case of hardware failure or maintenance

It is a scalable product and provides great benefits for virtualization needs. However, there are a few considerations: * Cost: Citrix Hypervisor can be fairly expensive. * Complexity: There's a learning curve, especially for those coming from a Microsoft background. Setting it up and managing it can introduce some complexity. * Hardware Support: Not all major hardware vendors fully support Citrix Hypervisor. * Third-party Integration: Integrating Hypervisor with other technologies within a large ecosystem can sometimes be challenging. * Community Support: Compared to solutions like Microsoft Hyper-V, the community support for Citrix Hypervisor is somewhat less extensive. It is not vast. If there are any issues or errors, the community support is not that good. Those are definitely important disadvantages.

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Sujeet-Kumar

Project Manager Cloud Infrastructure at Path Infotech ltd

The solution is scalable and affordable, but it lacks features, and it is not easy to manage

Management of RHEV is not as easy as VMware. Some features do not work. The product does not provide features similar to VMware’s VMotion. After creating the cluster, the VM is moved to another node if we move down. However, the VM does not move the parent node automatically. It has to be moved manually. VMware moves it automatically. RHEV moves it to the parent node only if we restart. Everything can be handled in VMware through the GUI. However, in RHEV, some things can be managed through UI, and others cannot. We have to troubleshoot and use CLI. A few features of the product do not work as well as those in VMware.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"This solution allows the end users to clone, start, stop, or remotely control their VMs."

"The core function enables multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server. This maximizes hardware utilization and efficiency."

"The ability to move a virtual machine while it is running is a big advantage."

"Scripting can automate procedures."

"Installing Hypervisor is really simple. It's the simplest setup I've ever done before. We used a team to deploy it, and it doesn't take much time, like two or three hours tops."

"The feature I find most valuable, is its performance"

"The most valuable features are being able to host many virtual machines and being able to patch machines."

"The continued uptime of our virtual machines is good."

More Citrix XenServer pros

"The solution is overall very good with all the facilities. It is user friendly, easy to configure, has documentation, and support is available."

"The initial setup is fairly straightforward and well-documented. The process is very similar to its competitors. The success of your setup depends on how well you plan."

"RHEV’s cost is much less compared to VMware."

"We find the ease of use of this solution to be invaluable. It is user-friendly and integrates well with other software."

"The solution is stable."

"It is a stable solution...It is a scalable solution."

"I can control and manage everything. I know everything that's cooking inside. This is the best part for me."

"When you purchase RHEV, you are essentially buying a subscription license. This license can be integrated with various client types, including these integrations with the subscription."

More RHEV pros

Cons

"Citrix is not investing in the virtual surroundings."

"I would like the possibility of updating the hypervisor by applying security patches."

"Live migration is something that can be improved."

"The built-in networking features are a little limited."

"I am not very sure about how flexible Citrix Hypervisor is with different types of infrastructures. I only know it is flexible with Nutanix, but I am not sure if it is also flexible with others. They can make its integration with other platforms or OEMs easy. They should also make it easy for users to manage their infrastructure. Citrix should make compatibility information related to a hypervisor easily available in a datasheet. Citrix isn't really recognized in this part of the world, and they need to expand their solution and make it more available. There are a lot of customers and companies that are looking for a solution like Citrix, and it should be available in this part of the world. They need to educate people more. Technically, it is good and flexible and has good ability, but it is not as much known as VMware or Microsoft. Their support should also be improved. Currently, if you don't have an updated version, they will not give you the attention."

"It would be very helpful if I could browse the data store directly in the GUI, similar to VMware and Hyper-V. This feature would be particularly useful when something goes wrong with a virtual machine or virtual disk."

"Network management needs improvement because it is not very stable."

"You need a licensed account to look up technical support."

More Citrix XenServer cons

"When we do a direct comparison, then obviously VMware does better in terms of having Fault Tolerance and doing active disaster recovery and these kind of things. This is something that can be improved within Red Hat."

"RHEV can improve by keeping pace with new features and new enhancements. They should not be halted or delayed innovation because over the past quarter the enhancements have not been as fast as they have been previously."

"We hope that Red Hat can produce a paradigm edition. We are looking for paradigm computing and paradigm storage. Its scalability can be improved. It is not easy to scale, and we hope that Red Hat can provide a more scalable system. They should also provide local service and support. Our customers are looking for a good software vendor to provide professional services."

"Specifically, enhancements in managing virtual machine migrations, cloning, and the creation of different VMs could further optimize its functionality."

"The Administration of the Oracle database and the SAP ERP needs improvement."

"The support is tricky in a few places. We're facing some challenges within Malaysia where we don't really have the system integrators available who can provide extended support. When we need personnel on-site, we can't get them."

"The solution could use network virtualization."

"The biggest improvement would be more third-party direct support for things like backups and provisioning through third-party portals."

More RHEV cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We used it only for some desktop licenses, so the pricing is great. We used the free licenses for server virtualization."

"We migrated from VMware to XenCenter to cut costs."

"The licensing is straight forward based on usage and features."

"Citrix is a good low-cost alternative to VMware, so if budgeting is an issue then I would recommend it."

"To subscribe to the paid version with support, it is approximately $6,000 per year."

"There are three editions available and I believe they are perpetual licenses."

"There are free and paid versions. The free version is limited in features but not by time limit. The paid version has more features."

"The pricing and licensing is so important. Customers do consider the price seriously."

More Citrix XenServer pricing and cost advice

"This is an open-source solution."

"RHEV offers pricing based on a per-physical-machine licensing model."

"We have to pay extra for vulnerability and fault tolerance."

"I would say the price is acceptable."

"It's a budget product as far as I'm concerned. It's way cheaper than any of its competitors. The only thing cheaper than Red Hat is that the people who take the Red Hat code clone it and then self-support it."

"I believe we pay on a yearly basis."

"This product has a variety of licensing options available. However, the level of licensing, and therefore the cost of licensing, is dependent on the number of servers being utilized."

"Its price depends on the use cases."

More RHEV pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

Thang Le Toan (Victory Lee)

CIO at Robusta Technology & Training

Jan 13, 2015

vSphere vs. RHEV vs. Hyper-V vs. XenServer

We have used the following functions: 1. Hypervisor: to ensure that the virtual server provide web and email services to the company, thus providing a stable operation a with single sign-on integration of an AD server and vCenter. 2. Network and Storage: centralized data server…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

54%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

52%

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Citrix Hypervisor?

The core function enables multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server. This maximizes hardware utilization and efficiency.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Citrix Hypervisor?

The pricing and licensing policy of Citrix XenServer is not transparent and quite confusing. The sales channel has deteriorated over the years and sales margins have dropped significantly, making i...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Citrix Hypervisor?

The marketing of Citrix lacks effectiveness. Although the product is technically competitive, it is not widely known or used due to poor marketing. Additionally, the technical support for midsize b...

See all answers

What do you like most about RHEV?

The initial setup is fairly straightforward and well-documented. The process is very similar to its competitors. The success of your setup depends on how well you plan.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for RHEV?

It should be more affordable and available. It should target companies, especially new ones, that need servers with capacities of around 518+ units. It should be priced appropriately because it mig...

See all answers

What needs improvement with RHEV?

We should improve how we manage storage domains and make more comprehensive control available through the command line. RHEV needs to consider those points that can be integrated. The REST API shou...

See all answers

Comparisons

Proxmox VE vs Citrix XenServer

Compared 35% of the time

VMware vSphere vs Citrix XenServer

Compared 24% of the time

Hyper-V vs Citrix XenServer

Compared 20% of the time

KVM vs Citrix XenServer

Compared 7% of the time

Nutanix AHV Virtualization vs Citrix XenServer

Compared 6% of the time

More Citrix XenServer Competitors

VMware vSphere vs RHEV

Compared 55% of the time

Proxmox VE vs RHEV

Compared 13% of the time

KVM vs RHEV

Compared 11% of the time

Hyper-V vs RHEV

Compared 9% of the time

Nutanix AHV Virtualization vs RHEV

Compared 7% of the time

More RHEV Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Citrix XenServer

January 2025

Download Citrix XenServer product report

Buyer's Guide

RHEV

December 2024

Download RHEV product report

Also Known As

Hypervisor

Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization

Learn More

Citrix

Red Hat

Overview

Citrix XenServer is a virtualization platform used in industries such as banking, automotive, and data applications for cloud automation, server virtualization, and VDI scenarios. It supports infrastructure management, virtual machine hosting, and enterprise software deployment, reducing costs by migrating from other platforms.

As a virtualization tool, Citrix XenServer stands out for its ease of maintenance, support, scalability, and centralized management. Commonly deployed on-premises and in data centers, it provides real-time monitoring, live migration, and strong security features. With compatibility across many operating systems, users benefit from a Windows-based management interface that is easy to install and navigate. Integration capabilities with active directory, storage, and load balancing contribute to resource optimization and reliability.

What are the key features of Citrix XenServer?

Cost-effectiveness: Reduces operational expenses across IT environments.
High Performance: Real-time monitoring and live migration support high efficiency.
Security: Strong safeguards protect data and processes.
Management Interface: Windows-based, offering user-friendly controls.
OS Compatibility: Works with a range of operating systems for flexibility.
Advanced Integrations: Active directory, storage, and load balancing maximize resources.

What benefits should users consider in Citrix XenServer reviews?

Scalability: Easily adapts to growing demands.
Ease of Deployment: Streamlines the installation process for quick setup.
Comprehensive Virtualization: Offers extensive capabilities for seamless operations.
Centralized Management: Facilitates control through XenCenter.

Implementation in banking, automotive, and data applications leverages Citrix XenServer's strengths in cloud automation and virtualization. Organizations manage resources, deploy services, and ensure stable operations within their infrastructure. The platform is used both on-premises and in data centers, aiding in areas such as cost reduction and maintenance efficiency.

Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, or RHEV, is a leading open standard enterprise virtualization management solution. This solution supports virtualization of servers and desktops using the same infrastructure and a single easy-to-use interface.

Because RHEV is based on open standards, it is vendor-independent and a lot more cost effective and flexible than proprietary solutions.

Sample Customers

U.S. Army Shared Services Center, SoftLayer, Educational Services of America, Independent Bank, and SK Telecom.

Qualcomm and Bonham's Auction House.

Buyer's Guide

Citrix XenServer vs. RHEV

January 2025

Free Report: Citrix XenServer vs. RHEV

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