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IBM PowerVM vs Oracle VM VirtualBox comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 6, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

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

ROI

Sentiment score
7.8
IBM PowerVM enhances ROI with scalability, reduced licensing costs for Oracle users, and reliable, secure, scalable solutions for diverse needs.
Sentiment score
4.0
Organizations using Oracle VM VirtualBox achieved quick ROI by reducing hardware costs and speeding up software deployment and testing.
The return on investment is substantial, though other platforms may offer a better ROI, primarily due to lower costs involved in setup and maintenance.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.5
IBM PowerVM customer service is highly regarded for responsiveness, knowledgeable support, and effective issue resolution, despite some service gaps.
Sentiment score
7.7
Oracle VM VirtualBox users often prefer community resources over official support, though some praise Oracle's knowledgeable assistance.
IBM provides strong support.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
IBM PowerVM is scalable and flexible, supporting large deployments but configurability may depend on initial investment and model.
Sentiment score
7.3
Oracle VM VirtualBox scalability receives mixed reviews, with some praising efficiency while others cite hardware constraints and resource management challenges.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.4
IBM PowerVM is highly stable and reliable, outperforming competitors in handling secure, critical data operations with minimal maintenance.
Sentiment score
7.0
Oracle VM VirtualBox is generally stable, with Linux favored for reliability, and users rate it highly for functionality.
 

Room For Improvement

IBM PowerVM requires enhanced interface, automation, integration, and pricing to improve virtualization performance and operational efficiency.
Users find Oracle VM VirtualBox challenging due to outdated UI, networking issues, and required command-line configurations, seeking improvements.
We have a strong relationship with IBM, which aids decision-making in transitioning clients from mainframe to other platforms.
 

Setup Cost

IBM PowerVM's high pricing, lack of transparency, and negotiation needs are offset by performance, reliability, and unlimited usage benefits.
Oracle VM VirtualBox is favored for free access, appealing to smaller users, with variable costs for larger enterprises.
Pricing is a concern in Argentina due to the higher cost of mainframe solutions.
 

Valuable Features

IBM PowerVM offers efficient resource management, ensuring reliability with 99.999% availability and supports dynamic allocation with minimal downtime.
Oracle VM VirtualBox provides cost-free, multi-platform virtualization, offering ease of use, high performance, and versatile open-source features.
PowerVM excels in efficiently managing all systems and environments, including development, UI, and production.
 

Categories and Ranking

IBM PowerVM
Ranking in Server Virtualization Software
11th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
34
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Oracle VM VirtualBox
Ranking in Server Virtualization Software
6th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
63
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Server Virtualization Software category, the mindshare of IBM PowerVM is 1.3%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle VM VirtualBox is 8.9%, down from 11.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Server Virtualization Software
 

Featured Reviews

Atif Najam - PeerSpot reviewer
A stable system for high-end data processing with a great support structure
The only problem with the IBM system is improving its hardware licensing model. For example, when you procure a server with 40 physical codes, you must also procure licenses to activate the codes. In Dell or any system, you procure the hardware and have the full right to use the hardware. For IBM, it's different because when you procure a 40-code processor and have 40 physical codes, you only have a license to use 20. As a result, the 20 alert codes will always be in activated mode. Hence, the hardware licensing model could be improved because the licensing model is a bit different from the standard hardware procured.
Tomasz Pietas - PeerSpot reviewer
Good functionality and free to use with a useful snapshot feature
The functionality and productivity are very good. I can test and roll back features in my work. It's a big platform. It's very useful. I like that it has a snapshot feature. The virtual network is great. There are a lot of features. It has everything I need. The product is free to use. It's easy to set up.
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824,053 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
20%
Financial Services Firm
14%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
6%
Computer Software Company
16%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Educational Organization
9%
University
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM PowerVM?
Managing other operating systems is also straightforward with IBM PowerVM.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM PowerVM?
Pricing is a concern in Argentina due to the higher cost of mainframe solutions. This becomes a significant factor in migration decisions.
What needs improvement with IBM PowerVM?
The pricing is expensive, which poses a financial challenge, especially in Argentina. We have a strong relationship with IBM, which aids decision-making in transitioning clients from mainframe to o...
How does KVM compare to Oracle VM VirtualBox?
KVM is easy to use, stable and flexible. It is mature and very fast. It is an affordable open-source solution that is easy to set up and manage. It offers very good security. It has a virtual manag...
What do you like most about Oracle VM VirtualBox?
The product’s most valuable feature is the ability to manage multiple operating systems through one application.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle VM VirtualBox?
The pricing is flexible. When Oracle bought VirtualBox, they introduced some licensing issues. However, it did not affect the terms of licenses and additional costs. The price is okay. I rate the p...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

PowerVM
No data available
 

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Overview

 

Sample Customers

Sto, Soitec, SNO, Bundesrechenzentrum GmbH, Al Mansour Holding, Baptist Health of Northeast Florida, Huhtamaki, ELK Group, IT-Informatik, Arkansas Tech University, Pneuhage
Airbus, Colorado State University, SCS Africa, Wolf Medical Systems.
Find out what your peers are saying about IBM PowerVM vs. Oracle VM VirtualBox and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.
824,053 professionals have used our research since 2012.