Dec 06, 2021
KVM can take full advantage of the operating system where it is hosted.
KVM and VMware vSphere are both major players in the virtualization platforms category. Based on features, enterprise-grade capacities of VMware vSphere give it an edge for businesses that prioritize stability and advanced management capabilities, especially with features like VMotion and high availability.
Features: KVM offers open-source flexibility, high performance, and seamless Linux integration, appealing to those seeking cost-effective and customizable solutions. Its open-source nature provides users the ability to tailor the platform to specific needs. VMware vSphere excels in enterprise-grade capabilities with robust centralized management, VMotion, and high availability features, making it suitable for organizations that need comprehensive management and stability.
Room for Improvement: KVM often requires a profound technical comprehension of Linux, and many users find its network management and interface lacking in intuitiveness. Conversely, VMware vSphere's steep pricing and complicated licensing present concerns, alongside the complexity and browser dependencies of its interface.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Deploying KVM demands expertise with Linux, and support is mainly community-driven unless opting for enterprise versions like Red Hat. VMware vSphere tends to offer easier deployment options and more structured support; however, setting it up can be expensive and requires meticulous planning.
Pricing and ROI: KVM is free, serving as a low-cost entry into virtualization, appealing to cost-conscious users. VMware vSphere, while expensive due to its extensive feature set and strong enterprise support, can potentially justify its cost with high ROI in complex virtualization needs for larger organizations.
KVM definitely saves costs since it is open-source and does not obligate us to pay for licenses as necessary with other virtualization solutions.
Paid support is also obtainable from companies like Red Hat for more critical issues.
Priority one issues are usually addressed by engineers within one to two hours.
My team solves most tickets, needing support only about once or twice a year.
Scaling is easy, whether it is hyperconverged or a three-tier architecture.
It is a very stable hypervisor solution.
In comparison to VMware, which offers a more balanced set of management features, KVM could improve in terms of user-friendly tooling.
Sometimes, it is difficult to find documentation for specific tools and solutions.
The cost changed from perpetual to subscription, and there is a need for alternative solutions.
Another area is the stability during upgrades from older versions to newer versions, where we face issues.
Compared to VMware and Microsoft, KVM offers better pricing and licensing options.
Costs significantly increased from perpetual to subscription, with prices rising by two to three times over three to five years.
The most valuable feature of KVM is its superior real-time performance, which results in lower latency compared to alternatives like VMware and Microsoft.
The vMotion feature is beneficial for online migration of virtual machines from one host to another without downtime.
The high availability feature is significant.
VMware vCenter is extremely useful as we can manage between 100 and 1,000 hosts using just one management tool.
KVM stands for Kernel-based Virtual Machine, which is an open-source virtualization technology that is embedded in Linux. KVM allows users to seamlessly transform their Linux system into a hypervisor that, in turn, will enable a host machine to run numerous, isolated virtual environments or virtual machines (VMs).
KVM is part of Linux. Users with Linux 2.6.20 or newer already have KVM. As KVM is already a component of the current Linux code, it automatically improves with every new Linux fix, feature, or upgrade. So KVM users are always current and up to date.
KVM automatically transforms Linux to a type -1 (bare-metal) hypervisor. All hypervisors need operating system components, such as a process scheduler, I/O stack, device drivers, memory manager, and more, to run a VM. KVM already has these components embedded, as it is part of the Linux kernel. Each VM is generated as a basic Linux proces,s which is maintained by the standard Linux scheduler, with dedicated hardware such as a graphics adapter, memory, disks, network card, and CPUs.
KVM Key Features:
KVM has many valuable key features. Some of its most useful features include:
Reviews from Real Users
“The most helpful aspect of KVM is the fact that the interface is so minimal. It includes just what you need to set up the VMs and manage them, and it's very simple to do so. KVM, as a native virtualization solution, is a complete and fully adequate system for small businesses that need to reduce costs, and also to make maintenance easier. “ - Georges E., Business Engineer and Consultant at All-Tech
“The most valuable feature of KVM is the hypervisor environment and how we can configure it with ease. Additionally, the interface is intuitive.” Sonu S., Senior Solution Architect at Micro Focus
VMware vSphere is a versatile virtualization platform known for its ease of use, flexibility, and high availability. It supports seamless migration, optimal resource allocation, and centralized management, making it highly suitable for diverse infrastructure needs.
VMware vSphere is widely adopted for its virtualization capabilities that enhance hardware efficiency and ensure minimal downtime through features like High Availability and Distributed Resource Scheduler. Despite criticisms about high licensing costs and limited fault tolerance, it remains a preferred choice due to its stability, scalability, and robust integration options. Users appreciate its efficiency in managing virtual machines and hosting enterprise applications, although challenges with web client performance and hardware compatibility are noted. Organizations often look for better integration with cloud services and enhanced automation and scalability.
What are the core features of VMware vSphere?VMware vSphere is implemented across sectors like healthcare, finance, and education for server virtualization, data center management, and private cloud creation. Its use in facilitating business-critical operations ensures high availability and efficient resource use, supporting both development and production environments.
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