We use the product as a virtual infrastructure to hold applications.
Information Technology Division Director at Ethiopian Roads Administration
Can create and manage both Windows and Linux virtual machines
Pros and Cons
- "Using VMware ESXi for server management significantly simplifies the process. Traditionally, procuring physical servers was necessary, but now, we can create virtual machines on VMware ESXi based on our requirements. As long as resources are available, we can create as many virtual machines as needed."
- "The solution's pricing could be improved. It has become expensive after the Broadcom acquisition."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The main features of VMware that are most effective for managing virtual environments include creating and managing both Windows and Linux virtual machines.
Using VMware ESXi for server management significantly simplifies the process. Traditionally, procuring physical servers was necessary, but now, we can create virtual machines on VMware ESXi based on our requirements. As long as resources are available, we can create as many virtual machines as needed.
This is particularly useful for deploying applications that require additional resources, as we no longer need physical servers. Instead, we create virtual machines using VMware and host the applications on those servers. This approach allows for quick deployment.
What needs improvement?
The solution's pricing could be improved. It has become expensive after the Broadcom acquisition.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for more than three years.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate VMware ESXi's stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Our organization has around 250 virtual machines running on VMware ESXi. The system can accommodate more, depending on our number of clusters. From the IT administration side, we have about ten system administrators who manage and interact with the tool's interface to resolve any issues.
How are customer service and support?
We have contacted tech support. They provide good support, but due to our policy, we usually rely on vendor support. After deploying the solution for more than three years, it has worked properly, and we haven't needed to request much support from the vendor side.
What about the implementation team?
You need a professional to assist with the deployment.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the overall solution a ten out of ten. You should use it to start exploring the virtualized environment.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Jul 24, 2024
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Solution Architect at a comms service provider with 501-1,000 employees
Good for virtualization and does what we want it to do
Pros and Cons
- "It's pretty good and robust."
- "Pricing is always the first thing to look at for improvement."
What is our primary use case?
We use it for virtualization. We have about 500 virtual machines that run on eight hosts running ESXi. It's pretty good and robust. It does what we want it to do. That's why we never change. We just stay with VMware and ESXi because it always works. I normally never have a problem with it. It's very stable.
What is most valuable?
I like VMotion. We can update hosts without affecting the VMs. VMotion would be number one.
What needs improvement?
It's a good product. For what we use it for, probably just the pricing. To make it cheaper. Pricing is always the first thing to look at for improvement.
Probably just integration of firmware updates could make life easier. But I think that comes with VxRail, not if you buy separate servers. It would be good to do the VMware and ESXi updates at the same time.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with this product for 15 years. A long time. Since the first version, maybe even more than 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate the stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's quite high. I would rate the scalability a nine out of ten. We use it at an enterprise level.
How are customer service and support?
The customer service and support are pretty good. If you've got a major problem, they come and fix it pretty quickly.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I also use VMware vSphere 7. It runs on the servers, and we have Fibre switches and Unity for storage.
We do ESXi, Cisco firmware, and Dell firmware.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is very easy.
It's maybe 30 minutes to set up, and then it's working. It's really quick.
It is a hybrid model.
What other advice do I have?
It is suitable for medium to enterprise levels.
Overall, I would rate it a nine out of ten. The recommendation is very high. It's probably the best hypervisor we've used.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Jul 18, 2024
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Business Development Executive at Digital Alliance Limited
Provides high availability and a good web interface
Pros and Cons
- "VMware ESXi provides high availability and a good web interface."
- "VMware should make recovering the password easier if customers forget it."
What is our primary use case?
An insurance company uses the solution to optimize its hardware. It can virtualize and run multiple applications on three servers that use VMware ESXi virtualization. More than 50 virtual servers are run on the three Cisco hosts. They use VMware Horizon for desktop visualization.
What is most valuable?
VMware ESXi provides high availability and a good web interface. The VMware vCenter, included in VMware ESXi, helps us manage our infrastructure. With VMware vCenter, you can manage and administer every other virtual machine and Cisco host.
What needs improvement?
VMware should make recovering the password easier if customers forget it. Since everything is being containerized and moved to the cloud, VMware ESXi should keep on improving to meet up with the current technology trend.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using VMware ESXi for more than ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
VMware ESXi is a very stable solution.
I rate the solution’s stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
VMware ESXi is a scalable solution. Our clients for VMware ESXi are mostly medium-sized businesses.
I rate the solution’s scalability a nine out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The solution’s technical support is very good and helps resolve any issues.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
Once you have gone through the training, the solution's initial setup is very easy. The deployment takes approximately three to four days.
The solution's deployment time depends on the number of virtual machines created and the physical infrastructure. It's a straightforward process. Before you deploy the solution, you need to analyze the risks involved and how to mitigate them if you encounter any during the course of deployment. You need to do a proper assessment of the environment and customer requirements to ensure that whatever you are deploying will address such requirements.
You should also create room for upgrades. Suppose a customer needs additional capacity because they have acquired a new application that needs more resources. If you don't increase room, you will have to acquire new hardware to add on or do an upgrade immediately. Everything should be planned for the next three years' utilization. If you do it properly, everything will work out perfectly.
What was our ROI?
The solution saved our customers money and time. Initially, they had to purchase new hardware to launch a new application. With VMware ESXi, they have been able to launch applications without buying new infrastructure. The solution helps them to launch a new application without going through the procurement process of six months to one year.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
VMware ESXi is a costly solution in Africa and other developing countries. The initial acquisition cost may be between $ 20,000 to $ 30,000, depending on the number of servers clustered together.
What other advice do I have?
Providing security is a continuous process because no client or vendor is 100% secure. VMware ESXi hasn't created any security loopholes so far. Once we follow the best practice and do the normal patching from time to time, you can upgrade the patches and eliminate any lapses. VMware always comes with regular patchups on the infrastructure.
I would recommend VMware ESXi to other users because it is a good solution, and its support is fantastic and far better than most other OEMs.
Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
Last updated: Sep 4, 2024
Flag as inappropriateInside Product Specialist 3 at Dell Technologies
Licensing challenges and not as reliable as before but has a straightforward initial setup
Pros and Cons
- "The initial setup is not complex at all. It is actually very good and straightforward."
- "Licensing now needs improvement."
What is our primary use case?
I have a whole lab setup to train for VMware for virtualization to fellow students. As a reseller, I work for Dell, so I position my servers and storage portfolio. We position VMware ESXi along with the server when we require virtualization.
What is most valuable?
Earlier, the perpetual license was really helpful. The solution was straightforward and very stable at that time.
What needs improvement?
Licensing now needs improvement. VMware has gone to the core-based licensing, which is not well received by most people. The pricing and licensing model has changed the dynamics of the virtualization market.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability of the solution has decreased over time. It used to be a six or a seven. Now it is around a four out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is fine. That said, with scalability, you will need to have more licenses. Customers have faced challenges with the licensing model.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not complex at all. It is actually very good and straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing right now is one. It is not good at all.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
VMware users are getting more options in RHL, Red Hat, OpenShift, and Nutanix after the Broadcom acquisition of VMware.
What other advice do I have?
I'd rate the solution five out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Other
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
Last updated: Oct 2, 2024
Flag as inappropriateExecutive Officer 1B at Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC
User-friendly product with good scalability
Pros and Cons
- "The setup was relatively easy for me."
- "The solution's cost is a concern."
What is our primary use case?
In our data center operations, we use the product for high availability, snapshots, cloning, and various features integral to our operations.
What is most valuable?
ESXi is a more mature product than other industry virtualization solutions. It is more user-friendly and mature, even compared with Nutanix.
It allows us to reduce costs while improving performance, especially using VMware Ops Manager.
What needs improvement?
The solution's cost is a concern. Due to management's focus on costs, we have had to consider moving to a cheaper, more competitive product like Nutanix.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using ESXi since VMware version 4.1.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We did encounter a performance issue with IBM DB2, but the solution has been working stable since a recent patch.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The platform has good scalability.
How was the initial setup?
The setup was relatively easy for me.
We configure new servers as needed, setting IPs, passwords, and internal details according to requirements. The process is straightforward since we've done it many times.
Maintenance can be challenging when updating firmware, which sometimes requires downtime due to server load.
What other advice do I have?
We are satisfied with the platform's security features.
We use its AI features to monitor performance and improve system efficiency.
VMware is the industry leader, and I recommend it if the company is prepared for a virtual environment. Overall, I rate it a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Sep 1, 2024
Flag as inappropriateSr Mgr DC & Network EIMEA at a non-tech company with 10,001+ employees
Offers a mature environment and is highly reliable
Pros and Cons
- "From a technical perspective, VMware ESXi's best advantages are its reliability and high availability features. It's a very mature and good environment."
- "The main disadvantage is that the tool requires a significant, expensive initial investment. VMware ESXi requires a large upfront investment that depreciates over three to four years compared to cloud solutions with pay-as-you-go models. You should only choose it if you plan to use it for at least three years. Its deployment process is complex and requires an experienced team."
What is most valuable?
From a technical perspective, VMware ESXi's best advantages are its reliability and high availability features. It's a very mature and good environment.
What needs improvement?
The main disadvantage is that the tool requires a significant, expensive initial investment. VMware ESXi requires a large upfront investment that depreciates over three to four years compared to cloud solutions with pay-as-you-go models. You should only choose it if you plan to use it for at least three years. Its deployment process is complex and requires an experienced team.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the product for 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the tool's stability a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
VMware ESXi is very capable regarding scalability. You can easily add more servers to double or triple the environment's capacity, so scaling the solution is not a problem.
How was the initial setup?
The installation requires a skilled team with at least five to ten years of experience. It's complex to set up initially, but it's not too complicated once it's running. One person can install it, but having a couple of professionals is better, especially if managing installations across multiple countries.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I rate the solution's pricing a five out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the overall solution a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Aug 31, 2024
Flag as inappropriateProf.Em. at a healthcare company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Offers good efficiency to its users
Pros and Cons
- "I am not sure about cost savings, but efficiency-wise, it has improved our company."
- "VMware ESXi has a complex setup phase, making it an area where improvements are required."
What is our primary use case?
I have used the solution at home and in my company's departments.
What is most valuable?
When my company decided to go virtual, we chose VMware for the main reason, which was to comply with the other tools on our campus, like ZenSource and Citrix. My department was the lone runner of ZenSource and Citrix, so it was not the right thing to continue with them. The technology was great, but we didn't want to be the only department using such solutions, and so we moved to VMware. VMware and Nutanix have complex setup phases, especially in the beginning.
What needs improvement?
VMware ESXi has a complex setup phase, making it an area where improvements are required.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using VMware ESXi for ten years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
My company had worked with the limited capabilities of the tool's scalability features. Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.
A few hundred people use the tool in my department, but around 5,000 people use it throughout the organization.
The tool is used regularly as part of our virtual infrastructure.
How are customer service and support?
I have had no issues with the technical support for the solution. I rate the technical support an eight out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used ZenSource and Citrix.
How was the initial setup?
VMware ESXi has a complex setup phase.
The installation of VMware and Nutanix was done together, and it took a couple of days. After the setup phase, you can fine-tune it, and it takes time for everything to run as you expected or as you want it, but it took a few days to get it up and running and back in production.
What about the implementation team?
My company did not set up the tool by ourselves. After the initial setup, we ran it and managed it, but the initial setup was done by the company that we bought it from. It was a sort of a two-key solution until we got everything running. A third party was involved in the setup phase.
What was our ROI?
I am not sure about cost savings, but efficiency-wise, it has improved our company.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
If one is cheap, and ten is expensive, I rate the tool's price as an eight.
What other advice do I have?
I have not faced any challenges while integrating VMware ESXi with existing infrastructure.
My company doesn't handle any AI-driven projects with the tool.
I rate the tool an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Last updated: Aug 19, 2024
Flag as inappropriateAssistant Manager IT Infrastructure at a manufacturing company with 501-1,000 employees
Helps improve the overall performance of businesses
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features of the solution are its high availability and resource scheduling areas."
- "The tool's downtime is an area of concern where improvements are required."
What is our primary use case?
I use the solution in my company for virtualization.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of the solution are its high availability and resource scheduling areas.
What needs improvement?
Recently, the tool's licensing model has become complicated, making it an area where improvements are required.
The tool's downtime is an area of concern where improvements are required.
The solution's technical support team's response time has to be a bit faster.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using VMware ESXi for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
There is some downtime with the tool. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Though I don't have any experience with the scalability part of the product, I can rate it as an eight out of ten.
The product is suitable for small, medium, and large companies.
How are customer service and support?
I rate the technical support a seven out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
How was the initial setup?
The product's initial setup phase is somewhere in between being an easy and difficult process. The product's initial setup phase is difficult, but one can manage to set it up.
The solution is deployed on an on-premises model.
The solution can be deployed in a couple of days.
What about the implementation team?
For the deployment phase, my company received support from Dell, who used to own the solution.
What was our ROI?
The product helps our company save time.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I rate the product price as one on a scale of one to ten, where one is high price and ten is low price.
What other advice do I have?
The product has improved the overall performance of my company.
I can recommend the product to others who plan to use it.
I rate the tool an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

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