There are two versions of function more popular in our industry. One is the VMware solution, and one is Hyper-V. We choose VMware. We manage the VMware solutions with the vSphere. If you have a VMware solution, we have to use vSphere. However, if we choose Microsoft we have to use Microsoft management tools.
IT Manager at Cobantur
Easy to deploy and manage with pretty good reliability
Pros and Cons
- "The scalability has been good."
- "The solution should be more secure."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
It is easy to deploy and manage backups for me. That said, I've used it a long time and therefore am quite comfortable with it. Upgrades and restores are simple.
The product is stable as well.
The scalability has been good.
What needs improvement?
Technical support could be a bit better at assisting.
The solution should be more secure. Of course, it can depend on the deployment of your system on your side. Sometimes if the system is closed, you don't necessarily need more security. However, since we use different applications and tools, we must use different tools. We don't combine our security tools. However, we need to ensure that products like these are secure, and it would be ideal if more security was baked in.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for about 14 years or so. It's been well over a decade. I've used it for a while now.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is good. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Scalability is very simple. You can improve or expand it as needed. It's not a problem at all if you want to expand it out.
vSphere is for managing an organization's solutions management software. The size is not based on the number of users. Only IT, those responsible for managing the system center, or the hardware, or software of the solutions really have access to the product.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support isn't ideal. They are slow to respond. We've had issues previously.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We also have used Microsoft's Hyper-V solution.
How was the initial setup?
I find the solution, based on my long history with the product, very easy to set up. It's a pretty straightforward step-by-step process.
Typically, you just need one person to set it up. It only takes maybe an hour or so. Of course, the first time a person does an implementation, they might go slower.
We have two people on the system side and five people on the software side that are capable of working directly with the product.
What about the implementation team?
I handled the implementation myself. I didn't need the help of any integrators or consultants. I'm capable of reinstalling it or doing a whole new setup as needed.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We pay a yearly licensing fee.
What other advice do I have?
We're using version seven or thereabouts.
I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten.
I would recommend it to other users and companies.
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.

IT Manager at KIRLOSKAR PNEUMATIC CO. LTD.
Built-in backup, effective backup and recovery features
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features of VMware vSphere are backup and recovery."
- "The setup is easy. However, the configuration expansion can be difficult. The full implementation took three to four days. This included the move from physical servers to virtual ones."
What is our primary use case?
VMware vSphere is used for server virtualization. We are using Microsoft Active Directory, file, and Linux servers
How has it helped my organization?
The built-in backup and hyper-converged systems have helped our organization.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of VMware vSphere are backup and recovery.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using VMware vSphere for approximately 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable. However, sometimes it goes down, which can be time-consuming because it requires some complex scripts only the support team know.
I am the only person doing the maintenance of this solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
VMware vSphere is scalable.
We have approximately 500 users using the solution.
How are customer service and support?
The support has been good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have used Microsoft previously and we have found VMware to be more mature.
How was the initial setup?
The setup is easy. However, the configuration expansion can be difficult. The full implementation took three to four days. This included the move from physical servers to virtual ones.
What about the implementation team?
We used a reseller for the implementation and had a good experience.
What was our ROI?
When you spend on this solution you will get it back.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We pay for the solution on an annual basis. There are no additional fees other than the standard license.
What other advice do I have?
It's quite stable, has good support available, and is a mature product.
I rate VMware vSphere a nine 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.
Buyer's Guide
VMware vSphere
March 2025

Learn what your peers think about VMware vSphere. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
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Senior Oracle Database Administrator at a financial services firm with 51-200 employees
Is user-friendly, easy to install, stable, and scalable
Pros and Cons
- "It's much more stable than other products. It is scalable and easy to implement as well."
- "VMware vSphere does not permit hard partitioning."
What is our primary use case?
The primary use case for vSphere is that it can be used to deploy space applications to consolidate environments. You can be in production or in a data center, and you want each application to perform or to run only on a particular server. To create that consolidation and that separation of services, you could deploy vSphere.
Nowadays, servers are very robust. You can have a server of 18 cores and a server of 75 terabytes or 100 terabytes. That's a huge investment for a company, and you cannot just deploy a single application. So, with vSphere it will permit you to deploy the hypervessel on that server and later on add servers little by little that can meet your needs.
What is most valuable?
In terms of the usability, it's user-friendly; VMware vSphere is much simpler as compared to Oracle. Even a French-speaking citizen or foreigner can easily implement it.
It's much more stable than other products. It is scalable and easy to implement as well.
What needs improvement?
It would be good if VMware vSphere could permit hard partitioning. If a company wants to purchase very expensive applications such as Oracle E-Business Suite or Oracle Fusion and they have vSphere technology implemented in their data center, it will cost them a lot because it has a very heavy, strong, or robust server that has strong processing capacity. The license will not cost the license of vSphere, the virtual server created by vSphere. The license will be the license for the whole server, so it creates a lot of challenges.
If it's possible for virtual hard partitioning to be implemented so that those who are using very sophisticated applications like E-Business Suite and other applications that require licensing on a processor, a virtual processor, could benefit from it, then it would be great. That is, integration with more expensive platforms is needed.
It would be nice to pay once for an unlimited license. If you decide to quit later on, you could pay the support charges.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using VMware vSphere for about two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's much more stable than other products.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's very scalable because you can create a cluster. You can add a cluster and add another server in the nodes or in the cluster which you have created.
How was the initial setup?
It's user-friendly, and it's really easy for a beginner to install. Now, there are appliances that you can deploy directly. So, I think it's very easy compared to that of others in the market. I have deployed it in large environments and even a test environment.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented it ourselves.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I think the licensing cost depends on the number of users.
What other advice do I have?
VMware vSphere is user-friendly and easy to implement, so I will recommend it. I would rate it at eight on a scale from one to 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.
Logistics and product Manager at a security firm with 11-50 employees
A highly stable cloud computing virtualization platform
Pros and Cons
- "VMware vSphere is a stable platform. We never had any issues with VMware vSphere. Once you deploy it with a stable version of the server or the hardware, there's no issue at all."
- "I know VMWare has this Operations Manager. I know that it comes at a price because VMWare normally wants to charge for everything in the software. But I'm not seeing all the features of the Operations Manager. I only see a few features. If all the features can be included in one package, that would be good."
What is our primary use case?
Our clients have a lot that they want to be deployed in an environment. What they normally do is buy two or three boxes, and then it's virtualized. We make the VM sit on those boxes. Within three boxes, they can have at least ten or 20 servers working for them. They have less power, less racking space, less cabling, and all that. That's how we use VMware.
What is most valuable?
VMware vSphere is a stable platform. We never had any issues with VMware vSphere. Once you deploy it with a stable version of the server or the hardware, there's no issue at all.
What needs improvement?
A little automation would help. VMs normally use CPU resources. Let's say that a particular host or a server has ten VMs. Out of that, five VMs are performing, and the others aren't performing at the best level. It would help if VMware automatically learned that, and the suit itself came down to that level. When you normally give a VM four CPUs and the entire GB memory, then memory and the CPU belong to that VM.
But let's say that the VM is not using four CPUs. It's just using two CPUs. Then automatically at the VM level and without the client or the customer knowing, it should just use it at the backend. It would be better this way instead of telling the customer that they are going to reduce it. For them, it's always four CPUs, but at the backend, it's always working with two CPUs or something like that. That would have been a cool feature.
I know VMWare has this Operations Manager. I know that it comes at a price because VMWare normally wants to charge for everything in the software. But I'm not seeing all the features of the Operations Manager. I only see a few features. If all the features can be included in one package, that would be good.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
VMware vSphere is a stable platform.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
VMware vSphere is a scalable platform.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is fantastic.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward. It takes a normal amount of time to install the operating system.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Normally our clients go for a one-time cost because that's easier for them. They don't want to go for recurring costs. But some clients prefer to go for recurring costs. It depends on the client and doesn't depend on us.
Once you pay for the standard license, that's it unless you want another feature to be activated. That's a different thing.
What other advice do I have?
On a scale from one to ten, I would give VMware vSphere a ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
IT Infrastructure Engineer at a retailer with 10,001+ employees
Runs the back-end for all of our retail, point-of-sale systems
Pros and Cons
- "The vSphere Client always feels slow, and/or like it doesn't keep up with what I'm trying to do. So I usually use the thick client most of the time."
What is our primary use case?
The primary use cases for the solution are all of our production and DTQ.
We're not using any of the built-in security features.
How has it helped my organization?
We run 3,000 VMs. It works for what we need it to do. All of our retail point-of-sale stuff, the back-end for that, is on VMware. We're retail, so everything is run in virtual.
What needs improvement?
The vSphere Client always feels slow, and/or like it doesn't keep up with what I'm trying to do. So I usually use the thick client most of the time.
I'm looking forward to some of the new features on 6.7 where you can record your actions in the Client and then it will spit out all the code. So if you want a script of what you just did, it gives you all the code for that. That's probably the one thing I'm looking forward to the most in the 6.7.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I feel that it's stable. We haven't had any downtime because of the VMware.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's scalable.
How is customer service and technical support?
Technical support is helpful. I get through to the right people and they are able to give me the support I need.
What other advice do I have?
It's the only virtual solution I've ever used.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
IS Manager at a pharma/biotech company with 501-1,000 employees
We've consolidated our footprint and decreased the number of hardware hosts, although the web client is an area that needs improvement.
What is most valuable?
Accessibility and the ease of use is unparalleled. The clustering and ability to move virtual machines around on the fly has been amazing.
How has it helped my organization?
We’ve been able to consolidate our footprint and decreased the number of hardware hosts we were running.
What needs improvement?
I think everything we’re looking at should be addressed in 6. I don’t like the web client, I’m sure it’s fine, but I believe 6.0 addresses that.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We just switched, but so far it’s been very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Not yet, we just switched over.
How are customer service and technical support?
I submitted a ticket about four weeks ago, and the guy called me on a Saturday at midnight. It’s been fairly hard to get hold of somebody, and when they get ahold of you, I understood about three of every five words they said. I wished it was better.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We were just running Hyper-V, and the size of our team required more. The need to consolidate our servers, as VMware is a lot better with resource management, we didn’t want a large server cluster, so VMware was needed in order to maintain it well with a smaller staff.
Peer reviews actually a huge point in us switching over from Hyper-V. It’s such an old product that it was hard to find any support for it online, and the change we’ve seen in vSphere is night and day. There’s so many peer resources available that it’s been easy to transition for us.
How was the initial setup?
It's straightforward, and the documentation is nice. It's also got a good footprint on the web, that makes it easy to look for other users for knowledge and advice.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I always look at the price before purchasing technology.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Nope, it was the best from what we heard.
What other advice do I have?
I would say from a 4 of Hyper-V, I would easily give this a 7 or 8, as the support definitely improved drastically.
When selecting a vendor, do your research and develop relationships. If you know the product and can get in contact with POCs, we want to see the product before we buy it.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Virtualization and Cloud Consultant at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
It has fast server provisioning and improves disaster recovery.
What is most valuable?
Virtualization is the most valuable feature. Without it, working in the cloud and IT life as we know it is not possible.
How has it helped my organization?
- Fast server provisioning
- Saves energy
- It's green
- Improves disaster recovery
I have configured our environment in a way by which it will ease the process of provisioning the VMs by using automation workflows within the VMware environment.
Disaster recovery is very much helpful for any business where you require a maximum uptime or minimal downtime. We have two environments configured, hosted in two different locations, so if we encounter a disaster at one site, the network infrastructure will switch to the other site with minimal downtime (maximum 15 minutes).
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used it for over three years.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
There were challenges with the compatibility, design and architecture. If these three things are perfect on your table, then you will not face any issues while deploying anything. In our scenario, we encountered some issues with compatibility.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
No issues encountered.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
No issues encountered.
How are customer service and technical support?
Customer Service:
7/10.
Technical Support:8/10.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I was using Citrix. vSphere is far better than Citrix, in my opinion. There was a time that when you wanted to deploy a VDI environment, there would be no reason not to choose XenServers. But now, VMware vSphere is providing not just the VDI platform, but also the complete virtualization infrastructure with very good features.
How was the initial setup?
It is always straightforward if you follow the documentation.
What about the implementation team?
I tried it myself in-house in my lab environment.
What was our ROI?
I have learned a lot and am still learning.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It's worthwhile investing as VMware is a leader in the virtualization market.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
- Citrix
- Hyper-V
What other advice do I have?
Go ahead and implement it as you will enjoy using it.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
IT Infrastructure Engineer at a government with 5,001-10,000 employees
Makes my environment very reliable, and it is easy to manage and implement
Pros and Cons
- "It is a very dependable solution. Its performance is very good, and it is also easy to manage and implement."
- "They can lower the price of its license."
What is our primary use case?
I use it for my infrastructure, and we can also use it for our simulation environment and training. We can use VMware in a simulation environment to test the environment we need.
How has it helped my organization?
It makes my environment very reliable.
What is most valuable?
It is a very dependable solution. Its performance is very good, and it is also easy to manage and implement.
What needs improvement?
They can lower the price of its license.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with this solution for more than six months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Its stability is very good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is scalable. In my organization, we have about 2,000 users. Its usage is very extensive. We use it daily.
How are customer service and support?
Their technical support has been very good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Microsoft Hyper-V.
How was the initial setup?
It is easy to implement. It is a very good solution.
What about the implementation team?
I can implement it myself. On one server, it takes a maximum of one hour. We have a technical team of three people for deployment and maintenance. We have one manager and two engineers.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Its price could be lower. There is the cost of one license, and then there is the subscription cost for support.
What other advice do I have?
It is a very fine and reliable solution. I would rate it a nine out of 10.
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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