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Hybrid Cloud: VMware vs Microsoft

The hybrid cloud environment is becoming the norm, with two solutions being Microsoft’s Azure Stack and VMware Cloud. Whether your organisation is cloud-savvy or not, you need to consider the role a hypervisor plays.

A hypervisor is computer software, firmware, or hardware that operates virtual machines. They deliver and manage virtual or guest operating systems to virtual machine platforms, which can contain several operating systems. The right hypervisor ensures convenience, flexible resource allocation, and smooth experience.

Despite some clear differences, both Microsoft’s Azure Stack and VMware Cloud create easy access to the cloud. With Microsoft’s Stack, you’re using your hardware (owned or leased), and you’re leveraging the same-software platform that exists on the cloud-based Azure. VMWare on Amazon Web Service (AWS), however, is single-tenant infrastructure, controlled by VMware, that runs inside of a small number of AWS regions.

Read on to learn some of the key features and benefits of each solution.

 

VMware’s vSphere is an acclaimed hypervisor for organisations looking to reach some level of virtualization. It’s known for being highly configurable, making it an attractive choice for companies that are opting for a hybrid approach. There are several versions of vSphere offered, depending on your specific needs. vSphere Standard, Enterprise Plus, and Operations Management Enterprise Plus all present different features and unique abilities, allowing organisations to select the best solution for them.

vSphere Pros

• High-quality support availability

• Suitable to large scale enterprises

• Wide-ranging OS support

• Access to authoratative capabilities

• Offers higher guests per host (512 vs. 384)

vSphere Cons

• Free and trial versions do not offer full functionality

• Reported steep learning curve

MICROSOFT

Microsoft Hyper-V grants "enterprise-class virtualization" for organisations utilising a hybrid cloud. It’s the usual selection for those who want to virtualize workloads, build a private cloud, scale services through a public cloud, or merge all three.

Hyper-V is integrated into Windows Server but can also be installed as a standalone server. It comes with a unified set of management tools that help to ease the learning curve for administrators who have some history with Microsoft products.

Hyper-V Pros

• Can deploy new virtual servers in minutes

• Maintenance does not result in downtime

• Simple live migrations

• Easy backups

• Comprehensive security through Windows Active Directory

Hyper-V Cons

• Hyper-V (2012R2) supports a limited number of guest OS choices

• Requires Windows OS upgrades during product lifetime

Contact Centerprise today and get in touch with our Hybrid Cloud specialists! We are always on hand to talk through your needs to find the best Hybrid Cloud solution for you.



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