VMware ESXi Reviews

We are using VMware ESXi for virtualizing our full enterprise data center, hosting applications, databases, and other services on it, and utilizing virtualization to make the best use of our resources.

In our whole SBI Card infrastructure, we run multiple applications on VMware ESXi, including authorization systems, AD authentication, AD servers, and DNS servers, alongside network components such as virtual appliances and switches, which allows us to efficiently utilize physical resources by hosting multiple VMs and applications, while making maintenance tasks such as upgrades and support very easy through vCenter as a centralized dashboard.

Additionally, we utilize vSAN storage for managing storage needs, ensuring security compliance, and scheduling management updates, while keeping AD authentication user roles segregated with RBAC roles, allowing us to collect logs easily for issue resolution with VMware ESXi OEM support, which simplifies handling downtime during upgrades or restarts, as VMware ESXi often allows these operations to be completed within minutes compared to physical host restarts that take one to two hours.

I mainly use VMware ESXi for vCenter, ESXi, and virtualization.

The most valuable feature VMware ESXi offers me is the user interface and the ease of handling operations without downtime, which is the biggest advantage, particularly with capabilities for live patching, and VCF 9 in patching areas; the bundled licensing provided simplifies management as I can utilize resources based on my needs without worrying too much about individual licenses.

The zero-downtime patching is the feature that makes the biggest difference in my day-to-day operations, as well as managing hosts with an n+1 configuration, using a buffer host to streamline maintenance within a cluster of hosts.

The vMotion feature is another important aspect, as we opt for auto vMotion to optimize resources within the cluster, enabling the underlying VMs to be moved seamlessly from one host to another based on utilization without impacting applications.

VMware ESXi has positively impacted our organization significantly in terms of operations and cost optimization, as we optimized our environment under a per-core license agreement, achieving around 30 to 40% cost-effectiveness and maintaining almost 99.99% uptime across our environment, where VMware ESXi is run on about 85% of our setup.

Improvements in operations were made possible through visibility provided by VMware ESXi into hardware enhancements, such as virtual storage platforms with vSAN, which we incorporated into our environment supported by VMware ESXi 9 to enable effective live patching without impacting operations, and we regularly utilize RV tool reports to track actual utilization and optimize resources, reducing our footprint from 100 VMs on 100 hosts to 47 hosts, yielding substantial financial benefits thanks to the support from our VMware ESXi TAM.

While there is nothing particularly frustrating, a quicker response from VMware ESXi for planning existing hardware implementations of VCF 9 would be beneficial, especially for P1 issues where resolution should ideally be within four hours, avoiding delays in rerouting tickets to specialized technical teams for immediate attention, and a reduction in the overall pricing structure would also be appreciated.

I have been using VMware ESXi for the past eight years.

VMware ESXi is indeed stable for us.

VMware ESXi has scaled well as our environment has grown over time, seamlessly accommodating hardware updates and resource allocation for VMs.

Customer support from VMware ESXi is moderate; while they do respond, it often takes a while during emergency situations, which needs improvement.

We did not switch from another solution but reduced our reliance on KVM because, despite being open-source and free, it has limitations that VMware ESXi does not, particularly in terms of support, as VMware ESXi provides much better OEM support compared to KVM from Oracle, which is why VMware ESXi remains our choice for virtualization technology.

I definitely see a return on investment with VMware ESXi, as the time savings and cost reductions are notable, especially with VMware ESXi 9 contributing to a substantial overall cost reduction of around 30 to 40%, and the management burden decreased from a 20-person team to just five or six people providing 24/7 support.

We recently renewed our VMware ESXi subscription for 14,000 cores, and the total cost was approximately 16 crore for three years.

Overall, I found the pricing and licensing process to be very simple, as we only provided the number of cores needed, leading to straightforward suggestions and negotiations, with no complexity involved since it comes as a package.

We did not evaluate any other options before choosing VMware ESXi, as it was already known to us and present in our environment, providing sufficient business justification for our decision.

For large enterprises with over 1,000 to 2,000 servers, my advice is to adopt VMware ESXi, ensuring you use the latest technology-supported hardware such as vSAN for an easier operational experience.

I am looking to review VMware ESXi as a platform, specifically VMware vSphere. I would rate this product a 9 out of 10.

My main use case for VMware ESXi is setting up virtualization and hypervisor for VMware virtual machines, Windows virtual machines, and Linux virtual machines.

A quick specific example of how I use VMware ESXi for setting up virtual machines is that I built a number of VMs on an ESXi host. On top of that, we have also patched the ESXi host to a version to meet security compliance requirements. I also patch and harden the virtual machines as well. The security part is important, and I look after that. Additionally, I manage the access, which relates to the firewall, internal access, and VLANs as well.

We also use VMware ESXi for disaster recovery. We have a tool called Zerto, which I have set up and used. ESXi hosts are part of that mix. We have something called the internal vCenter Server with internal DRS, so we have a number of ESXi hosts, and the load is distributed between those hosts for the VMs. There is also high availability on them, so if there is a failure of a host, the virtual machine moves to a different ESXi host. In the same way, we have a disaster recovery tool using Zerto that is mapped to different ESXi hosts. The VM machines are also on those hosts, so if one ESXi host is not working, the VMs move to a different host within that tool as well.

VMware ESXi's best feature is virtualization for ease of management. The virtualization feature, high availability feature, and disaster recovery feature are quite good.

The ease of management in VMware ESXi comes through having vCenter Server, which centralizes the ESXi host within it. You can also manage the hosts individually. We have automated DRS setup, so it is automated and actually moves the VMs within the ESXi host itself. This helps us, and if there is a failure, it will automatically move the virtual machines. Disaster recovery is helpful through Zerto, which maps to the ESXi host and is used for disaster recovery.

VMware ESXi's scalability is very good. You can scale it, and obviously you have to get the licenses, but it is very scalable.

The customer support for VMware ESXi is excellent.

I think VMware ESXi has covered most of what is required regarding the needed improvements.

I have been using VMware ESXi for 15 years.

VMware ESXi's stability is very stable. The reason I choose that assessment is that it is quite reliable and stable.

The customer support for VMware ESXi is excellent.

At this company, VMware ESXi was already in use since I joined, so I did not previously use a different solution.

VMware ESXi has reduced cost and energy in the long term because we have virtualized our infrastructure. Most of it is virtualized, approximately 95 percent. This has been quite a big help.

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for VMware ESXi has been quite efficient, with a lot of cost savings. I am not dealing with it in this company because higher management handles the cost of the licensing.

We did not evaluate other options before choosing VMware ESXi because the other option we had was another hypervisor, which is Microsoft Hypervisor. VMware is much better in features and performance.

My advice to others looking into using VMware ESXi is that they need to make sure their staff are trained up on VMware to use most of the features on it. VMware ESXi is a very stable infrastructure since I have been using it, and it is very reliable. It always covers all security compliance needs. It is a much better product than the Microsoft free version or Microsoft Hypervisor. Even the paid Microsoft version is not as good. There are a few other versions out there, but I think VMware is superior to all of them. Pricing-wise, it is slightly more expensive, but the performance and stability are much better.

VMware ESXi is getting improved. VMware is always having new patches out and new versions to ensure that security vulnerabilities are kept up with the attacks, DDoS attacks, and other threats that happen. VMware ESXi meets the compliance requirements in terms of accuracy and reliability of output.

I have rated this product a 9 out of 10.

Our focus is on data centers and security. For virtualization, we are using VMware ESXi and Red Hat. For firewalls, we are using Cisco and Palo Alto.

We run a lot of data centers in a split mode. vMotion is a daily used technology in order to have one part of the machines in one site and others in a different site and also have redundancy between the sites.

In our company, we have four data centers.

We are using VMware ESXi for virtualization, with vCenter being the core product.

These are building blocks for having efficiency and stability in daily operations, and we cannot operate without them.

Secure boot is a technology we are using, but not data encryption, as we have data encryption at different levels, such as databases.

We run numerous data centers in split mode. vMotion is a daily used technology that allows us to have machines distributed across different sites while maintaining redundancy between the sites.

Licensing has become a major issue. The new subscription-based licensing model is problematic. They have dropped all the support services for small partners and cut all small partners. The last two years have been challenging - after building stability, we received an email announcing they dropped the current model.

It used to be cost-efficient. Now, when compared with Red Hat OpenStack, it is more expensive, but our knowledge and client awareness is with VMware ESXi. At this moment, we still prefer VMware ESXi.

We have been using the solution for a few years. Stability is most important for us. They have always innovated until Broadcom bought them.

Stability rates a perfect 10. We have encountered bugs, but they have never affected production with major impact.

We have not experienced any scalability issues in our scenarios.

For VMware ESXi, we used to be a partner, but after Broadcom bought the company, we are just a reseller. We are forced to buy from distribution and through a different partner.

Neutral

They are the leaders in our business segment, but Nutanix and Red Hat are major competitors.

The deployment was both easy and complex, depending on the scenarios. The scenarios themselves are complex, so at some points complexity is necessary.

We used to buy through vendors such as Cisco and Dell. Now that Broadcom has dropped them, we are buying through country distributors.

It provides return on investment but is not cost-effective anymore.

Nutanix is an alternative solution.

The new model took six months to clarify internally. That is why we have started using Red Hat.

They are the leaders in our business segment, though Nutanix and Red Hat are major competitors.

I would recommend it because it is a product that we know and it is stable. This is the most important thing when building a data center.

On a scale of one to ten, I rate this solution a seven.

Our primary use case for VMware ESXi is hosting VMs in a live environment for development and other servers. The solution is deployed on-premises.

VMware ESXi is very scalable and helpful for our business. It allows us to implement multiple servers on a single machine and utilize hardware resources efficiently.

The most valuable features are the integration with networking and virtual network switches. Additionally, its capability to move virtual machines to physical machines is very efficient for our live environment. The network failover feature is also reliable and favored.

We often face issues with ESXi that require us to change resources by shutting down the VMs. Improving the efficiency of this feature for better scalability would enhance the product. 

Additionally, providing a mobile application for remote access to ESXi servers would be beneficial.

I have been working with VMware ESXi for three years.

ESXi is stable, and our business operations depend on it year after year. The stability rating is a ten out of ten.

The solution is scalable, allowing us to scale up or down regardless of infrastructure size. However, there are challenges when resources need changing without shutting down VMs. The current scalability rating is a seven out of ten.

In the last three or four years, we did not require any support from VMware engineers, indicating its high reliability.

Positive

The initial setup was very easy, rated ten out of ten, and we did not encounter any challenges.

A single PeerSpot person can handle the maintenance as it is user-friendly.

The pricing is expensive, with the cost for customers ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 yearly. The price rating is nine out of ten.

I recommend new users download and evaluate the free version from VMware's website. Once satisfied, they should purchase the professional version for a smooth and secure IT infrastructure. The professional version is cost-effective, allowing one to create multiple servers on a single server.

I'd rate the solution ten out of ten.

The scalability features of VMware ESXi support our enterprise growth by providing scaling out features of the hypervisor platform.

It would be better if there existed an easier licensing, scaling, and licensing method in the VMware ESXi product. It's not complicated, but it's hard to acquire and purchase VMware ESXi, so we have to choose some features. For example, I don't want to use any Tanzu feature, but if I choose the VMware VCF platform, Cloud Foundation, it's automatically coming in the product. I need storage virtualization such as vSAN, which is included only in VCF. But if I purchase VCF, then Tanzu and other features, which we are not going to use, come with the package.

We are not receiving the response very fast from support, so we have to wait a lot. If the response time were faster, then it would be better for us.

Positive

I can rate the setup of VMware ESXi as very easy, giving it an eight out of ten.

Actually, we have some experience with VMware ESXi supporting AI-driven projects, but it's just in the early stages; it's not an advanced project for the time being.

I recommend making the licensing method easier for those who plan to use VMware ESXi. It's very expensive now, and if there were some flexibility in the selection of the features and the product, even inside ESXi, it would be better. We now only have two options to select: VCF and what I think is VMware vSphere Foundation. There is no other option for the time being, and this is a very strict restriction for customers. It's not flexible to select the features and the products, and that's problematic.

I can recommend that scaling is very important, especially if you plan to use VMware ESXi. You need to do an exact and correct scaling for your infrastructure, including hosting, number of cores, number of CPUs, and the size of both production and non-production environments. Be careful with choosing the hardware platform because, even if they have the same CPU family, they don't respond the same. Certified and well-known hardware platforms are the best for VMware.

On a scale of 1-10, I rate VMware ESXi an 8.

Positive

We are a partner and reseller of Hitachi and VMware. We offer support to existing customers who have already deployed VMware solutions. Our primary focus includes data center virtualization.

ESXi stands out for its simplicity in setup, management, and monitoring. Its deployment is straightforward, and no other solutions compare to VMware hypervisor in terms of these features. 

As a level one or bare metal hypervisor, its unmatched scalability depends on underlying hardware, capable of managing large numbers of physical servers with one management platform.

The licensing model currently presents challenges. It's not cost-effective for small users and creates a gap for alternatives, while favoring larger clients. 

Discontinuing previous products has also impacted mid-range organizations, and I suggest maintaining products that cater to mid-range organizations.

Scalability is unmatched and depends on underlying hardware. vCenter Server can manage up to 1,000 ESXi servers within a single UI interface, allowing extensive deployment and management capabilities.

Patching and upgrading are simple, easy, and can often be done live, requiring no downtime unless dealing with an older version.

There are challenges due to a confusing and uncertain licensing model. Previously, there were different licensing models, however, changes have made it cost-prohibitive for smaller users.

The gap in the current VMware licensing model creates opportunities for other principals offering virtualization solutions, especially for small users.

For customers without current hypervisors, starting with a trial ESXi license is recommended. Existing VMware customers need to adapt to licensing changes. 

Currently, I'd advise potential new customers to wait until pricing becomes stable.

I'd rate the solution ten out of ten.

I have done multiple projects with ESXi. These include projects for organizations like Bank Islami, UPL Funds, AGP, Aligore and Co, IGI Insurance, IJLife, TPL Tracker, TPL Properties, TPL Insurance, and Edith University. My customers primarily operate in the insurance, medical, and banking sectors.

ESXi is a virtualization platform that allows multiple applications to run on the same physical hardware, reducing costs significantly by transforming physical servers into virtual environments. It is known for its stability and reliability, allowing seamless task execution by running directly on the hardware processor. 

Additionally, ESXi's integration with VMware vCenter offers centralized management. Features like high availability ensure VM migration to another host in case of host failure.

The cost of VMware ESXi is very high, especially after the acquisition by Broadcom, which led to price increases. Improving the cost structure would be beneficial.

I have worked with VMware for five to six years.

ESXi is a very stable product. I have not faced significant stability issues with VMware ESXi.

ESXi is very scalable. My customers are highly satisfied with its scalability, and I would rate it nine out of ten in this regard.

Customer service and support are good; they are reachable, and at times remote support suffices. However, sometimes I need to visit on-premises sites for complex issues.

Positive

The initial setup of VMware ESXi is very easy, and I would rate it nine out of ten. Deployment can be completed within minutes.

VMware ESXi operates on a subscription model with core-based licensing; the pricing can change frequently. The product is very cost-effective, though not fixed, as pricing tends to fluctuate over time.

I have used Nutanix and SimpliVity as alternatives, however, VMware is more powerful, secure, and authentic.

For enterprises seeking scalable and robust solutions, VMware ESXi is highly recommended. Although its price is high, it is a stable product with significant benefits. 

I rate VMware ESXi ten out of ten.

I am currently on the technical side, making connections so if reports are not working, I handle that. I have knowledge of ESXi, including making a VM and installing operating systems like Linux or Windows.

VMware ESXi has improved the efficiency of the software. It depends mostly on the specs of the virtual machine first created.

The most important features are having a lot of code and CPU threads to ensure the system doesn't lag, and the role of memory is important.

The software could be more user-friendly, allowing customers to easily find the resources and features they need.

I have been using VMware ESXi for less than a year.

I rate the stability of the solution as either nine or ten out of ten.

I rate the scalability about eight or nine out of ten. A lot of customers require this for virtual environments.

I rate the technical support from VMware as nine or ten out of ten.

Positive

The initial setup is straightforward and simple to understand. It takes about a day or two to set up the system completely.

We use vendor partners to set up according to customer requirements.

The solution is moderately priced, not exactly cheap yet not overly expensive either.

I recommend VMware ESXi because many customers prefer virtual environments over on-premises solutions due to efficiency and flexibility.

I'd rate the solution seven out of ten.

We are using VMware ESXi for running various kinds of applications in our environment that use virtual machines.

VMware ESXi provides a reliable and stable environment, which makes us confident in our IT operations. We rely on it particularly in production environments where reliability is crucial.

VMware ESXi is very reliable, especially for our production environment. The ability to collapse its vulnerabilities swiftly adds to its reliability. Hyper-threading is a feature we use extensively.

For horizontal scalability, VMware ESXi is not the right product, and we have been evaluating alternative options. There are also some complaints about the web interface and licensing issues after Broadcom's acquisition.

I have been working with VMware ESXi for more than ten years.

VMware ESXi provides a very stable environment, making it a reliable choice for our operations.

Vertical scalability with VMware ESXi is very achievable, allowing easy upgrades to physical components like CPU and RAM. However, its horizontal scalability is not as flexible.

We have received good service from VMware technical support, though the need for assistance has been infrequent.

Positive

I have not had a chance to explore many other solutions in comparison to VMware ESXi.

The initial setup process is not complex and can typically be done in a little more than one hour with the help of one resource.

We are considering moving to another product for better cost-effectiveness, which might improve our ROI.

From a cost perspective, we are not entirely satisfied with VMware ESXi.

We are considering Kubernetes or OpenShift as potential alternatives.

Technically, VMware ESXi is a mature product, and I would recommend it for reliable, stable environments.