What Are Some Alternatives to VMWare?

Posted by alvina on May 31st, 2017

What is VMware?

VMware is a way to run programs on your current operating system that otherwise would require additional operating system software to be purchased. An example of this would be the use ofMAC only software on a Windows operating system. Rather than purchasing a MAC you will be able to use VMware to allow the operating system to be used on your current devices. VMware was originally the only software that you could use to bypass the need for additional equipment; however, there are now numerous VMware alternatives to choose from, giving you more flexibility than ever.

VirtualBox

VirtualBox is an open source VMware alternative that can be used both for business and home users. It has numerous features and is known for its high performance, making it ideal for businesses. It’s free to use and is available in 28 languages.

Hyper-V

Hyper-V is similar to Windows and is free to use. It is also a great option for people that are struggling to get their NIC’s, resulting in them needing a VMware ESXialternative. You will need a processer that has virtualization capabilities to run and use Hyper-V but the software is free to download.

VMware lab manager alternatives

In May 2013 VMware took away their Lab Manager support, which led many people wondering what to do next. Thankfully VMware lab manager alternatives became quickly available before the dreaded support-stoppage and have continued to improve ever since, offering customers more choices. Most VMware customers were encouraged to upgrade and use vCloud Director, which does the same as VMware Lab and a lot more. Many organizations didn’t need the extra facilities included in the upgrade, which sent them looking for other alternatives.

The decision that has to be made first is whether the software is to be in the cloud or on premises. The answer can come from asking yourself how much lab testing is done throughout the year. If it is only done annually or very rarely then it’s not worth investing in solutions on the premises, so the cloud would be a better option. If the testing is done often then it may be better to have a solution on site. People should also think about the apps destination, for example cloud hosted apps are better tested in the cloud whereas on site is usually better dealt with on site too.

VMware lab manager alternatives include V-Commander, which is a self-service automated servicehighly praised by it users. It’s a great idea for those that are unable to break contract with their current lab manager provider, as it costs less than 0 per year per socket, which for most is worth the investment.

VMware vs Openstackcomparison

If you are thinking of changing your VMware to Openstack you will of course first need to do the comparison to ensure it is worthwhile. You have to think how the storage will be impacted as a result of the exchange. Provided that a Cinder driver is available, you should be able to repurpose external arrays for persistent storage. OpenStack will need more management in comparison but as using it will reduce the costs of hardware and external storage the trade-off is more than worth it. Openstack leaves the storage backup to the customer,whomif you don’t have tech support on hand might need some training before the swap can take place. The operation can be different, however if tech support is taught how to implement it correctly it could lead to long-term savings.