Microsoft Hyper-V narrows the gap
Within the next two to three years, bare-metal X64 hypervisors will likely become near-commodities. However, they are not there yet, as demonstrated by the launch of Release 2 of Microsoft’s Hyper-V hypervisor. Hyper-V still does not match important qualities and functions of its biggest rivals, VMware’s ESX/ESXi and Citrix’s XenServer, and is not yet suitable for large or sophisticated virtualization projects.
Despite this, the upgrade is significant. Previously, Hyper-V was mostly suitable only as a means of consolidating servers. Now it can also deliver the even greater benefits of improved application availability and flexible use of hardware.
Small and medium-sized customers should note that the management tools needed to handle Hyper-V deployments are significantly cheaper to buy than those needed for VMware’s ESX/ESXi. We are also certain that Microsoft’s continuing development of Hyper-V will eventually close the gap between it and its rivals.
Despite this, the upgrade is significant. Previously, Hyper-V was mostly suitable only as a means of consolidating servers. Now it can also deliver the even greater benefits of improved application availability and flexible use of hardware.
Small and medium-sized customers should note that the management tools needed to handle Hyper-V deployments are significantly cheaper to buy than those needed for VMware’s ESX/ESXi. We are also certain that Microsoft’s continuing development of Hyper-V will eventually close the gap between it and its rivals.
SUMMARY
Impact
Ovum view
Key messages
HYPER-V HAS BECOME STRONGER
Improvements across the board
The killer feature is live migration
A bigger appetite for power
A short cut through memory translation
Hyper-V gains hot storage additions
Easier storage management
Faster networking
HYPER-V STILL HAS LIMITATIONS
Comparing features with rivals
Memory overcommit
Fault tolerance
Live storage migration
Hot addition of CPU, memory, and networking
Cluster-wide virtual switches
Hyper-V still lacks power, especially for Linux
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations for enterprises
APPENDIX
Further reading
Methodology
Impact
Ovum view
Key messages
HYPER-V HAS BECOME STRONGER
Improvements across the board
The killer feature is live migration
A bigger appetite for power
A short cut through memory translation
Hyper-V gains hot storage additions
Easier storage management
Faster networking
HYPER-V STILL HAS LIMITATIONS
Comparing features with rivals
Memory overcommit
Fault tolerance
Live storage migration
Hot addition of CPU, memory, and networking
Cluster-wide virtual switches
Hyper-V still lacks power, especially for Linux
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations for enterprises
APPENDIX
Further reading
Methodology
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Feature comparison - Hyper-V, ESX/ESXi, and XenServer
Table 2: Capacity comparison – Hyper-V, ESX/ESXi and XenServer
Table 1: Feature comparison - Hyper-V, ESX/ESXi, and XenServer
Table 2: Capacity comparison – Hyper-V, ESX/ESXi and XenServer
