From the recent license goofup by vmware I have learnt some leasons: 1. Never trust a vendor. 2. Always have a backup.
So forum, here are some straight questions:
1. Are you going to trust vmware in the future even if the license terms change for now?
2. Would you consider bringing other solutions in your datacenter along with vmware?
The license was NOT a goofup, it was intentional. VM ware charges for a license. Before now it was a simple model, you just license by socket, and you are done. Higher densitiy machines forced VM ware to figure out how to make more money. They just did it NOT to maintain their cash flow but basically to gouge customers, that's where they made their mistake.. I agree with companies making money, we wouldn't have jobs otherwise, I just don't agree with the LOW figures they derived, but I do believe this was deliberately low to get exactly what they were looking for, FEEDBACK. NOW they know what customers are WILLING to pay.
vendor is too gereric, there are many vendors, not all of them are greedy arrogant, some have high integrity, so you can't dismiss ALL vendors by saying you can't trust them.. that's not right either.
always have a back, never keep all of your eggs in one basket, that is a VERY true statement.
1) Trust VM Ware? This isn't the first debacle, I recall a certain time when they released a product (before it was fully tested) and a license snafu restricted VM's from powering on.. and the solution was to change the time previous to the license activation, which basically showed a glaring security breach in VM Ware products if it's that easy to breach a license and alos the lack of thorough testing, so I am a bit skeptical since then anyway. Now I am know VM ware is considering themsevles the ONLY worthy virtualization platform, but shot themsevles in the foot by pricing themselves out of the market. This was a mistake, I do think customers will return (much like the sports fans the KEEP letting greedy players dictate the game -- that's another story). VM Ware market will sharply decline over the next 12 months, so if were ready for more competition, they just got it.
2) VM ware has good products, the problem is VM ware is nickle and diming people to death. Every solution is MORE $$$ another license, more support, and extended contracts. What is really interesting is these are Microsoft tactics, yet MS is content (probably because they are behind in the game, but definately not out) to keep their licenses the same. I am certain MS will capiltize on this moreso than any other, simply due to the fact the Windows is the largest OS contigent. The loss vm ware suffers I believe will equate to at least an 80% to Microsoft, and the rest will go to other 3rd parties, so VM ware loss is MS gain.
MS DOES have a good product, they don't have the comprehensive SUITE of products like VM ware, that's where MS should focus. We have many different virtualization products, because we have to test them, and I can guarantee you pound for pound Hyper-V is every bit as capable, and in some ways more resilient then VM ware in terms of consolidation and performance.. Hyper-V is just not very easy to manage, and there is the problem with the host OS, when a service crashes, the VM's go with it.. that's a problem. when everything is smooth I give Hyper-V a slight advantage for PURE VM host. If all you want is to power ON a VM and let it run, Hyper-V works better, when you want to migrate, cluster, manage etc.. that's where VM ware outshines the rest. Hyper-V vs VM ware on same hardware there is really no difference, but Hyper-V has slightly better benchmarks at the VM level at least in my testing.. on the SAME SAN.
