ESX V's ESXi Query

[thebigj]

Hello All,

hopefully someone will be able to answer my query.

ESXi has less content than ESX but they are both the same kernel i.e. the application version number is the same or could the two version number be compiled differently.

If anyone could answer i would really appriciate it.

Thanks

J

[RParker]

ESXi has less content than ESX but they are both the same kernel

The primary diff between the 2 is console. One you can access via SSH the other you cannot. ESXi has no console, so for some it's not as easy to identify issues. I prefer console access myself.

Other than that (technical differences not withstanding) they are pretty much the same product, from a esoteric/setup perspective. It comes down to choice. ESX w/ console is probably more popular for now, but VM Ware has hinted that the console may go away in future versions, but they need to beef up remote command line before this happens.

[Texiwill · Accepted solution]

Hello,

ESX and ESXi use roughly the same vmkernel but that is where things end. It really is a different beast, specifically from a security perspective. For one there is no SC vswif device anymore but a vmkernel device to use for the management appliance. There is a lack of a defense in depth within the management appliance as well. IN essence while ESX has a firewall built-in to the SC, ESXi does not and its management appliance should be behind a firewall.

The SC is a VM within ESX, within ESXi the Management appliance runs within the main vmkernel.

There is no AD/LDAP/Kerberos/etc. support within ESXi

Only VCB can be used to perform backups.

VIC and RCLI are the best ways to manage ESXi.

Most people break the security shell to allow SSH in.

ESXi is designed to be behind a firewall. ESX does not necessarily need to be behind one anymore, but does not loose if its management is also behind a firewall.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky

VMware Communities User Moderator

====

Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.

Blue Gears and SearchVMware Pro Blogs: http://www.astroarch.com/wiki/index.php/Blog_Roll

Top Virtualization Security Links: http://www.astroarch.com/wiki/index.php/Top_Virtualization_Security_Links