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Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization RHEV 3.1 (KVM based) added to feature comparison matrix

What’s New in Hyper-V 2012 – Extensive Feature Comparison for Server 2012 and System Center 2012 added to the Virtualization Matrix

Stateless desktops, hotels and floating rooms …

Maximums and sizing guidelines for VMware View, XenDesktop (on vSphere) and Virtual Bridges VERDE

 
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General
VersionvSphere 5.1RHEV 3.1Hyper-V 2012XenServer 6.1
EditionEnterprise PlusRHEVDataCenterPlatinum Edition
AssessmentOverviewvSphere 5.1 - Click Here For OverviewRHEV 3.1 - Click Here For DetailsWS 2012 + SC 2012 SP1 (DC) - Click Here For OverviewXenServer 6.1 - Click Here For DetailsComments
 MaturityRelease Dates - vSphere 5.1: Sep 2012 (ESX: 2001/2002, ESXi: Dec-2007) RHEV 3.1 Release Date: Dec 2012 (RHEV 2.1 - Nov 2009, 2.2: Aug 2010, RHEV 3.0: Jan 2012)Release Dates - WS2012: Sep 2012, SC2012 Apr 2012 - SP1 Jan 2013 (initial Hyper-V: Jun 08, SCVMM Sep 08) 6.1 Release Date: Sep 2012 (Xen - 2003, Citrix XenServer 2007, 5.6SP2 March 2011, v6: Sep 2011)Comments
 Market PositionLeader (Position 1)Listed as one of the 6 players in Gartner Magic Quadrant 2012 ('Niche Player' Quadrant)Leader (P2/2)Leader (P3/3)Comments
PricingVirtualization ($)5.1 Ent+: $3,495/socket + S&S 1Y: $734 (B) or $874 (Prod), vSphere Desktop: $65/active desktop RHEV for Servers (Standard): $499/socket/year; RHEV for Servers (Premium): $749/socket/year ; RHEV for Desktops (EnterprisDatacenter: $4,809 for (up to) 2 sockets$5000/server+$3000 (support)Comments
 Management ($)$4995(Std) + $1049(B) or $1249 (P), $1,495(Fnd) + $545(B) or $645(P)n/a (included in RHEV hypervisor subscriptionSystem Center 2012 Datacenter: $3,607 or Standard $1,323 per managed endpoint (up to 2 CPU)Free (XenCenter)Comments
 Bundle/Kit Pricing ($)See Enterprise+ Acceleration KitRED Hat Enterprise Virtualization for Servers Starter Kit for 6 socketsECI (20% discount)NoComments
 Guest OS LicensingOne SLES subscription per active SnSRHEV: No (RHEL: 1/4/unlimited)yes - unlimited OSEs (Windows Server vims)NoComments
Management
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VersionvSphere 5.1RHEV 3.1Hyper-V 2012XenServer 6.1
EditionEnterprise PlusRHEVDataCenterPlatinum Edition
GeneralCentral ManagementYes (vCenter Server + Web Client)Yes (REV-M)Yes (System Center 2012 / VMM) Yes (XenCenter), SCVMM (new)Comments
 Virtual and PhysicalNoNoYes (Complete SC mgmt, Fabric Updates, Storage Management)NoComments
 RBAC / AD-IntegrationYes (vCenter and ESXi hosts)Yes (AD and IPA)Yes (SCVMM)Yes (hosts/XenCenter)Comments
 Cross-Vendor MgmtLimited - Multi-Hypervisor manager (vCloud Automation Center/DynamicOps)No (ManageIQ)Improved (VMware, Citrix)No (yes for VDI - fee)Comments
 Browser Based MgmtYes enhanced Web Client (with SSO)Yes (RHEV-M, Power User PortalLimited (SSPs)Yes (Web Self Service)Comments
 Adv. Operation ManagementYes, vCenter Operations Manager FoundationNo (ManageIQ)Yes (SC Operations Manager)NoComments
Updates and BackupHypervisor UpgradesYes (Update Manager) LimitedYes (Fabric Updates, CAU)Limited (rolling upgrade wizard - new)Comments
 VM PatchingLimited (Update Manager)Yes (Red Hat Network)Yes (WSUS, SCCM, VMST)NoComments
 Live VM SnapshotYesYesYes (Live Merge)yesComments
 Backup Integration APIYes (vStorage API Data Protection)LimitedYes (VSS API)LimitedComments
 Integrated BackupYes (Data Protection - New)NoYes (WSB&DPM, incremental), Yes (VMPR)Comments
DeploymentAutomated Host DeploymentsYes - Auto Deploy (new: Stateless Caching & Stateful Installs) NoYes (bare metal through VMM)NoComments
 VM TemplatesYesYesYesYes Comments
 Tiered VM TemplatesYes (vApp/OVF)No ('Deployables' for CloudForms - fee based cloud add-on) Yes (Service Templates)vAppComments
 Host ProfilesYes (Host Profiles) - enhanced for Auto Deploy NoYes NoComments
 Storage ProfilesYes (Profile-Driven Storage)NoYes (Storage Classifications)NoComments
OtherResource PoolsYesNoYes (Host Groups)NoComments
 P2VStand-alone only (Converter)V2V, P2V & PartnersYesYes (XenConvert)Comments
 Self Service PortalNo (vCloud Suite - fee)User PortalYes (VMM console, App Controller)Web Self ServiceComments
 Orchestration / WorkflowsYes (vCenter Orchestrator)NoYes (SC Orchestrator, SC Service Mgr)Yes (Workflow Studio)Comments
 SecurityYes (ESXi Firewall, vShield Zones and vShield Endpoint - NEW), vCloud Networking and Security NEW (not included)SELinux, iptables, VLANs, Port MirroringWindows Security, Hyper-V Extensible Switch (DNSSEC, PVLANs, port ACLs, BitLocker etc.)YesComments
 Systems ManagementSNMPv3 (NEW) +CIM, esxcliAgent-based (RHEL), CIM, SNMPYes (WMI + PowerShell)Yes (API / SDKs, CIM)Comments
VM Mobility and HA
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VersionvSphere 5.1RHEV 3.1Hyper-V 2012XenServer 6.1
EditionEnterprise PlusRHEVDataCenterPlatinum Edition
VM MobilityLive Migration of VMsYes vMotion, Metro vMotion and 'shared nothing' vMotion (4-8 concurrent)Yes (Live Migration - 1/CPU core up to 5 max)Yes ('Unlimited' Concurrent Live, outside clusters and 'Shared Nothing')Yes XenMotion (1) Comments
 Migration CompatibilityYes (EVC) YesYes (Processor Compatibility)Yes (Heterogeneous Pools)Comments
 Maintenance ModeYesYesYesYesComments
 Automated Live MigrationYes (DRS) - CPU, Mem, Storage (now compatible with vCD - NEW)Yes (LB) - CPU onlyYes - Dynamic Optimization (CPU, mem, disk I/O, Net I/O)Yes (WB) - CPU, Mem, D, NComments
 Power ManagementYes (DPM)Yes (Power Saving)Yes - Power OptimizationYes (Power Management / WLB)Comments
 Storage MigrationYes (Live Storage vMotion); up to 4 parallel operations (NEW)Yes (Tech Preview)Yes (Live and 'Shared Nothing')Yes (Storage XenMotion)Comments
HA/DRCluster Size32 host / 4000 vms200 hosts/cluster64 nodes / 8000 vims16 hosts / resource poolComments
 Integrated HA (Restart vm)Yes (VMware HA) - incl Storage heartbeatYes (HA)Yes (vm Affinity, Prioritization)YesComments
 Automatic VM ResetYes (VMware HA)Yes (HA) Yes (Heartbeat)NoComments
 VM Lockstep ProtectionYes (Fault Tolerance) NoNoNoComments
 Application/Service HAHA Application Monitoring APINoYes No Comments
 Site FailovervSphere Replication (SRM fee-based Add-On)NoHyper-V ReplicaIntegrated Disaster Recovery (no storage array control) Comments
Hypervisor
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VersionvSphere 5.1RHEV 3.1Hyper-V 2012XenServer 6.1
EditionEnterprise PlusRHEVDataCenterPlatinum Edition
GeneralHypervisor Details/SizeESXi only - 5.1 Build 799733 10 SEPT 2012KVM with RHEV-H or RHEL - details hereHyper-V R2 XenServer 6.1: Xen 4.1.x -basedComments
Host Config Max Consolidation Ratio512vm, 2048 vcpu No limit stated1024 vims/host, 2048 vCPUs/host 150 vims or 900 vCPUs per hostComments
 Max CPU - Host160 (Logical) 160 (logical) 320 Logical CPUs160 (logical)Comments
 Max Cores per CPUunlimitedunlimitedunlimitedunlimitedComments
 Max Memory - Host2TB2TB4TB1TBComments
VM Config Max vCPU per VM64160 vCPU per VMup to 64 vCPU (Win) / 64 vCPU (Linux)16 (Win) / 32(Linux)Comments
 Max RAM per VM1TB2TB1TB128GBComments
 Serial PortsYes (incl. vSPC)No (serial console via hooks possible)yes (named pipe)NoComments
 Hot Add/PlugYes (CPU, Mem, Disk, NIC)Yes (disk, NIC) disks and memory (dynamic) onlyYes (disk, NIC)Comments
MemoryDynamic / Over-CommitYes (Memory Ballooning)Yes (virtio)Yes - Dynamic Memory (reclaim memory, Smart Paging - new)Yes (DMC)Comments
 Memory Page SharingYes (Transparent Page Sharing)Yes (KSM)NoNoComments
 HW Memory TranslationYesYesYes (SLAT)YesComments
InteroperabilityOVF SupportYes YesYes (OVF Import/Export) Yes, incl. vAppComments
 HW CompatibilityComprehensiveComprehensiveStrong Windows EcosystemImprovingComments
 Guest OS SupportVery ComprehensiveLimitedClosing the gapGoodComments
 Scripting / APIsCIM / SMASH API, SDKs for web services, Perl, Power CLI etcREST API, Python CLI, Hooks, SDKYes (PowerShell 3, WMI API)Yes (SDK, API, PowerShell)Comments
 Cloud APIvCloud APIREST API, Deltacloud API Service Provider Foundation APICloudStack APIs, support for AWS APIComments
Network and Storage
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VersionvSphere 5.1RHEV 3.1Hyper-V 2012XenServer 6.1
EditionEnterprise PlusRHEVDataCenterPlatinum Edition
StorageSupported StorageDAS, NFS, FC, iSCSI, SSD for Swap, FCoE (HW&SW), 16Gb FC HBA (NEW)DAS, iSCSI, NFS (v4), FC, FCoE, SAS, POSIX (direct LUN and Cross Domain - New)SMB3 (new), virtual FC (new), SAS, SATA, iSCSI, FC,DAS, SAS, iSCSI, NAS, FCComments
 SAN MultipathYes (enhanced APD and PDL) Yes (FC, iSCSI)Yes (DSM and SMB Multichannel)Yes (limited for SAS)Comments
 Shared File SystemYes (VMFS v5)SPM and support for shared FSYes (CSV v2)Yes (SR)Comments
 Boot From SANYes (FC, iSCSI, FCoE and SW FCoE - NEW)YesYes (iSCSI, diskless, FC)Yes (iSCSI, FC)Comments
 Boot from USBYes YesNoNoComments
 Virtual Disk Formatvmdk, raw disk (RDM)RAW, Qcow2 .vhd - new (4KB sectors), vhd, pass-through (raw)vhd, raw disk (LUN)Comments
 Max Disk Size2TB (vmdk), up to 64TB RDM (physical compatibility)8TB (block), 'unlimited' (file)64TB (vhd), 2TB (vhd), 256TB+ (raw)2TBComments
 Thin Disk ProvisioningYes (now with SE Sparse Disk - NEW) YesYes (Dynamic Disks, Trim - new)Yes (Limitations on block)Comments
 NPIV SupportYes (RDM only)YesYes (Virtual Fibre Channel)NoComments
 Linked ImagesNo (only VMware View and vCloud Director)YesYes (Differencing Disk)Yes (clone, PVS, MCS)Comments
 SW Storage Replication Yes (also without SRM - NEW)No (RHS-C Tech preview, requires RHS add-on)Yes (Hyper-V Replica)NoComments
 Virtual SANNo (vSphere Storage Appliance)No (RHS-C Tech preview, requires RHS add-on)Limited (Storage Spaces)NoComments
 Storage Integration (API)Yes (VASA, VAAI and VAMP)No SMI-S / SMP, ODX, TrimIntegrated StorageLinkComments
 Storage QoSYes (SIOC) - incl. NFS - NEWNo (requires scripts)Network-based onlyBasicComments
NetworkingAdvanced Network SwitchYes (vDS), Various Operational and Scalability improvements - NEWNoYes (Hyper-V Extensible Switch)Yes (Open vSwitch)Comments
 NIC TeamingYes (LACP Support - NEW)YesYesYes (incl. LACP - New)Comments
 VLANYesYesYesYes (limited for mgmt. traffic)Comments
 PVLANYesNoYesNoComments
 IPv6YesGuests only YesYes (guests only)Comments
 I/O Pass-ThroughYes (SR-IOV - NEW and VMDirectPath)Yes (with hooks)Yes - SRIOV (incl. Live Migration)SR-IOVComments
 Jumbo FramesYesYesYesYesComments
 Offload SupportYes (TSO, NetQueue, iSCSI)TOEYes (D-VMQ, Ipsec Offload, SR-IOV )Yes (TSO)Comments
 Network QOSYes (NetIOC)No (requires scripts)Yes (max and min bandwidth)Yes (outgoing)Comments
 Traffic Monitoringyes (Port Mirroring)Yes (Port Mirroring)Yes (port mirroring)Yes (Port Mirroring)Comments
Cloud (Extensions)
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VersionvSphere 5.1RHEV 3.1Hyper-V 2012XenServer 6.1
EditionEnterprise PlusRHEVDataCenterPlatinum Edition
CloudPrivate CloudvCloud Suite, Promotional Upgrade (New) - Separate (Fee-Based) Offering!RHEL+RHEV+CloudForms (fee)Hyper-V 2012 + System Center 2012 (CIS Suite Datacenter) - includedCloudPlatform (fee)Comments
 Public CloudNew: vCloud Hybrid Service; vCloud Datacenter Services, vCloud Powered Services, Cloud Foundry (PaaS) - fee; Cloud Access (RHEL, MGR-Grid, JBoss, Storage Server) through Red Hat Certified Cloud Providers - feeWindows Azure (PaaS, IaaS, Big Data, Media) - Separate Offering!CloudPlatform (fee)Comments
 Hybrid Cloud ConnectorsvCloud Connector (Free Basic Edition) CloudForms - feeApp Controller - includedCloudBridge and NetScaler (fee)Comments
 Secure Multi-Tenancy (IaaS)Yes (vDC, vCloud Networking and Security - now VMware NSX) - Separate (Fee-Based) Offering!Selinux, cgroups - included in RHEV; RHS (GlusterFS), CloudForms, OpenStack - separate offeringsYes (Hyper-V Extensible Switch, Hyper-V Network Virtualization) - includedVLANs, OVS (included); Security Groups, custom networks (fee)Comments
 Network Virtualization / SDNYes VMware NSX (Nicira, vCNS ) - Separate (Fee-Based) Offering!No (RHEV, CloudForms); various plug-ins (OpenStack) - neither included with RHEVHyper-V Network Virtualization (IP Address Rewrite , GRE) - included in Server 2012SDN Controller + SDN Plugins (CloudPlatform - fee)Comments
VDI (Extensions)
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VersionvSphere 5.1RHEV 3.1Hyper-V 2012XenServer 6.1
EditionEnterprise PlusRHEVDataCenterPlatinum Edition
Desktop VirtualizaOverviewVMware Horizon Suite (fee)RHEV-D - feeRemote Desktop Services (included in Server 2012)Citrix Desktop Virtualization (FlexCast etc.)Comments
 VDI / HVDHorizon View (VMware View) - feeRHEV-D - feeRDS (pooled, personal, sessions, User Profile Disk, RemoteFX) - includedXenDesktop (fee)Comments
 Published Desktops / Apps (TeNo NoYes - RDS RemoteApp and Desktop Sessions - includedXenApp (fee)Comments
 Graphics CapabilityPhysical GPU (virtualized) - NEW, virtual GPUSPICE (2D)RemoteFX (WAN, Adaptive Graphics, USB Redirection, Media Remoting, vGPU) - includedHDX (OpenGL, DirectX and more) - integrated with fee-based productsComments
 Read CacheHost Cache / CBRCNoCSV Cache - includedIntelliCache (incl. with XenServer)Comments
 User Portal / App StoreHorizon Workspace (fee)Yes (Power User Portal) - incl. with RHEVRDS Web Access - includedCloudGateway (fee)Comments
 Persona & LayeringPersona and Horizon Mirage (incl. App Layers) - feeNoUser Profile Disk (included) and UEV (MDOP - Fee) personal vDisk, Citrix Profile Mgmt.Comments
Extensions - Other
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VersionvSphere 5.1RHEV 3.1Hyper-V 2012XenServer 6.1
EditionEnterprise PlusRHEVDataCenterPlatinum Edition
Other Virtual SANNo (vSphere Storage Appliance) - feeRHS-C Tech preview (requires RHS add-on)Storage Spaces - included with Server 2012noComments
OtherApplication ManagementVMware vFabric Application Performance Manager - FeeNoSC Operations Manager - included with SC 2012EdgeSight NetScaler (fee)Comments
 SecurityvCloud Networking and SecuritysVirt & Security PartnershipsMS Forefront (fee) + MS EcosystemSecure/Access Gateway (fee)Comments
Other Workflow / OrchestrationOrchestrator (incl..) ManageIQ - feeSC Orchestrator, SC Service Mgr - included with SC 2012Workflow Studio (incl.)Comments
OtherSite FailoverSite Recovery Manager - feeNoHyper-V Replica (included) + 3rd partyIntegrated Site Recovery (incl.)Comments
 ChargebackvCenter Chargeback Manager - feelimited (reports, 3rd party, ManageIQ)Hyper-V Resource Metering and Service Manager (included)CloudPortal Business Manager, CloudStack Usage Server (fee)Comments
 Network Extensionsyes (IBM 5000v and Cisco Nexus 1000v) - feeRoCE, LB - feeHyper-V Extensible Switch - 3rd party ExtensionsNetScaler, Branch Repeater (fee)Comments
Andreas Groth

 

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