This purpose of this post is to set the stage for why you would recommend a particular hypervisor in your logical design for a virtualization implementation.
So lets get right to it at a high level. Facts only
Microsoft Hyper V installed on the Nano Server edition would be only appropriate to even compare in regards to a side by side comparison with VMware vSphere 6.5. Both of these hypervisors are private cloud technologies ran on prim with capabilities to be extended into the cloud. Microsoft can extend out to Azure Cloud and VMware can extend into any cloud.
With the preliminaries out of the way we can get right to the side by side comparison.
With a general release date of August 2009 with the release of Server 2012, Microsoft Hyper V has came along way and has proven to hold its own in the industry. VMware released the VMware Workstation application in May 1999 two years later in early 2001 being the entry point into the server market. This gives VMware a 10-year head start in the virtualization space. VMware invested 1.2 billion in research in development where Microsoft has devoted 13 billion in 2017. Research and development are a key indicator to keep an eye on in the industry, hence the reason for mentioning it here.
VMware’s sole purpose and operating model is virtualization, software defined everything. Microsoft’s has a virtualization offering called Hyper V. I would not be painting the picture accurately with out mentioning the holistic view of the virtualization constructs in its entirely. When you look to leverage the virtualization space and go to the fully automated software defined data center you have to look at the holistic all encompassing view. At a high level this is Compute, Networking, Storage & Security. So, with that level set lets look at the two hypervisors from that light.
Microsoft’s compute platform is Hyper V, the network virtualization is presented by the Hyper V switch and the storage solution offering is Storage Spaces released in September 2012. Microsoft’s Hyper V has had a slow adoption rate, Storage Spaces even slower. The Network virtualization build natively into Hyper V the V switch does carry its weight in regards to being a runner up to VMware’s NSX offering.
VMware’s compute platform is ESXi, the network virtualization is presented by NSX and the storage solution offering is vSAN released March 2014. VMware’s Software defined data center has gained and held the market share in the holistic approach to software defined everything from NSX to VSAN ready nodes to the App defense solution that speaks directly to application security.
In the area of the OPEX or Operating Expenses Microsoft has taken the lead in this category. The cost comparison is in the hypervisor hard ware configuration. The leading hardware configuration is a 2 socket 10 core per socket design and Microsoft’s licenses cost for this build is roughly $9,232.50 USD. VMware’s license cost comes in roughly at $4,395 USD.
From a features perspective both hypervisors capabilities are pretty spot on for what its worth, the only major thing different is the nomenclature and implementation.
In conclusion all software needs to be patched, some more than others so with that keep in mind the cost, implementation, security and day two operations task when making your deciding between these two hypervisors.