Hyper-V

We use Hyper-V as a virtualization solution for our environment. As we host several Windows-based applications built with Microsoft solutions, we decided to run our virtualized environment on their technology, prioritizing reliability and compliance with MS licensing. Over the years, we have also deployed some Linux-based applications, and Hyper-V still performs this role very well, hosting dozens of virtual machines running Linux-based OSs.

• Positive: every Windows Server VM is automatic licensed.
• Positive: friendly user interface for management.
• Positive: fast deploy of new VMs.
• Positive: very fast boot of Windows Server based VMs.
• Negative: missing a native backup tool.

Oracle VirtualBox, VMware ESXi and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2)

Windows Server Failover Clustering, Microsoft IIS, pfSense, OpenVPN Access Server, NAKIVO Backup & Replication, SolarWinds Serv-U, Microsoft Teams

We are a managed service provider focusing on the SMB market. We virtualize every server we put out to bolster supportability, disaster recovery, scalability, and ease our next lifestyle migration by divorcing the production environment from the hardware all together. Hyper-V's simplicity of implmentation and inexpensive licensing (included in Windows server) allows us to do this and lower the cost to service our customers while providing superior functionality!

• Positive ROI reducing hardware lifecycle replacement costs by 50 or greater compared to no virtualization
• Positive ROI due to RTO being reduced 25-50% and enabling simplicity of remote recovery as compared to no virtualization
• Positive ROI due to no licensing costs above and beyond windows server licenses where as many other virtualization platforms require additional licensing

VMware vSphere

WatchGuard AuthPoint, Huntress, Microsoft 365, ConnectWise Automate, ConnectWise PSA, Veeam ONE, Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows, Synology DiskStation, FluentCloud

Our company use Hyper-V virtualization software for production servers and replication of virtual machines between multiple physical hosts. It allows to isolate our VMs from hardware level and run multiple VMs on one host. For example, production software servers plus Domain controllers plus File shares all in one host computer.

• Saving $ on server hardware by running multiple server VM at once
• License savings for Microsoft licensing

VMware ESXi, VMware Fusion, VMware Workstation Pro and AWS Organizations

VMware ESXi, AWS Backup, AWS Certificate Manager, AWS Service Catalog

It helps to setup, maintain and troubleshoot virtual machines to critical services like application and data servers, phone systems, email backup appliances, etc.

• No upfront cost giving that you have already workstations and servers you can use it on
• In-house deployment so costs are reduced to the antivirus/backup solution of your choice
• In-house migration of VMs between hosts so the cost is only for a new host

VMware Workstation Player and VMware Workstation Pro

We use Hyper-V in our organization for Virtual servers with various roles and also for virtual clients for test applications.

Our scope of use case has two main cases first having virtual servers to update/upgrade servers easily/revert changes or bring servers back online from backups and also having virtual clients for testing new applications, group policy rules, and other organizational changes

• Based on windows OS environment.
• Easy to install and remove.
• Efficient resource management.
• Clean and easy user interface.

• With Hyper-V implementing new software or rules on a test, beds take fewer resources and time which is a great bonus.
• Virtual SAN management and Virtual Switch management make it easy to manage network and storage options.
• Editing the disk option made us resize disks on the fly and saved us maintenance, production time, and costs.

VMware ESXi

VMware ESXi, Citrix Workspace