VMware vCenter Server: An invaluable tool
April 04, 2017
VMware vCenter Server: An invaluable tool
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with VMware vCenter Server
I work for a managed services IT provider. All of our clients utilize VMware vCenter Server. vCenter Server makes our lives very easy when it comes to managing Virtual Servers and Workstations. vCenter Server keeps all of our virtual machines in a central location making them very easy to manage. If we have a host that needs maintenance, vCenter Server allows us to live migrate the virtual machines to another host so we can perform the maintenance with no downtime.
- VMware vCenter Server takes all of my Virtual Machines a from multiple hosts and makes centralized management a reality. I need to access only one interface and can make changes or access all of my hosts, datastores, and virtual machines.
- VMware vCenter Server offers vMotion a service that is extremely important in all of the environments I manage. I am able to migrate virtual machines from one host to another without shutting down the virtual machine. This allows me to free up resources on a host or empty a host completely so maintenance or a reboot can be performed.
- VMware vCenter Server allows me to access it via a web browser. I can then console into any of my virtual machines using only the web browser. My VMs open in a seperate tab and I am able to control it just as if I were in front of the physical console.
- There is definitely a learning curve when using vCenter Server. You can't just jump right in, you need to do your research first and possibly acquire some training.
- Migrating VMware vCenter Server from either the Windows version to the Linux Appliance or upgrading the Linux Appliance to the newest version of the Linux Appliance isn't always the easiest experience.
- Although a little pricey, if your environment had multiple hosts, VMware vCenter Server is highly worth the cost. After your start using it, you will never be able to go back to situation where you don't.
- Implementing VMware vCenter Server has greatly improved the productivity of our technicians. Less time is being spent logging into multiple hosts searching for a particular virtual machine. We simply log into vCenter and everything is right there in front of us.
- VMware training can also be a bit on the pricey side, but if you want to correctly implement vCenter and do it right, I highly recommend seeking out a VMware training program.