nutanix-cloud-infrastructure-vs-vmware-esxi

Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure and VMware Exsi are both used to virtualize IT environments, though they take different approaches to doing so.  Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure is a hyper-converged infrastructure tool designed to optimize legacy IT infrastructure.  VMware Exsi is a server virtualization tool designed to allow a single machine to run multiple instances of guest operating systems.  Both tools are most popular with mid-sized businesses and large enterprises that have complex IT infrastructures in need of consolidation.

Features

Though Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure and VMware Exsi both allow for virtualization, they also have some standout features that set them apart from each other. 

Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure is hardware and hypervisor agnostic, meaning it will work for businesses utilizing hypervisors like VMware Exsi, so businesses will have no trouble implementing Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure.  Nutanix is also a largely complete tool out of the box, allowing businesses to modernize datacenters out of the box.  Businesses will also have an easy time learning to use Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure, as the vendor provides documentation that explains the product in extensive detail.

VMware Exsi is a type 1 hypervisor, meaning it specializes in deploying virtual machines on a host operating system.  Along with other products in the VSphere package, VMware Exsi makes it easy for businesses to create and manage multiple virtual machines, reducing hardware needs. VMware Exsi also offers high performance in terms of read/write speeds.

Limitations

Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure and VMware Exsi both help businesses modernize complex infrastructures, but they also have some limitations that are important to consider.

Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure is not a hypervisor, so businesses that are strictly looking for a bare metal hypervisor will have to look at other tools, like VMware Exsi.  Additionally, compared to the VSphere package, Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure doesn’t offer I/O speeds that are quite as dast.  Nutanix AOS is ideal for businesses looking for a flexible, single product that will reduce complexity in their legacy IT systems.

VMware Exsi allows for simple hosting of guest operating systems, but it isn’t as robust as Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure without the rest of the VSphere suite of products.  Additionally, while VMware does provide support for its users, it doesn’t include the detailed documentations that Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure provides, so users will have a harder time learning the tool on their own.  VMware Exsi is ideal for businesses already using the VMware platform, or who are solely looking for a bare metal hypervisor.

Pricing

Detailed pricing for Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure is available by quote from the vendor. 

VMware Exsi is available for free as part of the vSphere Hypervisor package, which includes essential tools for server virtualization. Additionally, the vSphere enterprise packages include VMware Exsi along with other VMware software, licensing, and support. Licensing for the vSphere package starts at $995.00 and can reach as high as $5395.00. Support and software subscriptions start at $270.00 per year and can reach as high as $2769.00 per year.