VMware ESXi Goes Free — Hmmm…
VMware announced today that ESXi is now free.
Virtualize processor, memory, storage and networking resources into multiple virtual machines with VMware ESXi, an enterprise-class hypervisor with a thin 32 MB footprint for added security and reliability.
My current (also free) VMware Server machine at work is running Windows Server 2003 x64. You can bet it has a much larger than 32 MB footprint! So, if I can rebuild that box as ESXi, I can probably host a few more virtual machines. An intriguing idea and I’m seriously pondering it.
But let’s take a step back and look at my “VMware story” at this point in time.
I currently use VMware server at work and love it. It hosts a bunch of development machines for us and I’m content with the Server product and capabilities (but hey, ESXi would be a nice boost). That’s free.
For demo machines and such I like to use VMware Player. I build the virtual machine on the server and then just copy it over to a laptop running Player. Instant “environment in a box.” Also free and I’m also quite content with the capabilities.
I use VMware Converter frequently as well. Primary use? When employees leave I use it to convert their physical machine to a virtual image, thus preserving any data that might have been stored locally. I don’t just love this one, I freakin’ love it. It has been a life saver more than once. Did I mention that it is free?
Of course, Converter was also handy when I first started setting up Virtual servers as the first two servers started life as physical machines. I converted them to virtual. That’s a neat trick, ya know?
Three free products that I love and use frequently. One more (ESXi) that I suspect I’ll love.
I was kicking this around with Nathan last night and we couldn’t help but wonder how VMware benefits in this scenario. Honestly, I’m a long ways away from feeling the need/urge to upgrade to the paid stuff. For my purposes, the free stuff is just fine… that sure doesn’t help VMware’s cash flow! Or am I, as an SMB (small/medium business) too far from the target market to even matter?
Thoughts?
Trivia: ESXi is apparently the answer I was looking for when I wrote VMware as the Base earlier this year. In fact,
Possibly Related posts:
- Upgraded to VMware ESXi
- VMware Converter
- VMware released the free server! (beta)
- VMware Server 2.0 beta – First Look
- Free (server version) of VMware
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3 Responses to “VMware ESXi Goes Free — Hmmm…”
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Flair and Sparklies
You’re using the freeware tools to good effect, and in a few years when you’ve got all your servers virtualized and are spilling into needing some real management and DR and HA and want to be able to VMotion a running VM to another server, they’ll be there ready to help with all their tools.
I dunno about the VMware as Base, ESXi is tuned for servers and has a very limited driver set. Check the HCL and be sure your drive interface is supported.
It still looks cool, and as soon as I have a machine with a supported sata or sas card I’m going to give it a spin.
Good point there, Dave. I got a little giddy with all of the excitement. ESXi would not be a good “base” for me.
I have some older servers that I might try it on, but I have to sort out compats first…
You and me both on the giddy. I’m torn between scrounging a server to play with it on, and the fact that I have 7800 photos from the local Ren Faire that they’ve been waiting patiently on for the last month….evening tinkertime is pretty sparce right now.
Hmm…I have a client that has an empty server that she has no plans for, maybe I’ll have to chat with her about it while I’m onsite