Secure, Simplify & Accelerate Server Virtualization
VMware ESXi is the industry’s first hardware-integrated hypervisor built on a next-generation thin architecture, giving your organization an efficient foundation for building a dynamic, automated data center.
VMware ESXi represents a significant advance in realizing the vision of virtualization as the standard computing platform for x86 servers, further simplifying IT operations through integration with server hardware.
Key Benefits of VMware ESXi
Strengthen Security & Improve Reliability
VMware ESXi is the only hypervisor that does not incorporate or rely on a general-purpose operating system (OS), eliminating many common reliability issues and security vulnerabilities. The slim 32MB footprint of VMware ESXi is a fraction of the size of a general-purpose operating system, resulting in a smaller attack surface while minimizing the effort required for tasks such as security hardening, user access control, anti-virus and backup. In addition, integration into solid-state components inside a server enables diskless server configurations. This reduces hardware failure rates and decreases server power consumption.
Simplify Management of Hardware Resources & Virtual Machine Hosts
VMware ESXi provides a simplified approach to managing server compute nodes, freeing you from local administrative tasks with a robust set of standards-based management capabilities. In addition to eliminating installation steps and simplifying configuration, VMware ESXi provides agent-free, standards based monitoring of hardware resources through the Common Information Model (CIM). You can also use the integrated remote command line interface (CLI) for storage, network, and host configuration, as well as for maintenance, patches and updates.
Enable Plug-&-Play Capacity Management in the Data Center
With VMware ESXi, you can rapidly deploy new servers that are ready to run virtual machines right out of the box. The automatic configuration capabilities in VMware ESXi provide detection, discovery and intelligent-default configuration, with a menu-driven startup experience that enables you to go from booting the server to running virtual machines in a matter of minutes. Plug your new server into your virtual infrastructure and let DRS automatically manage your new capacity by migrating virtual machines and optimally load balancing your resource pools.
VMware ESXi vs. VMware ESX
Both VMware ESX and VMware ESXi support the entire suite of VMware Infrastructure 3 products, features and solutions, and you can use VMware ESX and VMware ESXi side-by-side in your virtual infrastructure. Both provide industry-leading performance and scalability; the difference resides in the architecture and the operational management of VMware ESXi.
Management Functionality
By removing the Service Console, VMware ESXi completes an ongoing trend of migrating management functionality from this local command line interface to remote management tools. The table below provides a side-by-side comparison of management approaches taken by VMware ESX and VMware ESXi:
| VMware ESX uses the Service Console for: | VMware ESXi leverages: |
|---|---|
|
Executing custom scripts |
Remote Command Line Interface (Remote CLI) |
|
Hardware monitoring agents |
Industry-standard monitoring protocols such as agent-free management through CIM |
|
Backup or management agents |
ISV solutions that leverage standard interfaces, the VI API and VMware Consolidated Backup |
Hardware Compatibility
- VMware ESX is certified with a large range of hardware as listed in the systems compatibility guide (also called the HCL)
- VMware ESXi will ship pre-installed into select server hardware available from Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, HP, IBM, and NEC. This list will be different from the VMware ESX 3.5 compatibility list.
- A standalone version of VMware ESXi that is hard drive installable is also planned to be available for a subset of the VMware ESX HCL.
Operating System Compatibility
Guest Operating System compatibility will be exactly the same between equivalent versions of VMware ESX and VMware ESXi.
Patch and Update Management
- VMware Update Manager will update both VMware ESX and VMware ESXi. An update utility is also provided for environments where VMware Update Manager is not present.
- Updates to VMware ESXi are a replacement of the entire image similar to a firmware upgrade.
Specific Differences in the VMware ESXi 3.5 Release
Some specific networking features are not available in VMware ESXi, primarily those requiring configuration through the Service Console. See the Knowledge Base article for more information.
Get VMware Infrastructure 3 Now
Evaluate VMware Infrastructure 3 today. To get more information or purchase VMware Infrastructure 3, contact VMware directly at 1-877-4VMWARE (outside of North America dial 1-650-427-5000), send a message to sales, or visit our online store (for small quantities). For detailed product specifications and system requirements, please refer to the VMware support site.
VMware also provides an established global network of best-of-breed technology and distribution partners. Search online for an authorized reseller.
