The Most Popular Enterprise-level Virtualization Platform, Ranked

Choose the enterprise-level virtualization platform you think is the most popular!

Author: Gregor Krambs
Updated on Jul 9, 2024 06:49
Selecting the right enterprise-level virtualization solution can be a challenging task for IT professionals. With a multitude of options available, each promising optimal performance, scalability, and integration capabilities, it becomes essential to gauge which ones truly meet user expectations and industry standards. That's why a community-driven ranking of these tools not only sheds light on user preferences but also highlights the solutions that are leading the pack. This dynamic ranking reflects real-time user opinions and experiences, offering a continuously updated leaderboard of the most favored virtualization platforms. By casting a vote or reviewing the rankings, users contribute to a clearer understanding of the market landscape. This participative approach ensures that the insights gathered are both comprehensive and reflective of current trends and preferences in the virtualization domain.

What Is the Most Popular Enterprise-level Virtualization Platform?

  1. 1
    81
    points
    VMware vSphere

    VMware vSphere

    A leading server virtualization platform that provides a robust, production-proven, high-performance virtualization.
    • Developer: VMware Inc.
    • Initial Release: 2001
  2. 2
    15
    points
    Microsoft Hyper-V

    Microsoft Hyper-V

    A hypervisor-based virtualization system for x86-64 systems, providing virtualization capabilities for Windows and Linux virtual machines.
    • Developer: Microsoft
    • Initial Release: 2008
  3. 3
    12
    points

    Proxmox VE

    An open-source server virtualization environment that combines KVM hypervisor and LXC containers to manage virtual machines, storage, and networking.
    • Developer: Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH
    • Initial Release: 2008
  4. 4
    5
    points
    Red Hat Virtualization

    Red Hat Virtualization

    An open-source virtualization platform for enterprise users, offering a scalable, flexible virtualization solution for managing virtual datacenters.
    • Developer: Red Hat, Inc.
    • Initial Release: 2009
  5. 5
    0
    points

    Parallels Desktop for Mac

    A virtualization software that allows Mac users to run Windows and other operating systems simultaneously with macOS, without rebooting.
    • Developer: Parallels, Inc.
    • Initial Release: 2006
  6. 6
    0
    points
    Citrix Hypervisor

    Citrix Hypervisor

    Formerly known as XenServer, it's a leading virtualization management platform optimized for application, desktop, and server virtualization infrastructures.
    • Developer: Citrix Systems
    • Initial Release: 2008
  7. 7
    0
    points
    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)

    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)

    An open-source virtualization technology built into Linux, turning it into a hypervisor to run multiple virtual machines.
    • Developer: Open Source Community
    • Initial Release: 2007
  8. 8
    0
    points
    VMware Workstation

    VMware Workstation

    A powerful desktop virtualization software that enables developers and IT professionals to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single PC.
    • Developer: VMware Inc.
    • Initial Release: 1999
  9. 9
    0
    points

    Nutanix AHV

    Nutanix's native, enterprise-grade virtualization solution, integrated into the Nutanix Acropolis system, providing a streamlined infrastructure stack.
    • Developer: Nutanix
    • Initial Release: 2015
  10. 10
    0
    points

    Oracle VM Server for x86

    A free, server virtualization software that provides fully integrated management capabilities for creating and managing virtual server pools.
    • Developer: Oracle Corporation
    • Initial Release: 2007

Missing your favorite enterprise-level virtualization platform?

Graphs
Error: Failed to render graph
Discussion
No discussion started, be the first!

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most popular enterprise-level virtualization platform. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or platform is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

  • 2197 views
  • 113 votes
  • 10 ranked items

Movers & Shakers

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each platform once every 24 hours. The rank of each platform is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

Categories

Additional Information

More about the Most Popular Enterprise-level Virtualization Platform

VMware vSphere
Rank #1 for the most popular enterprise-level virtualization platform: VMware vSphere (Source)
Virtualization is a key technology in modern IT. It allows businesses to run multiple operating systems and applications on a single physical server. This reduces costs and improves efficiency. Virtualization platforms enable this by creating virtual machines (VMs). Each VM acts like a separate computer. Businesses use these VMs to run different tasks without needing more hardware.

The concept of virtualization is not new. It dates back to the 1960s. Early systems were complex and costly. Over time, technology advanced, making it more accessible. Today, many large businesses rely on virtualization. It helps them manage resources better and respond quickly to changes.

A good virtualization platform offers several features. First, it provides strong performance. VMs must run smoothly, even under heavy loads. Second, it ensures high availability. If a physical server fails, VMs should continue running on another server. This minimizes downtime. Third, it includes robust security. VMs must be isolated from each other to prevent breaches. Fourth, it offers easy management. Administrators need tools to create, monitor, and manage VMs with ease.

Many businesses choose enterprise-level platforms for their advanced features. These platforms support large-scale deployments. They handle hundreds or thousands of VMs. They also integrate with other enterprise tools. This makes it easier to manage complex IT environments.

One key aspect of these platforms is resource allocation. They distribute CPU, memory, and storage resources among VMs. This ensures each VM gets what it needs. Another important feature is live migration. This allows VMs to move from one physical server to another without downtime. This is useful for maintenance and load balancing.

Storage management is also crucial. Enterprise platforms offer various storage options. These include local storage, network storage, and cloud storage. They also provide data protection features like snapshots and backups. This ensures data is safe and can be restored quickly if needed.

Networking is another important area. Virtualization platforms create virtual networks. These networks connect VMs to each other and to the outside world. They offer features like virtual switches and firewalls. This helps secure and manage network traffic.

Scalability is a major benefit of enterprise-level platforms. Businesses can start small and grow as needed. They can add more servers and VMs without major disruptions. This flexibility is important in today’s fast-paced business environment.

Support and training are also key. Enterprise platforms come with professional support. This includes help with setup, troubleshooting, and updates. They also offer training programs. These help IT staff learn how to use the platform effectively.

In conclusion, enterprise-level virtualization platforms are essential for modern businesses. They offer performance, availability, security, and manageability. They support large-scale deployments and integrate with other tools. They provide features for resource allocation, live migration, storage management, and networking. They also offer scalability, support, and training. These benefits make them a popular choice for businesses looking to optimize their IT operations.

Share this article