5 Best Server Virtualization Software for 2023

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As cloud computing gains traction, driven by global digital migration, transformation and acceleration, the role of server virtualization software becomes increasingly important.

The technology, designed to manage physical data center resources by efficiently creating multiple virtual machines (VMs) using hypervisor software, is used by all major cloud providers. Additionally, large enterprises, medium businesses, sectors like education and healthcare, and government agencies use server virtualization software to increase physical server utilization, reduce costs, improve security and disaster recovery, and enhance flexibility.

In 2023, under this highly competitive and growing environment, five top vendors have established themselves as market leaders:

The following chart compares at a glance the different features of top server virtualization software providers.

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Best for large enterprises and cloud providers

VMware vSphere has been one of the top virtualization providers since it entered the scene in 2009, offering a wide range of features and capabilities. VMware features work in areas such as resource management, networking, storage, security and manageability. It’s also scalable, so it can be used to support a wide range of workloads.

The vSphere solution is an enterprise-grade workload platform that allows companies to transform physical data centers and on-premises infrastructure with cloud integration. This enables better productivity with central management, global insights, and automation.

The software can also free up GPU resources to improve operations and supports sophisticated infrastructures and the needs of innovative technology such as AI and machine learning (ML). DevOps uses VMware vSphere leveraging the cloud console to improve containerized workloads and deployment flexibility. Additionally, vSphere is also known for its state-of-the-art security.

Top vSphere Products include:

For more information, read our full VMware vSphere review.

Best for Microsoft integration

Microsoft Azure VM, based on the company’s Hyper-V hypervisor, is popular for a number of reasons. It is included in Windows Server, so it is a cost-effective solution. Additionally, organizations already using Microsoft products find Hyper-V familiar. Large and small companies alike use this technology, benefiting from the support provided for a wide range of workloads. Hyper-V is an excellent option for cloud providers that need to manage VMs for their customers.

Hyper-V also provides computing environment management features, disaster, recovery and backup, optimization of servers and VM, remote connectivity, and top-of-the-line security.

Microsoft offers pay-as-you-go licenses as well as several 12-month-free Azure products.

Best for virtual desktop and application deployment

Citrix Hypervisor is the top competitor of VMware, offering many of the same features. It has become popular among companies that need to deploy virtual desktops and applications. It is also known among developers for its excellent 3D graphics support and advanced scalability.

Citrix Hypervisor is an easy-to-use virtual management solution for all environments that can drive heavy workloads and secure virtual infrastructure from advanced threats.

Citrix Hypervisor is included in Citrix Desktop as a Service (DaaS). Citrix DaaS licenses are:

Best Linux-based virtualization solution

Red Hat Virtualization is the go-to server virtualization solution for Linux-based users. Given the large number of developers and businesses that choose Linux-based technologies, Red Hat is very popular. Red Hat services are also supported by a large community of users, benefiting support, operations, and troubleshooting.

Red Hat Virtualization is a solid enterprise virtualization platform. It supports key virtualization workloads, including resource-intensive and critical applications.

Red Hat Virtualization is included in Red Hat Enterprise Linux plans. Plans start as low as $179 per year and can exceed $2,499.

Best free, open source solution

Oracle VirtualBox is a powerful enterprise level virtualization product. It is suitable for small, medium, or large companies. VirtualBox is popular for its high-performing design. Rich in features, it is also open source and available for free in its basic version. The technology is lightweight and well-supported. However, it requires knowledge and misconfiguration may lead to performance issues.

Oracle VM Virtual Box is free to download and use. The Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack Enterprise license, which includes using the Product for commercial purposes or to operate or run a business, organization, governmental organization, or education institution, costs $50 per user for a perpetual license.

There are some basic features all server virtualization vendors must offer, such as hypervisors and VM management. Additionally, security and compliance have also become must-haves, and network management, storage, and scalability are features most companies today look carefully into.

On the other hand, some new features, like tracking energy consumption, providing high computing power to drive AI and ML, and intense graphics and video are also in high demand. Let’s break down the top features.

Hypervisors are at the core of all server virtualization software. They allow companies to create, deploy, run, and manage VMs on a single physical server.

Resource management features give users insight, visibility, and the tools necessary to better allocate, assign, transfer, and manage resources to get the most out of their hardware and software. Resource management may be seamless and centralized or complex, depending on the vendor´s solution. Because these features are used to optimize your resources and improve performance, companies must make sure their team of experts fully understand how they work.

Server virtualization software allows users to pool physical storage resources and present them to VMs as a single logical volume. This can help to improve performance and scalability.

From updates, role-based access control (RBAC), and encryption to backups and automated compliance, server virtualization vendors will offer different security features to meet modern demands.

Technology continually innovates at a high pace and top vendors respond by offering support for them. From AI and ML to 3D graphics, if your company works with innovative tech, it’s essential to know whether they will be supported. New technology will consume a lot of computing power and have strict hardware and software requirements.

A more recent addition to some virtualization services, sustainability monitoring helps businesses keep track of their energy usage and find ways to limit consumption while preserving operational efficiency. Besides the environmental impact, this can save companies tremendous amounts of money over time, as ballooning data storage needs come with ever higher power consumption and cooling expenses.

There are several factors that companies need to consider before deciding on which server virtualization software is best for their business.

Companies must first outline their business goals and answer the question of what they are trying to achieve and how server virtualization can help them achieve those targets. The goals must be outlined, whether it be reducing IT costs, consolidating systems, modernizing, or improving performance.

What follows is an honest evaluation of the budget. While switching vendors is possible, migration can be complex. Therefore, companies must know how much they plan to spend today and in the future. Licenses are a significant differentiator in the market, with some solutions being affordable and others ranging up to thousands of dollars a month. Furthermore, if your company plans to scale, it’s essential to establish budget considerations.

The next step is to evaluate each vendors’ features against your company’s goals. We have already discussed the top features from hypervisors to resources management, networks, and security. Companies can also read online reviews from trustworthy aggregate confirmed review sites.

Server virtualization software provides visualization and tools to create and manage VMs on physical servers. This reduces the cost of IT, increases performance, better assigns and manages hardware and software allocated to VMs, and improves scalability and security.

Some vendors provide comparatively intuitive and user-friendly server virtualization software, with centralized dashboards and exhaustive support and guides, allowing anyone with basic skills to use them. However, advanced technical skills are required to leverage the full benefits of these technologies.

Benefits include improved performance, reduced costs, increased flexibility, better security, and consolidation of resources.

Without a doubt, the biggest challenge is complexity. Users must understand how to configure and manage VMs, networks, and storage, and have the skills to manage virtualized servers. Failing to properly configure or manage resources will impact performance, security, and compliance. Additionally, licensing can also be complex to understand.

We examined sites that compile aggregate data based on verified user reviews to write our review and evaluate the top server virtualization vendors. We also reviewed the official sites and test-drove the software when possible. We scoured through the vendors’ resources and carefully evaluated their features, customer service, user-friendliness, price, scalability, and more.

The server virtualization software sector will continue to expand, as companies need to better manage their digital assets. By creating and managing VMs, enterprises can unlock the full potential of their resources in the cloud or on-premises.

As innovation pushes forward, server virtualization will become increasingly important. New technologies, hungry for storage, processing power, and computing resources, can only operate at the highest level with proper management of the digital assets. And server virtualization software is the right tool for the job.

This report reviewed the sector’s top vendors, strengths and features. Ultimately, each company must decide which is a better business fit for its goals and operations.

Even the best server virtualization software can fail. Make sure you have one of the best VM backup software to quickly recover from disaster.