About VMware vSphere
VMware vSphere (previously known as VMware Infrastructure) is a cloud computing virtualization platform that includes a set of server virtualization products, with ESXi hypervisor and vCenter functioning as its core components. VMware vSphere allows you to easily create and manage multiple virtual machines (VMs), distribute workloads across clouds and devices, provide on-demand scalability, ensure data security, and build a virtual environment that can comply with your specific business needs.
Overview:
In the world of virtualization, VMware vSphere has established its position as one of the most advanced and easy-to-manage platforms. It offers a wide range of options for managing and protecting virtual environments of any size. However, with its numerous licensing options, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your specific needs. If you’re looking for a VMware vSphere virtualization platform for managing and protecting your virtual environments, you may be overwhelmed by the number of licenses and editions available. To help you choose the best option for your needs, let’s take a closer look at the different VMware vSphere editions and their features.
Comparing VMware vSphere Editions Versions
The first edition is vSphere Standard, which is a good choice for those who are new to virtualization and want a basic level of server consolidation, VM-aware storage, and endpoint security at an affordable price. This edition is suitable for small businesses that plan to expand their activities over time.
The second edition is vSphere Enterprise Plus, which is a more advanced version of vSphere Standard and provides enhanced application performance and resource management. It allows for rapid deployment and provisioning of workloads, load balancing, and prioritization of VM resources. This edition is mainly used by medium to large-sized organizations.
The third edition is vSphere with Operations Management, which provides a high-end virtualization platform for enhanced performance management. It is a suitable solution for businesses of all sizes and can help reduce hardware costs while optimizing infrastructure performance. This edition offers capacity optimization, intelligent workload placement and rebalance, and health monitoring services.
The fourth and latest edition is vSphere Platinum, which combines the core functions of VMware vSphere and VMware AppDefense. AppDefense is a VMware product that protects applications running in virtualized environments, providing high-level protection of data, infrastructure, and user access. This edition offers built-in security based on machine learning, allowing you to manage and secure running workflows even in the event of a security incident.
vSphere Acceleration Kits represent all-in-one convenience bundles that can be used to help customers to purchase all of the necessary components needed to build a new VMware environment. An acceleration kit typically includes six processor licenses for vSphere as well as a license for one instance of vCenter Server Standard. A special feature of vSphere Acceleration Kits is that their components can be upgraded and renewed individually, on your demand.
Small businesses choose VMware vSphere Essentials Kits because they function as all-in-one solutions that are capable of managing small virtual environments. Each of the vSphere Essentials Kits consists of six processor licenses for vSphere as well as a license for one instance of vCenter Server Essentials. Unlike vSphere Acceleration Kits, the components of the Essentials Kits cannot be scaled up or down individually, and any modifications are applied to the product as a whole.
VMware vSphere Desktop is a special vSphere edition that is used for managing desktop virtualization. This edition includes the features and IT services that are present in the vSphere Enterprise Plus edition. On-demand scalability, high availability, as well as capacity management, allow you to easily monitor your desktop workloads. The vSphere Desktop edition is suitable for all customers who want to purchase vSphere licenses to implement desktop virtualization.
In conclusion, VMware vSphere offers a range of licensing options for virtualization management and protection, and choosing the right one can be challenging. However, with the help of Nakivo, businesses can ensure complete data protection for their VMware vSphere VMs and instant recovery options.
VMware Environment Protection in NAKIVO Backup & Replication
NAKIVO Backup & Replication is an efficient and flexible solution that ensures that your VMware virtual environment is fully protected with the help of VM backup, replication, and recovery. NAKIVO Backup & Replication presents its customers with various license types and editions from which you can choose the best-suited options for your IT infrastructure.
Licensing in NAKIVO Backup & Replication: Overview
- Per CPU Licensing
In this case, CPU socket licensing is assigned for each physical VMware host that you use for VM backup or replication. Target hosts for your replicas, or hosts that are used for the recovery of VMs, do not require licensing. This licensing type is available on either a perpetual or subscription basis.
- Per VM Licensing
VM licensing is only provided for VMs that you back up or replicate. You do not need any additional licensing for replica VMs or recovered VMs. Per-VM licensing is available to certified NAKIVO Cloud Providers on a subscription basis. Moreover, Cloud Providers can increase or decrease the number of licensed VMs once a month.
Types of Licensing
There are three types of licenses: trial license, perpetual license, and subscription license. Perpetual licenses do not have an expiration date, while trial licenses and subscription licenses do have an expiration date. In a case of the license expiration, the functionality of NAKIVO Backup & Replication is disabled. To restore the functionality, simply install a new license.
Moreover, by default, a product licensed on a perpetual basis includes the feature of Maintenance & Support, which is active for one year. You can be notified about the end of the Maintenance & Support period beforehand (60 days or 30 days prior to its expiration). You can extend the Maintenance & Support period by contacting NAKIVO’s support team.
Additionally, NAKIVO Backup & Replication allows you to transfer a license from one VMware ESXi host to another. Thus, when a VM backup or replication job is created, the product automatically assigns socket licenses to hosts that contain your source VMs. If you have run out of socket licenses, you should choose one of the following options:
- Edit the available jobs and remove VMs present at a particular host from those jobs
- Delete jobs that have VMs residing on a particular host
- Purchase more license.
Conclusion
Most modern organizations are interested in building and deploying virtual environments, as it is a more flexible and cost-effective solution for data protection. VMware vSphere is considered to be one of the most efficient and reliable virtualization platforms. Its latest version introduced new exclusive features, which have considerably improved the product’s functionality.
If you’re interested in purchasing a VMware vSphere license, you can do so through ITM Technology. As a trusted partner of Nakivo, ITM can provide you with the necessary licenses and support to make the most of your virtualization platform. With Nakivo’s complete data protection for VMware vSphere VMs and instant recovery options, you can ensure your virtual environments are always secure and protected. So, whether you’re a small business or a large organization, ITM and Nakivo have got you covered.
