Cost increases of up to 700 percent have prompted many companies to seek alternatives to VMware.

SEH Computertechnik GmbH, based in Bielefeld, a long-standing developer and provider of USB device and dongle servers for enterprises, received numerous inquiries regarding the compatibility of SEH products with virtualization solutions other than VMware during 2024. Jörg Hecke, Product Marketing Manager at SEH, has therefore intensively studied virtualization solutions and discussed arguments with SEH customers that support their decision.

His conclusion after one year: Small and medium-sized businesses with centralized IT infrastructure and simple cloud landscapes are well served by Proxmox VE. Larger companies and corporations with multi- and hybrid clouds as well as distributed IT infrastructures should take a closer look at Nutanix 's solutions. The virtualization solutions of major software vendors like Microsoft and Oracle are closely linked to their own product portfolios and are usually complex to manage if the goal is to go far beyond them. The alternatives from the Linux forges of Red Hat and SUSE offer advantages primarily in cloud and containerization.

Most inquiries from SEH customers related to virtualization solutions were about Microsoft, followed by Proxmox, Nutanix, Red Hat, Oracle and SUSE.

Customers operating large Microsoft or Oracle environments are logically and reasonably orienting themselves in this direction when it comes to virtualization. Companies with in-depth virtualization and Linux expertise within their IT departments can also engage with Red Hat OpenShift or SUSE Harvester without significant risk. However, discussions with SEH customers revealed that Proxmox VE and Nutanix were the preferred alternatives for most companies, which is why these are the only ones we will examine in more detail here.

Proxmox VE – cost-effective but complex

Proxmox VE features a user-friendly web interface. The open-source solution's open source code allows for changes to be made directly within the program code, which can be helpful for specific requirements—assuming the appropriate expertise. Nutanix combines virtualization with a hyperconverged infrastructure, including cloud, and offers integrated solutions for cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. The platform is known for its easy scalability and integration of AI capabilities.

Proxmox VE is particularly attractive for cost-sensitive companies because it's an open-source solution with no license fees, making it particularly attractive for smaller companies or those with limited IT budgets. It's also well -suited to Linux-friendly organizations because Proxmox is based on Debian. Added to this is the support of the open source community. This makes the solution highly flexible and easy to adapt. This can simplify the integration or implementation of customized solutions. However, despite all these advantages, it is necessary that the IT department has the necessary resources with programming and virtualization expertise. Of course, more complex virtualization requirements can also be implemented, although licensing costs for enterprise support may also be incurred. Direct adoption of VMware features, such as NSX or RDM, is not possible.

Nutanix for demanding companies

Nutanix is suitable for companies with distributed IT infrastructures because it includes a hyperconverged infrastructure that is ideal for organizations with multiple locations. The offering is particularly aimed at companies pursuing a multi-cloud strategy, as Nutanix enables seamless integration into various cloud environments and supports a multi-vendor strategy. Companies with high performance and scalability requirements particularly benefit from Nutanix. This is ensured by its powerful feature set for mixed workloads, rapid workload management, and rapid upgrades.

Switching from VMware to Proxmox VE or Nutanix can be particularly worthwhile for companies that either want to reduce their costs or need a more flexible IT infrastructure.

Is it worth switching from VMware to Proxmox or Nutanix?

It shows that Proxmox VE can be a cost-effective and flexible option, while VMware continues to impress with its comprehensive functionality. Nutanix, on the other hand, offers additional advantages over VMware that can be beneficial for specific scalability and hybrid solutions.