Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware in 2023 completely upended the company’s business strategy, despite its status as a pioneer in virtualization. As a result, many VMware customers are wondering whether migrating to other solutions is a viable option. Among the available options, Nutanix is gaining attention.
Before making a decision like this, it’s important to compare the two solutions carefully, and not to rush into anything. That’s why we’re offering you a detailed, factual comparison, without encouraging you to favor one publisher over the other.
Take Back Control of Your Cloud
Introducing VMware
VMware vSphere is a platform designed specifically for server virtualization and offers a set of features for creating and managing VMs on physical servers. It includes theESXi hypervisor and the vCenter Server management console. VMware ESXi is a Type 1 hypervisor that runs directly on physical hardware without the need for an intermediate host operating system. It uses the proprietary .vmdk virtual disk format.
Its key strength: the ability to integrate automation and artificial intelligence tools into a virtual environment to facilitate large-scale operations. This virtualization solution offers a suite of tools, such as vMotion for live migration, Distributed Resource Scheduler for workload balancing, and vSAN for software-defined storage.
VMware vSphere also stands out due to its ability to integrate with third-party tools, such as Active Directory for centralized identity and access management, or Veeam Backup & Replication for virtual machine backup, recovery and replication.
An introduction to Nutanix
Nutanix is not a solution solely dedicated to virtualization, like VMware. It integrates into a single platform (hyperconverged infrastructure or HCI), managed by the Nutanix Acropolis operating system:
- Computing, using CPU and RAM resources to run applications and virtual machines.
- Distributed storage, which manages data across multiple nodes.
- Virtualization using its own AHV hypervisor, which allows users to manage and run VMs without requiring third-party solutions. Nutanix also supports other hypervisors such as VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V. It is managed through the Prism management console, which is equivalent to VMware’s vCenter.
Nutanix AHV is also a Type 1 hypervisor, but it is designed to be used exclusively within the Nutanix AOS system, which means you will not be able to integrate an older SAN into a new VM cluster. It supports several virtual disk formats, including open formats such as .qcow2 and .vdi, as well as the proprietary .vmdk format.
Nutanix’s key strengths arehyperconvergence—in other words, Nutanix is an all-in-one solution—as well as its SDS (Software-Defined Storage) system for deploying a cluster of hosts. In fact, AHV requires neither an external SAN nor a large-scale storage infrastructure.
Feature comparison between Nutanix and VMware
Storage options
It’s worth noting that to enable very low latency, Nutanix stores data as close as possible to the application. VMware vSAN, on the other hand, distributes data across different disk groups on specific nodes. Data being read must therefore travel over the network, which places a greater load on it and creates more latency.
Here are the storage options in detail:
| Feature | VMware vSphere | Nutanix |
|---|---|---|
| Software-Defined Storage (SDS) | VMware vSAN: an SDS storage solution integrated with VMware vSphere and optimized for hyperconvergence. | Nutanix Files & Volumes: integrated SDS storage solutions designed to work natively with Nutanix. |
| File Systems | VMFS: a file system optimized for virtualization. | NDFS: Highly resilient distributed storage optimized for hyperconvergence. |
| Storage Protocols | iSCSI, FC, NVMe-oF, NFS: support for multiple protocols. | iSCSI, NFS, SMB: Native integration with common protocols. |
| Storage Scalability | Scales by adding disks or nodes. | Scales by adding nodes. |
| Performance Optimization | Advanced storage performance features with DRS and storage I/O control. |
|
| Deduplication and Compression | Supported with an all-flash configuration. | Supported in all-flash and hybrid environments. |
| SDS Licenses | Ownership, subscription-based. | Ownership, subscription-based. |
Backup and restoration
VMware and Nutanix have several things in common:
- Support for full VM backup.
- Create snapshots to capture the state of a VM without interrupting service.
- Graphical user interface (GUI) and command line interface (CLI), with the ability to manually execute scheduled tasks and monitor backup status in real time.
- Full restoration of VMs from backups, as well as file-level restoration, although the latter may require specific backup tools or additional integrations.
- Specific management of retention policies and locations may involve additional tools or integrations, such as third-party backup or business continuity management solutions (e.g. Veeam, Commvault for VMware and Nutanix Data Protection for Nutanix).
That said, a few differences emerge, notably in the use of third-party tools, disk group resilience and replication.
| Feature | VMware vSphere | Nutanix |
|---|---|---|
| Disk Group Resilience | Faulty SSDs require a complete rebuild of the disk group. | Resilience is ensured at the cluster level; only the affected data is rebuilt. |
| Backups and Georeplication | Third-party solutions such as VMware Site Recovery Manager. | Integrated with Nutanix Data Protection and Leap for geo-replication. |
| Full VM Backup | Supported via third-party solutions such as Veeam and Commvault. | Supported with Nutanix Data Protection; third-party solutions can be integrated. |
Security and updates
Both tools offer effective functionality:
- Two-factor authentication,
- Role-based administration,
- Encryption of data at rest and in transit,
- Reporting and auditing tools to maintain compliance,
- Can be integrated with identity and access management (IAM) solutions,
- Automated management of updates and patches,
- Segmentation of virtual networks to isolate workloads and reduce the risk of unauthorized access,
- Standardized safety frameworks (STIGs and CIS Benchmarks).
However, their approach to security differs. VMware prefers modularity, with several distinct security products that can be integrated. This allows for a high degree of customization but can complicate management of the software and lead to additional costs.
Nutanix, on the other hand, prioritizes security that is built directly into the hyperconverged platform, which simplifies management. The focus is on simplifying and automating security with built-in controls.
Integration and compatibility
VMware ESXi is a well-established hypervisor with an ecosystem that supports a wide range of third-party solutions, add-ons, and hardware (through its Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)). Thanks to this broad compatibility, integrating ESXi with existing equipment can simplify the management of existing infrastructures.
Nutanix AHV offers a solution that is tightly integrated within the Nutanix HCI stack, which promotes operational efficiency but may limit integration with certain third-party solutions. AHV can be installed on white-label hardware, provided it meets the compatibility requirements defined by Nutanix. It is therefore important to verify that existing hardware is compatible, but it is not necessary to replace it entirely. Naturally, AHV excels in HCI environments, but it offers limited support for additional hardware components, such as external disk arrays.
Ebook gratuit
Performance and scalability
VM performance
VMware ESXi is renowned for its high performance and efficient resource management in virtualized environments, because:
- Distributed Resource Scheduler automatically balances workloads between hosts.
- High availability enables VMs to be automatically restarted on other hosts in the event of failure.
Nutanix AHV also offers high performance for VMs, because:
- Data locality enables data to be stored as close as possible to the application using it, thus reducing latency.
- Distributed architecture optimizes VM performance, particularly in private cloud and hyperconverged infrastructure deployments.
- Hyperconvergence simplifies resource management by combining computing, storage and networking.
Scalability of solutions
AHV is designed for horizontal scalability in a hyperconverged environment, while ESXi enables both horizontal and vertical scalability strategies depending on the infrastructure architecture.
With advanced features such as vMotion, vSphere High Availability, and the Distributed Resource Scheduler, ESXi enables dynamic resource management. These tools facilitate live migration of VMs, ensure high availability, and automatically balance workloads.
Nutanix makes it easy to add nodes to scale computing and storage capacity linearly and offers hot migration and high-availability features that are powerful and efficient, yet designed for simplified, automated integration rather than the advanced customization offered by VMware.
Nutanix and VMware cost and license type
VMware licensing model
Since Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware, two significant changes have been proposed: first, the free version of ESXi has been discontinued. Additionally, VMware has transitioned from a perpetual licensing model to a subscription-based model for new customers. Existing customers who already own a perpetual license may keep it, and VMware continues to provide active support for the duration of their contracts.
VMware’s subscription models offer flexibility, and allow companies to choose specific features, by contrast with Nutanix, where certain bits of software can be included by default.
VMware licenses can also be expensive, especially when they come with integrated add-ons or third-party solutions.
Nutanix licensing model
Nutanix no longer offers perpetual licenses either, and subscriptions are generally designed to provide flexibility. However, some customers may end up with bundled software they would not have chosen on their own, which can be seen as either a constraint or an advantage. Nutanix still offers a free version of AHV.
What’s more, Nutanix integrates the AHV hypervisor into its offering, so there are no dedicated licensing costs. Dependence on the proprietary Nutanix ecosystem does mean additional costs though, particularly for storage expansion.
Cost comparison
VMware costs can be significant, especially for companies that deploy many ESXi servers with advanced features (vSphere vMotion, Distributed Resource Scheduler, High Availability) and complementary products, such as vSAN or NSX. Licenses are billed per processor, and technical support and maintenance are billed separately.
As a hyperconverged solution, Nutanix often involves a high upfront cost due to the integration of computing, storage, and virtualization into a single platform. This investment covers not only hardware but also software and implementation services. That said, reduced operational complexity and automated resource management help lower long-term maintenance and operating costs. In addition, linear scalability can provide a better return on investment.
Easy to use and install
Nutanix user interface
Nutanix Prism offers an intuitive, centralized user interface for managing hyperconverged infrastructures, designed to be as simple and intuitive as possible. Prism features built-in analytics, troubleshooting capabilities, and automated workflows.
VMware user interface
VMware uses the vCenter Server management console for all VMs. The interface allows you to control and monitor the entire virtual infrastructure, with advanced features for automation, resource management, and performance analysis. vCenter provides management capabilities for large-scale virtualization environments.
Installation process
In the minimum configuration, VMware ESXi requires 2 CPU cores, a 64-bit processor with support for hardware virtualization, 4 to 8 GB RAM and 32 GB disk space for installation; Nutanix AVH can run with 2 CPU cores and 16 GB RAM.
However, for both products, these specifications prove insufficient for production environments.
As for the installation processes for VMware ESXi and Nutanix AHV, they start with the deployment of an ISO image and then differ on account of their architectures.
With VMware, you follow an installation wizard. Once the installation is complete, you configure the basic network settings and access the user interface through the VMware vSphere Client or vCenter. You can then configure advanced features such as storage or VM management.
The Nutanix installation begins with the deployment of the complete Nutanix solution, which includes the AHV hypervisor. Once the Nutanix cluster is in place, all additional configurations are performed through the Prism interface.
Take Back Control of Your Cloud
Support and community
Support for Nutanix
Nutanix offers several levels of paid support, with a contract:
- Production Support: 24/7 support with fast response times for critical issues.
- Mission Critical Support: even faster response times and priority access to support resources.
- Premier Support: a dedicated account manager, regular system checks and priority access to support engineers.
Support for VMware
VMware support and maintenance contracts, which are often purchased in addition to licenses, can represent a significant but necessary expense for many companies. They include SLAs and direct technical support.
Both VMware and Nutanix offer comprehensive documentation, available free of charge online.
Community activities and resources
Nutanix has an online community called Nutanix NEXT, where users can ask questions, share solutions, and discuss best practices. While it is not a substitute for official technical support, it is a valuable resource for users.
VMware also has a large base of professional users who form an active community, thanks in particular to forums and events organized by VMware.
Qim Info will help you choose between Nutanix and VMware and deploy the solution you opt for.
At Qim Info, we start with a detailed analysis of your needs and constraints to advise you on whether to choose Nutanix or VMware. With 20 years of expertise, we provide you with an objective comparison of the two solutions, helping you identify the one that best aligns with your goals, budget, and existing infrastructure.
Once the decision has been made, our team will support you throughout the deployment process—from planning to full integration—ensuring a smooth transition without disrupting your operations. We also ensure that your teams are trained to make the most of the new infrastructure.
After deployment, Qim Info continues to work with you to optimize the performance of your chosen solution and adapt your infrastructure to your company’s future needs. With Qim Info, you receive comprehensive support to help you make the right technology choices and ensure the success of your transformation.
In conclusion, choosing between Nutanix and VMware depends on your needs, your budget, and your support requirements. We’ve also written articles comparing VMware to OpenStack and Proxmox. Our team in the Cloud & DevOps Solutions is available to answer any questions you may have.
