VMware Tools Server 2012 R2 Download: Why You Should Choose Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V Over VMware vSphere 5.5

As a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional with expertise in Hyper-V, I've had the opportunity to work with both virtualization stacks - VMware and Hyper-V. In this article, I'll present my case for why you should choose Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V over VMware vSphere 5.5.

In 2008, I started a project and was faced with the decision of which virtualization stack to build on. I chose the VMware stack, consisting of Workstation and ESX/vCenter, and have since been criticized by Microsoft 'blue badges' for my opinions (see my post 'What Went Wrong At Microsoft'). While I'm biased towards the Microsoft stack, I believe that Hyper-V offers a more modern approach to virtualization.

The world of virtualization has been divided into two camps: those who swear by VMware's ESXi/vSphere and those who prefer Microsoft's Hyper-V/System Center. As someone who's worked with both, I can attest that each has its strengths and weaknesses. In this article, I'll focus on why I think Hyper-V is the better choice for Windows Server 2012 R2.

One of the key advantages of Hyper-V is its integration with Windows Server 2012 R2. As a native part of the operating system, Hyper-V is tightly integrated with other Microsoft technologies, such as System Center and Azure. This means that administrators can manage their virtualized environment more easily, with features like live migration, high availability, and disaster recovery.

Another advantage of Hyper-V is its scalability. With Hyper-V, you can run up to 64 virtual processors per host, compared to VMware's limit of 16. Additionally, Hyper-V allows for better performance and lower latency due to its native integration with Windows Server 2012 R2.

In terms of features, both VMware and Hyper-V offer a range of tools for managing and optimizing your virtualized environment. However, I believe that Hyper-V offers more out-of-the-box functionality, including features like deduplication, compression, and memory optimization.

Of course, no discussion of virtualization would be complete without mentioning the cost. While both VMware and Hyper-V require licensing fees, I believe that Hyper-V is a more cost-effective option for many organizations. With Hyper-V, you can take advantage of the included Windows Server 2012 R2 license, which covers all of your virtualization needs.

In conclusion, while VMware is a powerful and feature-rich virtualization platform, I believe that Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V offers a more modern, scalable, and cost-effective approach to virtualization. If you're looking for a reliable and easy-to-manage virtualized environment, I highly recommend considering Hyper-V as your top choice.

References:

* 'What Went Wrong At Microsoft' - 'We do not recommend downloading anything other than from the official website.'

* David Davis's article '5 Reasons Why You Should Choose VMware Over Hyper-V

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