VMware's interface, management tools and features are way more mature than XenServer IMO. That comes from the product maturity more than anything I think.
Compare snapshotting and restoring a machine in VMware to XenServer - they probably work similarly under the hood but the presentation to the administrator is so much better. And that's just a quick example off the top of my head. Hyper-V has caught up a bit with VMware though - I'm running it in my lab and I'm sold on it. YMMV On 25 March 2014 19:44, Jeff S. Gottlieb <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I enjoy everyone's comments (thanks), even if it's not what we were > expecting to hear, but we were hoping to start the build of our 1stCITRIX > XenServer until this email. A person as "Consultant and Citrix > Technology Professional" has the ability to make a strong impact. > > > > ...so why "not XenServer for a production environment at this time"? Can > you say exactly the reasons why you would prefer ESX over XenServer? > > > > > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Webster > *Sent:* Tuesday, March 25, 2014 10:55 AM > > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* RE: [NTSysADM] Fun virtualization projects coming up > > > > For XenServer Backup? > > > > PHDVirtual (which I have used in my lab) > > Vembu > > Acronis > > Amanda > > Zamanda > > > > And then there are a plethora of scripts out there (since most Linux > people like to use shell scripts). > > > > Bottom line, you want to backup XenServer, there are plenty of options. > > > > > > Carl Webster > > Consultant and Citrix Technology Professional > > http://www.CarlWebster.com <http://www.carlwebster.com/> > ------------------------------ > > *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> > on behalf of Phil Brutsche <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Tuesday, March 25, 2014 12:17 PM > > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* RE: [NTSysADM] Fun virtualization projects coming up > > > > My #1 caveat to anyone NOT considering VMware or Hyper-V for > virtualization is "How are you going to do your backups?" > > > > The equivalent of Veeam (or Quest vRanger, or Unitrends, or whatever > people use to back up their VMs) is very, very rare for Citrix XenServer, > and even more rare for other virtualization products. > > > > -- > > > > Phil Brutsche > > [email protected] > > > > *From:* [email protected] [ > mailto:[email protected] <[email protected]>] *On > Behalf Of *Webster > *Sent:* Tuesday, March 25, 2014 11:28 AM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* RE: [NTSysADM] Fun virtualization projects coming up > > > > I would not recommend XenServer for a production environment at this time. > I think it is fine for a lab and the XenSource version is awesome for Cloud > providers with the Linux and dev experience. I work with all three at > customer sites and all of them are replacing XenServer with either Hyper-V > or ESX. It depends on your comfort level with the two products. > > > > Hope this helps. > > > > > > Carl Webster > > Consultant and Citrix Technology Professional > > http://www.CarlWebster.com <http://www.carlwebster.com/> > ------------------------------ > > *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> > on behalf of Jeff S. Gottlieb <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Tuesday, March 25, 2014 10:13 AM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* RE: [NTSysADM] Fun virtualization projects coming up > > > > I hope there are others in this forum like us that might benefit from our > maneuvers. > > > > Unfortunately (sorry) we are not quite into (at least not yet) the LARGE > type of environments that serve part of this audience. Location A (see > below) was refreshed 18-months ago, and was built with 2008R2 at the core, > Hyper-V was implemented for Ericom AccessNow 3-months ago. Location B came > into production 1/2014, and designed with virtualization to avoid the > headaches we've experienced with software incompatibility. We did achieve > the results we were looking for, as this location has been reported as > "fast" and remains trouble free. Unprecedented on my career ...it's never > been so smooth this past 3-months. Now it's just a question of either > Citrix XebsEVERor VMWARE going forward with our Future Location, and we > are looking for a standard. > > > > For backups we are using Continuum Vault with DATO servers > > Locations A and B are connected via SonicWall VPN over T1 and EoC > (respectively) > > For monitoring we use Continuum RRM > > PSA partners (still undetermined) > > > > *Location A* > > Server T410, Dell PowerEdge, 2 CPU, 32GB of RAM, DRAC > > Microsoft Hyper-V installed on Disk2 is made for Ericom AccessNow. > Credentials:****/***** IP = 10.0.0.12 > > - DC (Primary): The primary controller is at this location. > Domain level is 2008R2 SP1, all features including DNS server are installed > on C: drive. D: drive is being used for > > - Apps - server where all medical packages are installed. The > system is located on drive C:. The data is located on drive D:. Data > includes all databases, images, corporate files, etc. > > - "XenApp" - remote applications server. The Ericom AccessNow > software is installed to let remote desktop sessions happen in HTML5 > capable browser window. > > > > *Location B* > > Server T420, Dell PowerEdge, 2 CPU, 24GB of RAM, DRAC > > VMware ESXi ver 5.5 hypervisor installed on Disk 1. Disk2 is made as 2nd > datastore. Credentials: IP = 10.0.10.4 > > - DC (Secondary): Windows Server 2008R2 SP1, IP = 10.0.10.5, HD0 > = 80GB located on Disk1, HD1 = 100GB located on Disk 2 > > - Apps: Windows Server 2008R2 SP1, IP = 10.0.10.10, HD0 = 80GB > located on Disk1, HD1 = 200GB located on Disk 2 > > - "XenApp" (Ericom AccessNow) 2008R2 SP1, IP = 10.0.10.12, HD0 = > 80GB located on Disk1, HD1 = 100GB located on Disk 2 > > VCenter 5.5: VMware appliance > > > > > > *Future Location (independent company)* > > Server T420, Dell PowerEdge, 2 CPU, 24GB of RAM, 2/1GB SD CARD for RIP, > DRAC > > CITRIX XenServer? > > - DC (Primary): Windows Server 2012R2 > > - Apps: Windows Server 2012R2 > > - "XenApp" (Ericom AccessNow ) 2012R2 > > > > > > > > > > *From:* [email protected] [ > mailto:[email protected] <[email protected]>] *On > Behalf Of *Richard Stovall > *Sent:* Monday, March 24, 2014 5:41 PM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [NTSysADM] Fun virtualization projects coming up > > > > Hoo boy. > > > > Size of your virtualized environment? Current virtualization platform? > > > > On Mon, Mar 24, 2014 at 8:38 PM, Jeff S. Gottlieb < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > We have several server refreshes coming up... our choices are ESXi, Hyper-V, > or CITRIX XenServer. Was wondering if this is a forum to post concerns, > experiences, and look forward to recommendations? Oddly, we haven't seen a > single post regarding the above in the past. -J > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- *James Rankin* --------------------- RCL - Senior Technical Consultant (ACA, CCA, MCTS) | The Virtualization Practice Analyst - Desktop Virtualization http://appsensebigot.blogspot.co.uk
