Best Virtualization Software

Best virtualization software includes VMware vSphere, XenDesktop, Virtuozzo, HyperIP, and The Virtual Desktop Platform. This software benefits organizations with reduced upfront hardware and continuing operating costs, minimized or eliminated downtime, increased IT productivity and responsiveness, and more significant business continuity and disaster recovery response.

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List of 20 Best Virtualization Software

Showing 1 - 20 of 35 products

Software by SolarWinds Worldwide LLC.

Virtualization Manager is a fully featured Virtualization Software designed to serve SMEs, Startups. Virtualization Manager provides end-to-end solutions designed for Windows. This online Virtualization system offers at one place. Learn more about Solarwinds Virtualization Manager

Say Hello to the Simplest Cloud Desktop

V2 Cloud software provides you with the cloud WorkSpace, where your data is automatically backed-up in its database. You can easily add multiple users in cloud workspace, share the files between users, and you can easily access the data from anywhere. Ultimate bandwidth and role-based access to the remote apps are some other features to pay attention to. Learn more about V2 Cloud

Category Champions | 2024

Creates a safe and secure virtual cloud network for you

Turn your single computer to a virtual workstation by using VMware vSpheres. The virtual desktop software offers you dep-dive performance tracking, data handling, and storage easily. It empowers your workspace by mobile app. Read VMware vSphere Reviews

Most Reviewed

Parallels Mac Management is a fully featured Asset Management Software designed to serve SMEs, Startups. Parallels Mac Management provides end-to-end solutions designed for Macintosh. This online Asset Management system offers Software Inventory, Hardware Inventory, Scheduling, Inventory Management, Patch Management at one place. Learn more about Parallels Mac Management

Software by QEMU

QEMU is a fully featured Virtual Machine Software designed to serve Enterprises, SMEs and StartUps. QEMU provides end-to-end solutions designed for Web App and Android. This online Virtual Machine system offers Virtual Machine Encryption and Virtual Server at one place. Learn more about QEMU

Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization is a fully featured Network Monitoring Software designed to serve Enterprises, SMEs. Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization provides end-to-end solutions designed for Windows. This online Network Monitoring system offers Desktop Virtualization, Performance Management, Virtual Machine Monitoring at one place. Learn more about Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization

Emergents | 2024

Comes with in-built collaboration tools

XenDesktop is feature-rich virtualization software for windows that will digitize your workspace by creating a virtual environment in and around it. The virtualization software offers a unified experience for data-driven devices and doubles employee engagement. Learn more about XenDesktop

Contenders | 2024

It protects your computer from browser stank

Back up your entire organizational data and operations over a single click by using Virtuozzo. The virtual desktop software also allows you to run a different OS, prevent any intruder activity, and create screenshots of your commuter for future reference. Learn more about Virtuozzo

Emergents | 2024

Comes with Windows and Linux based host resources

The Virtual Desktop Platform is a powerful virtualization tool. Providing flexible end-to-end virtualization solutions to businesses, the virtual machine software allows network monitoring, performance tracking, virtual space data sharing, firewall log, etc. Learn more about The Virtual Desktop

Category Champions | 2024

Comes with single button restore facility

everRun is virtualization software that can be managed remotely and can be set within minutes. You can create a virtual infrastructure for your organization that is able to run in any of operating system by using this virtual machine software. Learn more about everRun

Contenders | 2024

Early detection of ransomware ability to possible with it

PHD Virtual Backup is the top virtualization software that offers agentless application facility at 30% less cost. You can reduce your administrative time using drag-and-drop editing tool of this virtualization software. The back-up can be built up in any OS. Learn more about PHD Virtual Backup

Contenders | 2024

Has dependable hardware asset management feature

Designed to serve SME and larger enterprise with equal ease, Lanamark Suite is feature-rich top virtualization software that helps you create a flexible virtual space. It improves your disaster management capabilities through cloud-based data replication. Learn more about Lanamark Suite

High Performer | 2024

Has proactive solutions for domain creation and management

VMC lets you get your very own premium domain name and create virtual infrastructure. The virtual machine software can do instant data replication; data back up and create virtual apps on-demand. With the agentless operation, it reduces your teams' size too. Learn more about VMC

Category Champions | 2024

Come with great community support and GPL license

ZeroTier One will create an all-inclusive virtual network that can work in any coordinates easily. The top virtualization software can easily integrate the power of VPNs, SDN, and SD-WAN systems over a single platform and make your operations breakdown proof. Learn more about ZeroTier One

Emergents | 2024

Great user-interface with cloud-space security

Designed to render end-to-end virtualization solutions, Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop is the best virtualization software. It can protect virtual machines through any browser over a click. This feature-rich virtual desktop software can also create cloud desktops. Learn more about Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop

High Performer | 2024

Will create audited HIPAA and PCI compliant desktops

Ditch the fear of losing the data and get instant data replication by using Dizzion. The virtualization software is a great tool to fabricate virtual desktops and can be accessed from anywhere. Single virtual apps deliver is also possible. Learn more about Dizzion

Emergents | 2024

Nomadesk is a fully featured Document Management Software designed to serve SMEs, Agencies. Nomadesk provides end-to-end solutions designed for Web App. This online Document Management system offers Archiving & Retention, Encryption, Data Mobility, Document Archiving, Desktop Virtualization at one place. Learn more about Nomadesk

Emergents | 2024

Turbonomic is a cloud management software that helps you derive maximum benefits from your public cloud environment. This feature-rich software reducing your cloud expenses without compromising on quality of performance. Log in to download 30-day free trial. Learn more about IBM Turbonomic

Emergents | 2024

Paperspace is a fully featured Virtualization Software designed to serve Startups, SMEs. Paperspace provides end-to-end solutions designed for Macintosh. This online Virtualization system offers Desktop Virtualization at one place. Learn more about Paperspace

Emergents | 2024

sloppy.io is a fully featured Virtualization Software designed to serve SMEs, Agencies. sloppy.io provides end-to-end solutions designed for Windows. This online Virtualization system offers Performance Management, Version Control at one place. Learn more about sloppy.io

virtualization-software-guide

A few years earlier, businesses and individuals had to rely on multiple physical machines to run different operating systems and applications, which could significantly drain resources and time.

However, with the advent of virtualization software, it has become possible to create multiple virtual machines on a single physical machine, which can operate independently of each other.

This detailed guide will help you understand virtualization software and how it can help your business improve bottom-line performance and gain an instant competitive advantage.

What Is Virtualization Software?

Virtualization software, often known as virtual machine software, enables the creation and execution of virtual computers on physical servers. The primary benefit of using VM software is the ability to run several operating systems on a single server or desktop computer at the same time, which was not previously feasible with traditional hardware.

Using virtualization software significantly simplifies the process for businesses with employees who need to utilize several operating systems, such as Windows and macOS, to set up a single workstation that everyone can share.

Types of Virtualization Platforms

Virtualization takes many forms and can be implemented in many ways depending on what you want to virtualize. You can virtualize networks, workstations, apps, storage and server architecture, and data. The various types of virtualization platforms are:

types-of-virtualization-platforms

  1. Desktop virtualization

    Desktop virtualization is the technique of generating a virtual user workstation that can be accessed remotely from any device with a network connection. This technology enables users to work from anywhere, using any device to access company resources, independent of the operating system or device utilized by the remote user.

    To provide virtual desktop access, desktop virtualization servers operate virtual computers in on-premises data centers or the public cloud. Remote desktop virtualization is an important component of digital workplaces because it allows users to execute virtual desktop operations and access company resources in a flexible and secure manner.

  2. Application virtualization

    Most individuals have employed application virtualization as the next level of virtualization. In this case, an application is virtualized and stored on servers separate from the physical device you're using to access it. This may be used to run a Mac-only application on a Windows PC, for example.

  3. Network virtualization

    By assembling network resources like switches, routers, and other network equipment, networks can be virtualized. The network can then be handled as a single entity using the aggregated capabilities of those resources. If network demand is unpredictable, virtualizing the network will enable you to more effectively distribute and allot resources while maintaining a high level of performance.

  4. Storage virtualization

    When storage from many physical storage devices is pooled and used as one storage device, as was the case with network resources earlier, this occurs. The virtual storage can then be handled as a single storage device, allowing for more flexible resource allocation, modification, movement, and configuration across your infrastructure.

  5. Server virtualization

    When a server is virtualized, a tool divides its resources into smaller virtual machine servers. Each virtual server may now be accessed by users, and physical resources can be used more efficiently. Instead of allocating three real servers to three distinct sections of the company, one physical server can be divided into three virtual machines. This might aid in the optimization of your server architecture and the reduction of hardware costs.

  6. Data virtualization

    Data is collected throughout a system and then given in virtual form to network or system devices. These devices may access virtual data without knowing where it is kept, and the original data does not have to be transferred or replicated in order for devices across the infrastructure to access it.

Features Of Best Virtualization Software

Virtualization software is a robust tool that allows the creation of multiple virtual machines within a single physical server, facilitating the operation of multiple operating systems simultaneously.

features-of-virtualization-software

Its features are crucial in providing dependable and scalable solutions to businesses. In this section, we will highlight the most notable features of virtualization software.

  1. Hypervisor

    A hypervisor is a software layer that supports the execution of numerous virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical server or workstation. It is in charge of controlling and assigning the primary physical resources to the virtual machines, such as CPU, memory, and storage.

  2. Virtual Machine Manager

    The Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) is a graphical interface for creating, configuring, and managing virtual machines. It is a key feature of virtualization tools and serves as the virtual infrastructure's centralized management console.

  3. Resource management

    One of the key critical features of the best virtualization platforms is resource management. It helps users to optimize physical and virtual resources in complex computer systems. They can use resource management skills, assuring efficiency and availability at all times.

  4. Snapshots

    Virtualization software may be used to take snapshots of virtual machines at particular moments in time. In case of any issues or errors, snapshots let you quickly and simply go back to a previous state.

  5. Live Migration

    A feature called live migration enables you to migrate an active virtual machine without any downtime from one physical server to another. This promotes high availability and balances the workload across the infrastructure.

Benefits of Best Virtualization Software

Virtualization software has changed the way organizations operate by enabling many operating systems and applications to run on a single physical server. This technology has various benefits, including more flexibility, higher security, cheaper costs, and simplified maintenance.

benefits-of-virtualization-software

Let's look at these advantages and how virtualization software can help firms achieve their goals more efficiently.

  1. Cost savings

    Physical servers are costly and might be a barrier to entrance for some businesses. Smaller firms may lack the resources to handle on-premises servers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Server virtualization technologies enable server capacity to be increased without the need for new hardware.

    This saves money in the same manner that any "as a service" offering does. Server virtualization can extend the scope and capability of a single server to meet a variety of business objectives.

  2. Improved efficiency

    One of the key benefits of virtualization software is higher efficiency. IT teams may utilize virtualization tools to swiftly install and manage VMs, enabling more effective use of IT resources. This can result in shorter project turnaround times and less downtime for maintenance.

  3. Scalability

    Virtualization software enables businesses to effortlessly scale up or down as needed, adding or deleting virtual machines (VMs). This can assist firms in meeting shifting demands without requiring major hardware expenditures.

  4. Enhanced disaster recovery

    Another key benefit of virtualization software is lesser downtime due to improved server hardware usage. This reduces the complexity as the VM can change whether it is working or not, which means it has extremely little downtime.

  5. Increased flexibility

    Virtualization software gives the user the ability to alter the software to meet their specific business needs by choosing specific modules. The adjustment can be completed in minutes and simply adjusted as the workload varies.

Which Companies Should Buy Virtualization Software?

Generally, server virtualization solutions and hypervisors will be used by companies that require more computing resources than they can house on-site, but aren’t interested in more all-encompassing cloud-infrastructure solutions. The following organizations will greatly benefit from investing in virtualization software:

which-companies-should-buy-virtualization-software

  1. Startups and software companies

    Server virtualization technologies are useful for businesses that require multiple servers to run at the same time but do not want to invest in additional physical infrastructure and prefer to manage and configure servers themselves. 

  2. Web hosting providers

    Server virtualization technologies are frequently used by web and other hosting providers to host several websites or apps on a single server. This simplifies server maintenance and isolates one virtual environment from the others. 

  3. Modern computing businesses

    Companies looking to shift workloads and outdated systems to more modern computing environments should look into virtualization technologies. This will make it easier to move virtual machines across servers and enhance resilience in the event of a disaster.

How To Choose The Right Virtualization Tool?

With a wide range of virtualization tools available in the market, choosing the right one can be a daunting task. We will provide a brief guide on how to select the right virtualization tool for your needs.

choose-the-right-virtualization-tool

  1. Choose a selection team

    Decision makers must include subject matter experts from all teams in the firm that will use the system when forming a selection team. This selection team consists mostly of IT managers, developers, and security personnel when choosing server virtualization systems. Any manager or department head should include persons in charge of any solutions that the product will integrate with.

  2. Negotiation

    The seniority of the negotiation team while purchasing server virtualization solutions may vary depending on the maturity of the organization. It is recommended that appropriate directors or managers from the security and IT departments, as well as any other cross-functional departments that may be impacted, be included.

  3. Final decision

    If the organization employs a chief technology officer (CTO), that person will almost certainly make the decision. Otherwise, businesses must rely on their security specialists' competence to use and comprehend the product.

List of Top 5 Virtualization Software Comparison

Name
Free Trial
Demo
Starting Price

Oracle VM

30-days

Yes

Starts with $50/year

VMware vSphere

60-days

Yes Starting price at $149

Citrix Hypervisor

60-days

Yes

Custom Pricing

IBM PowerVM

30-days

No

Virtual Processor starts at $0.1209/Scale Out

Red Hat Virtualization

60-days

Yes

Starting price $999/hypervisor/year

Virtualization software allows users to run several operating systems or apps on a single machine. This guide will go through the top five virtualization software solutions, as well as their cost and pros and downsides.

Whether you're a developer, a system administrator, or an individual user, virtualization software can improve your productivity and efficiency. So, without further ado, let's dive into the world of virtualization software.

1. Oracle VM

oracle-vm-virtualization-dashboard

Oracle VM is an affordable virtualization platform that efficiently manages heavy workloads while ensuring minimum downtime. It can support up to 384 hardware CPUs and 6 TB of memory. Each guest VM can have a maximum of 256 virtual CPUs and 2 TB of memory. 

Oracle VM ensures stability, constant performance, and minimal backports, thus leading to improved performance.

Features

  • OS compatibility
  • Centralized management
  • Pre-configured VMs
  • Graphical topology viewer
  • Integration with Enterprise Manager

Pros

  • Maintenance of the software does not disrupt operations.
  • Live migrations of virtual machines are possible with the tool.
  • It offers fast cloning and provisioning of virtual machines.
  • The embedded OSWatcher helps diagnose issues quickly.
  • Zero-downtime security updates keep the system secure without downtime.

Cons

  • Oracle VM has a steep learning curve for beginners.
  • The interface can be complex and confusing for some users.

Pricing

  • Basic plan starts with $50/year with additional cost of $11/year for support.

2. VMware vSphere

vmware-vsphere-virtualization-dashboard

VMware vSphere provides a bare-metal environment for virtualizing and installing servers. VMware ESXi and VMware Vcenter Server VMware are the virtualization components of the vSphere module.

The ESXi hypervisor enables users to provision virtual resources rapidly and maximize performance via compression and page sharing. Simultaneously, the vCenter server centralizes the management of ESXi devices connected to the whole network. 

Features

  • ESXi hypervisor for VMs
  • vCenter for process management
  • vCenter SSO for security
  • STS certificates for authentication
  • vCLS for high availability
  • Vmotion for seamless VM migration

Pros

  • The software has plugin extensibility for customization.
  • The interface is intuitive and user-friendly.
  • Built-in fault tolerance helps prevent system failures.
  • Snapshot recovery feature enables quick system restore.
  • Strong vendor support is available for technical assistance.

Cons

  • Licensing for VMware vSphere is costly.
  • The platform can be complex and difficult to manage for some users.
  • Some hardware may be incompatible with the software.

Pricing

VMware vSphere has several pricing tiers. VMware also offers a 60-day trial for all its products.

  • VMware Workstation 16 Player: $149    
  • VMware Workstation 16 Pro: $199
  • VMware Fusion 12 Pro: $199
  • VMware Fusion 12 Player: $149

3. Citrix Hypervisor

citrix-hypervisor--virtualization-dashboard

Citrix Hypervisor is designed to provide effective operations management and a smooth user experience for Citrix virtual desktops and virtual apps. It is very simple to use for first-time users. Furthermore, the open-source platform consolidates multiple VMs on a single physical server, reducing the number of disk images that must be managed separately.

Users may also configure policies to restart VMs in the case of a failure. Furthermore, VM images may be utilized on a variety of deployment infrastructures, boosting image mobility. When using Citrix Hypervisor, the user can select between an Intel VT or AMD-V 64-bit x86-based CPU to manage several guest operating systems.

Features

  • Control domain 
  • Tool stack 
  • Virtualization extensions 
  • Paravirtualized drivers 
  • Citrix VM tools 

Pros

  • Affordable licenses for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
  • No vendor lock-in, allowing users to choose their own hardware and software.
  • Intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) for easy management.
  • Snapshot capability for quick system backups and restoration.
  • Quick and easy setup process for new users.
  • 3D graphics support for running graphics-intensive applications.

Cons

  • Citrix Hypervisor has limited support for USB devices.
  • It does not offer advanced management tools for administrators.
  • The automation process requires the use of PowerShell scripts.
  • The process for migrating virtual machines can be complex.

Pricing

  • Pricing information is not available on the company website but is provided on request.

4. IBM PowerVM

ibm-powervm-virtualization-dashboard

IBM's PowerVM is a cost-effective and secure server virtualization technology that supports Linux, IBM, and AIX applications. Its ability to manage installations without performance issues sets it apart from other virtualization systems in the market.

One of the advantages of PowerVM is that it separates hardware resources from workloads, making infrastructure management more manageable and cost-effective. This enables users to meet SLAs on time and at a lower cost.

PowerVM is a comprehensive platform that combines both hardware and software resources, making it a one-stop solution for enterprises. It provides a unified platform at a single price, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to save on infrastructure costs.

Features

  • Logical partitioning
  • Micro-partitioning
  • Dynamic logical partitioning
  • Shared processor and storage pools
  • Integrated Virtualization Manager
  • Flexibility: 20 partitions per processor
  • Runtime expert for input/output server
  • Shared storage pools for virtualization
  • VIOS performance advisor
  • VMControl for storage optimization
  • Integrated Virtual Manager for centralized control

Pros

  • PowerVM simplifies shared storage management for users.
  • Linked clones can significantly reduce storage usage.
  • Users can donate unused CPU resources to others.
  • The software allows for remote restarts and operations, improving efficiency.

Cons

  • IBM PowerVM Virtualization software is restricted to IBM hardware only.
  • It does not support Windows operating systems.
  • The documentation provided can be outdated or hard to find.

Pricing

  • Shared Virtual Processor: $0.1209/Scale Out
  • Dedicated Virtual Processor: $0.4836/Scale Out
  • Shared Virtual Processor: $0.4232/Enterprise
  • Shared Virtual Processor: $1.6927/Enterprise

5. Red Hat Virtualization

The Red Hat Virtualization technology, which is based on Red Hat's corporate KVM and Linux, can manage heavy workloads, and customers may deploy their apps on OpenShift, their Kubernetes platform. 

Red Hat Virtualization used container technology to provide clients with increased flexibility in constructing, moving, and extending data-heavy applications with high availability, low latency, and minimal downtime. 

Features

  • Mixed applications support
  • VMs to containers integration
  • KubeVirt for VMs in Kubernetes
  • Integrated virtualization manager

Pros

  • Red Hat Virtualization is open-source with no vendor lock-in.
  • The software supports live migration and high availability.
  • It provides easy management and upgrades for virtualized environments.
  • The platform provides excellent customer support.

Cons

  • The software may have slow security patch releases.
  • The user interface can be enhanced for better navigability. 

Pricing

  • Standard: $999/hypervisor/year    
  • Premium: $1,499/hypervisor/year

What Are The Alternatives To Virtualization Software?

There are many alternatives to virtualization software. Some alternatives to server virtualization products  that can replace this type of software, either partially or completely, are:

  1. Virtual private servers (VPS)

    Offerings of virtual private servers (VPS) are comparable to server virtualization solutions. Many of them even provide the same product as a managed service. Virtual private servers, unlike server virtualization technologies or hypervisors, are housed and controlled by some type of IT infrastructure provider. One thing to keep in mind is that VPS users may inadvertently share resources with other customers. It is probably easier to ensure top performance while the user administers the virtual servers, but only if they have the necessary manpower and resources.

  2. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

    IaaS offerings provide a simple and dynamic approach for users to gain access to the cloud services they require. Large cloud computing service providers that host and run massive data centers capable of offering practically any amount of resources offer these goods. While consumers must manage everything in the cloud or through IaaS cloud services, the provider is responsible for assuring consistent availability and scalability while also protecting the physical servers.

  3. Virtual private cloud (VPC)

    VPC solutions, like IaaS solutions, are provided by similar service providers and rely on third-party infrastructure to deliver computing resources. They also supply resources via the cloud in a manner similar to VPS options. The primary distinction here is the extent of what is offered. While virtualization solutions or virtual private servers aid in the allocation of a single server's resources, VPC allows users to manage many virtual machines and virtual servers within an isolated, private cloud computing environment. However, keep in mind that this additional functionality will come at a cost.

Challenges Of Virtualization Software

Virtualization software allows for multiple operating systems to run on a single machine, providing benefits such as cost savings and increased efficiency. However, choosing the best virtualization software for your needs can be challenging. Factors to consider include compatibility, performance, ease of use, and cost. Let’s discuss the challenges of selecting the best virtualization software.

challenges-of-virtualization-software

  1. VM sprawl

    VM sprawl happens when the number of virtual machines in an environment exceeds manageable limits, causing performance issues. Unused virtual machines consume a significant amount of CPU and memory on the virtualization server, which can affect active virtual machines' responsiveness and cause latency. Furthermore, VM sprawl can potentially create security vulnerabilities.

  2. Resource allocation

    Allocating memory and processing power for VMs requires careful planning and a thorough grasp of how your network is expanding. Over-allocated or under-allocated VM storage space not only has a negative influence on performance but also makes it difficult to create new VMs in your environment when you run out of storage. Aside from that, unused VMs or VM disk kernels must be regularly monitored and removed in order to optimize network storage.

  3. Performance issues

    Companies that lack significant experience operating virtual servers may struggle to maximize the performance of their servers and the individual virtual servers that run on top of them. It is also possible to overwork a single server. Servers, hypervisors, and further virtualization will slow down a server's performance.

  4. Security

    Companies that host virtual servers on their infrastructure must ensure that the resources are always properly set up and safeguarded. Companies like this, as well as those who employ managed virtual servers, must secure all data, networks, integrations, and everything else stored on the server.

  5. Backup and disaster recovery

    Virtualization software enables businesses to create virtual data centers that allow for more efficient backup and recovery of virtual servers. Since virtual servers do not have a physical hard drive to store or restore data on, creating virtual data centers is essential to ensure data security and prevent data loss in case of system failures or other unforeseen events. 

    Therefore, it is crucial for businesses to consider implementing virtual data centers as part of their backup and recovery plan when using virtualization software.

Pricing Of Virtualization Platforms

The price of server virtualization software varies substantially based on its type and capabilities. Some fundamental solutions are free, whereas more advanced and complex systems require a subscription-based license charge.

Basic virtualization systems can cost anywhere from $50 to $500 per physical server on the low end, while bigger enterprise-level solutions with more functionality can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The actual cost will vary depending on the product you select and the number of virtual machines or cloud instances you require in your environment.

Conclusion

As we conclude, virtualization software is a powerful tool that can bring numerous benefits to any business. However, selecting the right virtualization software is crucial to maximizing its potential benefits and understanding its impact on your business both in the short term and long term.

Virtualization technology is continuously evolving and providing more options to network professionals, IT managers, CTOs, and CIOs. This guide aims to offer valuable insights to help you choose the best virtualization software for your business needs, ultimately improving productivity and efficiency.

FAQs

Server virtualization software is a type where the physical server is divided into multiple isolated and unique virtual servers.

Network virtualization software is the abstracting of network resources traditionally delivered in hardware to software.

Last Updated: January 02, 2024