Virtualization technology has fundamentally transformed how modern IT infrastructures are built, becoming an indispensable part of enterprise digital transformation. Among many virtualization solutions, VMware ESXi is one of the top choices for enterprise-level virtualization. This article will provide a detailed analysis of VMware ESXi's features, architecture, installation, and usage tips, helping you master ESXi from the basics to advanced knowledge.
What is VMware ESXi?
ESXi is an enterprise-grade type-1 bare-metal virtualization software provided by VMware. As the core component of the VMware vSphere suite, it can be directly installed on server hardware without the need for an operating system, offering you an efficient, reliable, and secure virtualization platform. ESXi runs directly on the hardware without an additional operating system to reduce resource consumption and security vulnerabilities, while improving system stability.
As an enterprise-grade hypervisor, ESXi offers built-in security features such as encryption, access control, and hardware validation to ensure the safety of the virtualization environment. It also supports centralized management via VMware vCenter Server, enabling users to efficiently monitor and configure the virtualization environment.
Here, you can also briefly learn about two related concepts of ESXi, vSphere and vCenter, to help you better understand other parts of the content.
vSphere is the name of the entire VMware suite and ESXi is the hypervisor within this suite. After installing ESXi on a server, you can log in to the ESXi console through a browser to create and delete virtual machines. If you have many ESXi hosts, you can install vCenter on a virtual machine to easily manage all hosts.
Why choose ESXi?
Let’s first understand the typical reasons enterprises choose VMware, which you can use as a basic evaluation standard in your procurement process.
1. VMware provides a stable and feature-rich virtualization platform. Its common features include snapshots, DRS, HA, vMotion, and more, which we will explain in detail in the following sections.
2. Wide hardware compatibility. VMware supports a broad range of hardware configurations, so enterprises generally don’t have to consider purchasing new hardware to use virtual machines but install ESXi directly on existing physical servers.
3. Strong technical support and community. In addition to official technical support from the software vendor, VMware also has a global user forum, making it easy for users to seek help and share experiences.
Because VMware holds a leadership position in the virtualization market, its prices are relatively higher compared to other solutions. Moreover, after Broadcom acquired VMware, it implemented several reforms in the licensing policy, leading to a significant price increase. As a result, many small and medium-sized enterprises have been forced to abandon VMware and turn to alternatives like Proxmox, Nutanix, and others. If your budget is limited, it is recommended to consider a VMware alternative.
Key features of ESXi
ESXi supports numerous powerful virtualization environment protection features. Due to licensing version limitations, the actual supported features depend on the ESXi version chosen by the company.
Virtual Machine Management
ESXi supports creating and running multile virtual machines with various operating systems, including mainstream systems like Windows and Linux. Each virtual machine can independently run applications.
Resource Allocation and Optimization
It provides flexible CPU, memory, storage, and network resource allocation features, allowing users to dynamically adjust resource quotas for virtual machines. It also supports resource pooling management for efficient resource distribution and load balancing.
High Availability and Fault Tolerance
ESXi supports high availability, which can automatically restart affected virtual machines in case of hardware failure or host downtime and fault tolerance, which provides real-time redundancy for critical applications to ensure business continuity.
vMotion
vMotion allows you to migrate VM from one ESXi host to another without service interruption to facilitate load balancing and planned maintenance.
Storage and Network Virtualization
ESXi supports VMware vSAN to help you pool physical storage resources and provide distributed storage management capabilities. It also supports Distributed Switch to enhance the flexibility and performance of the virtualized network.
Snapshots and Backup
It provides snapshot to help you create restore points before performing critical operations. It also offers an API for third-party backup software let them provide professional backup solution.
Security and Isolation
ESXi offers built-in virtual machine encryption and fine-grained access control mechanisms, supporting hardware-based Secure Boot to ensure the security and isolation of the virtualization environment.
Centralized Management Support
ESXi can be centrally managed through VMware vCenter Server, supporting automated tasks, monitoring, and resource scheduling, greatly simplifying the management of the virtualization environment.
ESXi version comparison
As mentioned above, ESXi is a component of vSphere, so the ESXi versions correspond to vSphere versions. The common versions are vSphere Hypervisor Free, vSphere Standard, and vSphere Enterprise.
Free Version: Suitable for individual users or small experimental environments, supporting basic virtualization features but with significant limitations. For example, centralized management via vCenter is not available, and advanced features like vMotion, HA are unsupported. It supports a maximum of 2 physical CPUs and 8 TB of memory. After Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, the free version has been removed from its website, so new users will find it difficult to use this version.
Standard Version: This is the entry-level version for enterprises, supporting centralized management, vMotion, and resource allocation, making it suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises’ virtualization needs.
Enterprise Version: In addition to the features of the Standard version, the Enterprise version provides enterprises with more advanced virtualization management capabilities like High Availability and Distributed Resource Scheduling.
Hardware requirements for using ESXi
While ESXi has broad hardware compatibility, you still need to check the minimum hardware requirements to ensure compatibility:
At least two CPU cores, supporting 64-bit x86 processors with the CPU’s NX/XD bit enabled.
At least 4GB of physical memory; 8GB is recommended for better virtual machine support.
Support for hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD RVI) to support 64-bit virtual machines.
At least one Gigabit network adapter.
Storage requirements include supported SCSI disks, RAID LUNs, or locally unpartitioned storage.
How to backup ESXi VM with professional solution?
Backup solution is a must for IT environment. To backup VMware virtual machine, you can select the VMware offical partner, Vinchin.
Vinchin Backup & Recovery is a professional backup and disaster recovery solution for virtual environments like VMware, Hyper-V, Proxmox, oVirt, OLVM, RHV, XenServer, XCP-ng, OpenStack, ect. You can use it to perform agentless VM-level backup and restore to protect data in the virtual machines and guaranteee business continuity.
Except for various useful backup strategies, it also supports advanced features like instant restore, backup data verification, file-level recovery, etc. You can even use it to perform V2V migration by directly restoring VM backup to another host.
It is easy to create a backup job for VM in 4 steps.
1. Select the VMware VMs
2. Select the backup storage
3. Select the backup strategies
4. Submit the job
You can easily get started with a 60-day full-featured free trial by downloading the software here. If you have any questions during testing, feel free to contact us at any time.
VMware ESXi FAQs
1. Can you still use ESXi free version?
Because Broadcom removes ESXi free version for VMware’s website, you can’t get the license from them any more. If you still need the free version, try searching the license keys on the Internet.
2. How to upgrade ESXi?
You can easily upgrade ESXi to the latest version with command lines. Just find the details in another post: ESXi Update Command line.
3. Is ESXi a kind of OS?
No, ESXi is not a kind operating system. Although both ESXi and trandtional operating systems sit on the top of hardware, ESXi is specifically used to manage hardware resources for virtualization while operating systems provides a platforms for applications.
Conclusion
ESXi is an excellent virtualization solution for companies but it is only recommended when your budgets is enough. After deploying ESXi, remember to backup the VMs to prevent data loss. Vinchin Backup & Recovery is the offical parter of VMware and don’t miss its free tial.
