Enterprise VMware Alternative Lessons

By George Crump

Enterprise VMware alternative lessons drawn from service providers like NETdepot—who recently transitioned from VMware to VergeIO—offer valuable insights that enterprises can apply to their data centers. In today’s environment, finding a suitable VMware alternative can be challenging, especially for enterprises looking to gain cost savings, flexibility, and improved support. By observing NETdepot’s successful migration, enterprise data centers can better understand how to address common VMware pain points and achieve an infrastructure that aligns with long-term goals.

Enterprise VMware Alternative Lessons from NETdepot’s Transition

1. Simplified Licensing and Hardware Flexibility

For many organizations, VMware’s per-core licensing structure presents significant challenges. This model limits hardware choices, dictating processor configurations based on licensing costs rather than performance needs. The per-core structure can quickly escalate costs as enterprises adopt higher-core processors to meet increased workloads. NETdepot found that VergeIO’s per-server pricing model provided much-needed flexibility, allowing them to select hardware based on performance requirements instead of adjusting for licensing constraints.

Additionally, enterprises should be aware of the hidden costs that can accumulate under per-core licensing. These hidden costs are overlooked initially but can lead to significant budget overruns as organizations scale their infrastructure.

By choosing a VMware alternative like VergeIO, which avoids these licensing complexities, enterprises can make cost-effective hardware decisions that allow longer equipment lifespans and invest in more dense server configurations without fear of rising per-core expenses.

2. Streamlined Migration Process

Moving from VMware can seem daunting, but NETdepot’s migration experience was seamless thanks to VergeIO’s built-in VMware migration service, which allowed for rapid VM transitions with almost no downtime. One of the enterprise VMware alternative lessons is considering platforms that offer simple migration paths, helping them minimize disruptions and maintain service continuity.

3. Integrated Networking and Security

With VergeIO’s built-in routing and firewall capabilities, NETdepot was able to reduce reliance on additional appliances and VMs, lowering costs and streamlining operations. A VMware alternative with integrated Layer 2/3 networking functions for enterprise data centers can enhance security and simplify network management.

4. Strong Data Protection and Resiliency

VergeIO’s ioGuardian feature provides NETdepot with robust protection against hardware failures, adding another layer of resiliency. Enterprises should prioritize alternatives that offer integrated data protection features, enabling seamless recovery and ensuring continued operations even during unexpected events.

5. Responsive, High-Quality Support

For NETdepot, fast, reliable support was crucial. VergeIO’s responsive support team helped NETdepot avoid lengthy downtime and quickly resolved critical issues. Another of the enterprise VMware alternative lessons is to prioritize support quality and responsiveness when evaluating VMware alternatives to ensure seamless day-to-day operations.

Enterprise VMware Alternative Lessons: VergeIO is a Solution that Delivers Value, Stability, and Security

For NETdepot, VergeIO provided a combination of features and support that addressed their concerns with VMware. The move to VergeIO helped NETdepot reduce costs, improve service quality, and enhance security. As enterprises explore VMware alternatives, NETdepot’s experience illustrates the importance of choosing a platform that integrates well with existing processes, provides a straightforward migration experience, and offers operational efficiencies that benefit both the data center and end users.

NETdepot’s Key Benefits with VergeIO:

enterprise VMware alternative lessons
  • Lower Total Cost of Ownership: Transparent pricing and licensing flexibility enable NETdepot to make cost-effective hardware choices.
  • Enhanced Performance and Stability: A stable and resilient platform that avoids the performance pitfalls of legacy solutions like vSAN.
  • Integrated Security and Networking: Built-in Layer 2/3 networking capabilities streamline network operations, reduce appliance requirements, and enhance security.
  • Rapid, High-Quality Support: VergeIO’s support team provides NETdepot with responsive, mission-critical support, ensuring they can resolve issues quickly.
  • Data Protection and Recovery: VergeIO’s ioGuardian offers resilient data protection, keeping NETdepot’s customers secure and operational in the face of hardware failures.

Want to learn more? Access the detailed NETdepot case study and other recent VergeIO customer success stories. Register for access to all of our case studies.

Enterprise VMware Alternative Lessons: Leveraging Service Providers

NETdepot’s transition to VergeIO illustrates that service providers not only adopt powerful VMware alternatives but can offer a valuable extension of enterprise IT. By leveraging organizations like NETdepot, enterprises can address compute or storage demand spikes, facilitate disaster recovery, and offload infrastructure management to a trusted partner. This approach provides enterprises with additional capacity and increases their resiliency to unexpected events.

Join our webinar on November 14th to hear directly from NETdepot’s VP of Solutions Architecture, Ben Beasley, about the transition process and benefits of using VergeIO. Register Here to see how NETdepot’s experience can inform your VMware exit strategy.

Further Reading

The ROI of High-Performance HCI

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A High-Performance vSAN

Discover how VergeOS leverages ultraconverged infrastructure (UCI) to overcome the performance limitations of traditional HCI. Learn why high-performance vSAN is critical for modern workloads and how VergeOS delivers scalable, cost-effective solutions with industry-leading IOPS and low latency, eliminating the need for costly dedicated storage arrays.
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Overcoming the High Cost of DR

Disaster recovery is essential, but high costs and fragmented tools make it challenging for many businesses. VergeIO’s ioReplicate simplifies DR with integrated features like efficient replication, virtual data centers, and automated failover. Achieve rapid, reliable recovery in just three clicks—all at a cost lower than traditional backup solutions.
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