What’s KVM?
KVM is a kernel-based virtual machine or Type 1 Hypervisor built into Linux. A hypervisor is what runs your virtual machines.
In lots of cases, the hypervisor must be installed for use. KVM’s tight integration into Linux and the Linux package manager makes it a highly regarded alternative for those using hypervisors. This full integration with Linux also makes it quite easy and quite stable.
Although KVM has full-blown Linux running within the background, which uses additional server resources, KVM running within the kernel does help eliminate a few of the overhead.
What’s VMware vSphere?
VMware ESXi runs your entire virtual machines on a single host. For those comparing Linux KVM vs VMware, ESXi can be a Type 1 Hypervisor.
The ESXi bare metal hypervisor is built to be very efficient and use little resources, which leaves more resources to your virtual machines. VMware vSphere controls multiple ESXi hosts from a single interface.
When comparing KVM vs vSphere, you’ll see that KVM is actually more appropriate to check vs VMware ESXi. KVM doesn’t really have an interface like vSphere, which is why Liquid Web provides an easy management interface without charge to customers.
vSphere and ESXi are the highest tools in the sphere of virtualization. In case you’re on the lookout for enterprise-level virtualization with features corresponding to high availability and zero-downtime migrations, VMware is what you wish.
Use Cases for KVM

Basic High Availability
High availability means in case your server goes down or becomes unavailable, it can switch to your backup server and still run. This equates to little or no downtime to your application or website.
In case you want this to your virtual machine, HA KVM will work nicely. In case you want more advanced virtualization features to your HA setup, you would possibly have to upgrade to a more advanced product.
Server Images
Server images can help you restore your server to working condition within the event of accidental file deletion or removal, malicious attack, or hardware failure. In fact, you will have to make a picture or arrange automatic images ahead of time. Liquid Web Support will help discover the optimal setup for server images.
Self-Service Restores
With Liquid Web’s self-service management portal, you may restore your server on-demand with only just a few clicks.
Easy Interface
You don’t must worry about using a command line or an otherwise complex interface to administer your server. Managing your virtual machines is a breeze with Liquid Web’s portal. Using the interface, you may create, reboot, resize, monitor, and even terminate your virtual machines easily.
Cost Savings
Depending in your configuration, you may get most of the same benefits of a dedicated server at less cost. Liquid Web offers competitive product packages with the flexibility to spin up a virtual machine quite quickly.
Easy and Basic Resizes
In case you outgrow your current server, you may simply resize to a more powerful one. Or, if it’s the vacation season and also you expect a traffic spike, you may temporarily resize to a more powerful server and resize back after the traffic drops to normal levels.
Note: Downgrading back to the precise configuration you had before resizing will not be possible if it’s now not available. Nevertheless, Liquid Web’s Solutions Team can assist you to find the optimal solution.
Use Cases for VMware vSphere
Advanced High Availability
When selecting between Linux KVM vs VMware, you’ll find that VMware means that you can transcend a basic high availability virtual machine. With VMware, you may add features corresponding to:
- Distributed switches.
- Virtual storage.
- Clustering.
Your Own Virtual Data Center
Constructing your individual traditional data center may be very costly. You might have to buy a constructing, cope with zoning, run lines, pay employees, purchase hardware, arrange generators, and more.
With VMware, you just arrange some ESXi hosts and run every thing in a virtual data center. Using vSphere and even vCloud Director, you connect every thing together to construct your virtualized data center. Then, you may rent the servers in your virtual data center and watch the profits roll in.
Enterprise-Grade Tools
VMware offers a few of the most advanced tools within the virtualization marketplace. If there’s a feature that you simply need, likelihood is VMware has it. Features corresponding to high availability, high performance, clustering, scalability, and sandboxing are built right into its many components.
Virtual Networking
With VMware, you may have virtual switches, virtual SAN (vSAN), virtual LANs, and even virtual firewalls. You’ll be able to construct out your individual network virtual infrastructure.
Superb-Tuned Resizes
Upgrading KVM requires changes or upgrades to all components in your infrastructure. You can not, for instance, simply upgrade the RAM or storage without upgrading the CPU. This will cause you to find yourself paying for far more resources than you would like.
With VMware, you may upgrade any part you wish. This means that you can configure one server optimized for max CPU performance and one other built for accessing high-capacity storage. The one caveat is that you could only use the CPU and memory available on the host machine.
How To Select Between KVM vs VMware
Simplicity
When comparing KVM vs VMware, you’ll find that KVM is a fantastic solution to enter the world of virtualization. It’s easy, fast, and effective. For some workloads, it’s advantageous to not be tied to a single dedicated machine. The flexibility to simply resize is sort of handy when trying to maximise resources and save costs.
Enterprise Grade
VMware offers a better degree of flexibility for scaling enterprises. In case you need a fancy setup with advanced features, VMware might be what you would like. Likewise, if you will have an enormous customer base, you’re going to want the advanced features of High Availability, clustering, and vSAN that VMware offers.
Liquid Web Knows Virtualization
Virtualization reduces your total cost of ownership, with each KVM and VMware being excellent selections. Contact us today and a Solutions experts can assist you to select the perfect product to your needs.