What does the costs and process of moving to Hyper-V from VMWare look like?

Posted by This_guy_works@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 26 comments

Kind of a loaded question, but one that I think someone familiar with this situation might have some quick answers vs me looking online and finding articles 5-8 years told with ambigous numbers and discussions. So here goes. We currently have 12 servers running in VMWare, half are linux and half are Windows Server machines. We are currently running three HP DL380 Gen10 boxes and manage our servers with vsphere. Our renewal coming up in July for 96 standard VSPHERE core licenses is sitting at $1300 per core. So that's a big hunk of change. But basically my two questions are: 1. What are the costs of using Hyper-V vs VMWare? Would there be substantial savings on our licenses per core if we were to switch by July, or are the costs competitive between the two on average? Just looking for a general ballpark, not exact numbers or anything as I know the costs can and do change depending on what we go with. 2. How difficult would it be to migrate to Hyper-V when our current hardware is already running VMWare? I know there is a way to migrate the virtual machines themselves to Hyper-V using a migration tool, but how do I go from one OS on our hardware to another wihtout breaking anything? Is it possible in an existing environment, or do I need to purchase new hardware and image it with Hyper-V before migrating? Basically what does the process of moving to Hyper-V look like?

26 Comments

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Net-Runner@reddit

If you already have Windows Server licenses, you can reuse them. Since you had 3 VMware servers, it is most likely clustered, and you most likely already licensed all hosts with Windows Server licenses. So you don't need to pay for WS. It is not difficult. You can retire one of your VMware hosts, configure the Hyper-V cluster (single node), and move VMs using some converters such as Starwinds v2v. You need to plan how you are going to retire hosts, plan migration, and schedule maintenance. Keep in mind that anything can go wrong during this process, so you should have up-to-date backups. Also, you can restore VMs to Hyper-V using backup software. The migration process will also depend on your storage. If you are running VMware vSAN right now, it's going to be more difficult. If you are running SAN, you'll need to provision another iSCSI/FC device and connect to Hyper-V since they are using different filesystems. Plan all ahead. If you have spare hardware, you can experiment with potential migration and then scale.

Sufficient_Stable_72@reddit

96 cores 12 servers. Lets assume dual proc-4 cores per host no shared storage. I would license each host with a single Windows Datacenter license. which is $6k so $50k in licensing for all 12 hosts. You will no longer need to license the Windows VMs running in this environment now too. So there is savings there too. https://techlibrary.hpe.com/us/en/enterprise/servers/licensing/index.aspx https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/pricing For VM conversion you can use Starwind https://www.starwindsoftware.com/v2v-help/VMfromVMwareESXiServertoHyperVServer.html OR Disk2VHD from inside the windows VM https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/disk2vhd OR MS VMM conversion, if you have system center. But really you don't need VMM unless your managing hundreds of vm hosts. https://www.vinchin.com/vm-migration/convert-vmware-to-hyper-v.html

OlivTheFrog@reddit

You have forget the cost of SCVMM. Ok, you can manage some cluster Hyper-V with Hyper-V manager but you'll not have all feature available with SCVMM. Huper-V ==> ESXi ==> VCenter ==> SCVMM

DuckDuckBadger@reddit

OP mentioned they are using vsphere currently to manage VMware, not vCenter. I think this would be closer to failover cluster manager or Windows Admin Center (both free, OP) than SCVMM.

For that few VMs I doubt they need any of those features. I have hundreds of hosts across the globe, I can do it all with hyperv console, cluster console and powershell. I only dip in VMM once in a while anymore.

OP did not specify the number of VMs. Better, With SCVMM you make sure that the Virtual Switches are configured exactly the same way + smart placement + other features that SCVMM provides. Only 3 hosts but probably in the same cluster.

colinpuk@reddit

you dont need SCVMM, in fact i have 4 decent size hyper-v clusters, all using the built in Failover Cluster Manger and Cluster Aware Updating

Kritchsgau@reddit

I read it as 12 VMs running in vmware. Scvmm not needed.

Silent331@reddit

Hard to tell but I think he has 12 VMs running on 3 physical servers. if OP could clarify that would help a lot. Hyper V is licensed on a core count basis so the cores per server would help too.

ooo i read it at 12 hosts. with a mix of VMs on it. duh. 3 hosts. the math is a little different. but just plug those numbers of sockets and cores in the the HP link and it will say how many you need.

godsey786@reddit

Migrating from VMware to Hyper-V can be a complex process Costs of Hyper-V vs VMware**: Hyper-V tends to have a cost advantage, especially for organizations already using Windows Server, as it is included at no additional cost. However, the pricing policies of Hyper-V and VMware differ; VMware ESXi is licensed per socket (physical CPU), whereas Hyper-V has been licensed per core since 2016. This could mean potential savings depending on your specific licensing agreements with Microsoft. The migration from VMware to Hyper-V involves several steps: Install the Hyper-V role on Windows Server Convert VMware VMs to a Hyper-V compatible format Transfer the converted VMs to the Hyper-V host The pricing for Windows Server 2022 Datacenter Edition is based on a core licensing model. For a 16-core license, the suggested retail price (MSRP) is approximately $6,155 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/windows-server-2022-standard-cal/dg7gmgf0d6m5?activetab=pivot:overviewtab https://thisvsthat.io/hyper-v-vs-vmware

anonaccountphoto@reddit

Chatgpt?

GuyWhoSaysYouManiac@reddit

Some AI tool for sure. The ** and outdated info gives it away. Sigh.

bythepowerofboobs@reddit

VMware has moved to core licensing since Broadcom took over.

foreverinane@reddit

sounds like you only have 3 hosts? If you have the spare capacity, make that 2 hosts so you can rebuild one for Hyper-V, otherwise it sounds like it'd be worth purchasing a 4th host Hyper-V to use to migrate one at a time over to until they are all Hyper-V I would also probably make that 4th box a Veeam physical host just to help with backup/restore of the vmware>hyperV conversions too sounds like a small env.

mr_ballchin@reddit

This! OP should have backups and backup VMs and restore to Hyper-V is the easiest way. Most of backup software for VMware and Hyper-V can do that. [https://www.veeam.com/blog/vmware-to-hyper-v-migration.html](https://www.veeam.com/blog/vmware-to-hyper-v-migration.html) As for Hyper-V, Failover Cluster can be deployed on 3 hyper-v hosts. Examples: [https://www.starwindsoftware.com/resource-library/starwind-virtual-san-for-hyper-v-2-node-compute-and-storage-separated-scenario-with-windows-server-2016/](https://www.starwindsoftware.com/resource-library/starwind-virtual-san-for-hyper-v-2-node-compute-and-storage-separated-scenario-with-windows-server-2016/) [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/storage-spaces/deploy-storage-spaces-direct](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/storage-spaces/deploy-storage-spaces-direct) Windows Admin Center can be used for management.

1) Cost savings could be massive, you just need to Buy a windows server licence that covers your hosts cpu's Server Standard lets you run two vms per licence so with your 3 hosts that would cover all your machines. Datacenter gives you unlimited vms's but costs more. 2) I have just done this, and it could not be simpler, just used starwind to move the vms, they took minutes to move.

ComGuards@reddit

Windows Server licensing costs is independent of hypervisor. Moving to Hyper-V simply saves you the cost of the 3rd-party hypervisor costs. The Windows Server licensing costs for each host, and the associated guest workload, doesn't change.  If necessary, you will need to include the costs for Microsoft System Center, which includes Virtual Machine Manager. But that may not be necessary for your environment.

PREMIUM_POKEBALL@reddit

Do they still run a scam of needing sql standard?

canserman@reddit

Do you have a backup solution such as Veeam? Lots of backup solutions can restore your backup to a different platform so basically they convert vms for you. Set up regular backup from VMware, Shutdown the old vm then take a final incremental. Restore to the HyperV platform

I_can_pun_anything@reddit

Don't forget the labor hours and time we're doing that.right now For star wind v2v for a.single tb server depending on numerous performance factors your tech could be twiddling their thumbs until 2 am even.if they started at 7 pm So always account.and add overtime and all of that in there as well

georgexpd8@reddit

Please enlighten us on the SKUs and core counts that you have a quote for. Considering list price for VVEP for 5 years is $175 per core (96 cores = $16,800 list price for 5YR) while VCF runs at $1750 per core (96 cores = a much more ugly $168,000 for 5YR) i don't really understand where you are coming up with your numbers. Are you using any advanced features that would require VCF, or any add-on licensing? You need to start with that quote and make sure you're not burning down the house based on bad info.

ThatsNASt@reddit

You could look at XCP-NG and Xen Orchestra over hyper v as well.

Mehere_64@reddit

Migration is not all that hard to do. If you can't move VMs on one host to another host so you can rebuild to Windows Hyper-V than you will need a new server. If I recall correctly the typical break even point is around 7 VMs per server to move to datacenter. Find out if each set of 16 core standard licenses allows for 2 VMs or not. If it does you would need 6 sets of 16 core standard licenses. Standard is way cheaper that way if I've done the math right and understand the licensing correctly.

illicITparameters@reddit

Standard gives you 2 VM licenses.

For #1 the cost of Hyper-V is the cost of the server+core licenses over the life of the OS. You need Windows Server 2022 Standard Server Licenses. This cover a single server with up to 16 physical cores. If your servers have more cores you need to buy additional core licenses. Server licenses are listed at $1069 MSRP. You can get them MUCH cheaper from partners and distributors. Core licenses are about $40 per additional core above 16 cores. If all of your servers are 8 physical cores, you only need the server licenses so that is MSRP $12,828 Server OS's last 4-5 years in mainstream support so that is $2,850 a year using 4.5 years.

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