vSphere Essentials, anyone using this bundle, thoughts?

[mhanby]

We have three ESXi v4 free servers. I'm working on a proposal to various groups to try and get the money to purchase vSphere Essentials bundle so that I can tie the 3 servers together under a single management console and get consolidated backup.

Before I purchase it I wanted to check here to get your thoughts on this bundle. Was it worth the switch from free to Essentials, do you wish you'd have gone with a different bundle with more features?

Thanks for any insite,

Mike

[AsherN]

Cost and feature wise, you can't really beat it. The only issue with it is that there is no upgrade path out of it, and the servers cannot be managed by vCenter Standard, so if you need to go above 3 hosts, you have your essential cliuster, and the next cluster. That and the as yet unknown support of SRM is the only reason we didn't go with it.

[ITDaves2]

I purchased it and have just started using it. I am still looking for an answer, but the only way I have found to import an existing VM is through converter, The menu option for importing seems to be missing, and has been replaced by Browse VA Marketplace. Other than that is appears to be the same as Standard with the stated limitations.

[GergMN]

I bought the Essentials package because it was the price-point I could afford. I only have 2 or 3 actual servers to virtualize, and a handful of workstations already running as VM's in Workstation. I was looking for the next step up, and Essentials fit the bill. I will never have more than 3 ESXi hosts, so I think I will be happy with Essentials for a long time.

I started with the free ESXi downlaod.It took a bit to get the Workstation VM's converted, but once I got past that, I could manage them in ESXi. Then I bought Essentials, and now have hit a roadblock with the vCenter Server install. A bit frustrating, but that's also because I'm jumping in feet first, without hiring a consultant/installer, etc.

[AsherN]

What is your issue with vCentre?

[mhanby]

Looking through the VMware site it appears that the price point to go with a non-Essentials product for 3 servers (6 CPU's) is close to $7000.

Is that correct or am I missing another bundle that doesn't have the 3 server total constraint?

[AsherN]

No, you are right. You would be looking at 6 licenses of Standard and 1 license of vCenter Foundation. There are no Acceleration Packs for Standard (big mistake IMHO).

Essentials is a fine package. If you ca foresee being OK with 3 hosts for a reasonable amount of time, and as of this writing, will not want to use SRM, then go for it.

[mhanby]

Thanks for the responses, I don't see us using SRM in our environment for the forseeable future and given our current budget, I don't see any possibility of getting more than a few thousand VMware. Looks like Essentials is the right fit.

I wish they had a model for upgrading past Essentials if our needs grow, however.

[AsherN]

And SRM may or may not work. I opted out because I know that SRM is in my future (later this year) and the folks at VMware would not commit yeah or nay. If you get 2-3 years out of essentials, then your fine. Logic would dictate that when you overgrow 3 hosts, the business will likely be large enough to underwrite a full vSphere implementation.

Good luck.

[GergMN]

I'm trying to set up the vCenter Server, but I can't get past the part

where I add my ESXi server to the dataset in the vCenter software. I

get an error saying the Agent couldn't be installed due to an unknown

error. So far, I haven't found an answer and no one has been able to

post anything that helps. The ESXi host is working fine, and I can

access it and manage the VM's, but the point of buying the Essentials

packet was to be able to use the vCenter Server to access and managae

everything.

What is your issue with vCentre?

[AsherN]

Essentials vCentre can only manage essential hosts. You may have to reinstall ESX

[mhanby]

Interesting, I wonder if I'll be able to add my free ESXi v4 servers without a reinstall. I assume you get a license for each ESXi server that get added via the "Licensed Features" to convert each into an Essentials ESX host.

[ealaqqad]

Hi All,

Just thought to clear up that if you get vSphere essential or essential plus today, you always can upgrade later. yes, there is an upgrade path for vSphere essential & essential plus kit & today I am trying to clear up the mess as many partners & customers are not aware of this upgrade path. Please find more details on the upgrade path at my following post:

VMware vSphere Essentials Kit & VMware vSphere Essentials Plus Kit upgrade path

I hope this help some one, if it does please reward points.

Enjoy,

Eiad Al-Aqqad

System X & Storage Technical Specialist

Founder of http://www.VirtualizationTeam.com

Founder of http://www.TSMGuru.com