VMware Is The New Microsoft (And Why Virtualisation Is Neither Free Nor Cheap)

While VMware is increasingly viewed as the de facto choice in server virtualization for the enterprise, Hydrasight notes that VMware's ascendancy shares many similar characteristics to the rise of Microsoft Windows. These include a (relatively) closed approach, relatively rapid/widespread enterprise adoption, and an often hefty total cost. We therefore caution organizations to ensure they plan enterprise virtualization deployments accordingly, aware of the full range of potential implications (e.g., cost, vendor lock-in, influence over technology strategy). Looking forward, we foresee that many enterprises in Asia Pacific (and elsewhere) will increasingly have their server strategy controlled by both Microsoft and VMware.