Alternatives to VMware Part 6: Exploring the Benefits of XCP-ng

In our six-part blog series about alternatives to VMware vSphere's virtualization platform, part one explains the benefits of using Citrix Hypervisor, part two describes the benefits of using Microsoft Hyper-V, part three explains the benefits of using Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization, part four explains the benefits of using Oracle VM VirtualBox, part five explains the benefits of using Proxmox Virtual Environment, and in this final part, we'll explain the benefits of using XCP-ng.

XCP-ng is a virtualization platform that uses the Xen Type-1 hypervisor. XCP-ng (Xen Cloud Platform - next generation) was created in 2018 by founder Olivier Lambert. Its creation was formed from a Kickstarter campaign as an open-source alternative to Citrix XenServer. The goal of the XCP-ng Kickstarter was to make a fully community-backed version of XenServer without any feature restrictions.

5 Benefits of Using XCP-ng

XCP-ng offers a range of features that make it a strong VMware alternative, including:

1. Fully Open Source: XCP-ng is open-source, which means users can access the source code and customize the platform to their specific needs.

2. Strong Community Support: As an open-source project, XCP-ng benefits from the support of a large community of developers and users, especially within its Discord, X/Twitter, and community forums. They also offer 24/7 professional support with a one-hour support response time (through a paid subscription).

3. Cost-effective: XCP-ng and its web-based management tool, Xen Orchestra, are 100% free to use and offer features including live migration, storage migration, host clustering and built-in VM backup and restore.
4. Integrated Migration Tool: Using Xen Orchestra's integrated tool, specifically designed for migrating from VMware, "VMware to Vates/ V2V," users can continually access their information without disrupting the VM's operation. Users can also migrate their VM from XenServer, Citrix Hypervisor, Xen on Linux, Oracle VM VirtualBox, and Hyper-V.
5. Hardware Compatibility: SCP-ng is compatible with the same hardware supported by VMware, such as Intel and AMD processors.

Disadvantages of XCP-ng

While XCP-ng offers many benefits as a VMware alternative, there are some disadvantages to consider:

• Limited Support (including third-party): XCP-ng has a smaller base than VMware (including numerous partnerships and technology vendors), which means fewer third-party integrations and tools.
• Slight learning curve: The transition to XCP-ng may be slightly bigger for organizations and IT professionals already familiar with VMware products.

XCP-ng, with its open-source nature, strong community support, cost-effectiveness, integrated migration tool, and hardware compatibility, presents a compelling option for those looking to switch from VMware's vSphere. While there are some limitations to consider, such as limited third-party support and a slight learning curve, the benefits of XCP-ng far outweigh the drawbacks and make it a smart move for your virtualization needs.