Which is better? VMware or Nutanix?

I get this question all the time – “Hey René, you are an expert on VMware, why do you bother with Nutanix?” or vice-versa, depending upon whether I am talking to a VMware or Nutanix employee.

And my answer is, “Well it depends upon the customer requirements, both vendors have great solutions.” Let me elaborate, generally speaking both companies have the following attributes:

VMware

• Extensive product eco-system that is getting broader and deeper each year
• Broad support for third party vendors
• Loads of nerd knobs exposed for complex use-cases
• Rolls Royce of software and features
• Likes to lead by acquisition
• VMware is over 20 years old

Nutanix

• An obsessive focus on simplicity
• Second to none customer support
• Great choice for simple use-cases
• Likes to build from the ground up
• Nutanix is 10 years old

In summary, my advice to customers is this: If you have very simple use-cases, you care about vendor support and you want things to work with the minimum of fuss, then Nutanix with AHV should be on your list. If you have complicated use-cases, your infrastructure team loves fiddling with software settings and you have a broad range of third party integrations into the hypervisor, then VMware is the way to go. Both companies have a vision that they are currently executing and will deliver working solutions, it just comes down to what the customer is trying to achieve.