some feedback and insights regarding VMware and Hyper-V based on my experience and observations.
Firstly, I must say that VMware is undoubtedly a solid product. It offers robust features and capabilities that many organizations find valuable. However, one of the main challenges is the overall cost associated with maintaining the ESX farm. The expenses can add up, making it a significant investment.
On the other hand, I have had the opportunity to work with a previous client who used Hyper-V for years, and I must say, they never encountered any major issues. Everything functioned smoothly and efficiently. It's worth mentioning that while Hyper-V in Windows 2008 had its limitations, the improvements made from Windows 2012 R2 onwards have been remarkable. The performance and reliability have significantly improved, making it a viable option for many organizations.
That being said, there is a notable limitation with Hyper-V when it comes to replica management functions. In the past, site-to-site replication using Azure Site Recovery (ASR) was excellent. Unfortunately, Microsoft has removed that option, and now replication can only be done to Azure or without ASR, which has resulted in a less efficient management function.
Additionally, I would like to highlight Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) for versions 2022 and 2025. It performs well with a 3-node setup and supporting hardware using RDMA. However, it's important to note that maintaining S2D can be quite challenging, and the storage synchronization process tends to be slow.