VMware migration and server virtualisationVirtualisation
We set up, run and migrate virtual servers on Incus, Proxmox, Hyper-V and VMware. If your VMware renewal has become hard to justify, we can move your virtual machines to a platform with no licence fee.
TL;DR — Quick Summary
Beathan Technologies sets up and supports virtual servers on Incus, Proxmox, Hyper-V and VMware, and migrates businesses off VMware. On one migration to Incus we moved more than 15 virtual machines in a few hours. Incus is our recommendation for most clients: in our experience it is more stable, uses fewer resources than VMware, and can copy a running machine for backups without shutting it down.
- Incus, Proxmox, Hyper-V and VMware, set up and supported
- More than 15 virtual machines moved off VMware onto Incus in a few hours
- Running machines copied for backups, with no downtime
- On site in Pretoria, Centurion, Midrand and Johannesburg, remote elsewhere
Why are businesses moving off VMware?
Broadcom bought VMware at the end of 2023 and moved it to subscription-only licensing, sold in bundles. For many small and mid-sized businesses the renewal now costs a lot more for the same servers doing the same work.
There are good alternatives. Incus and Proxmox are open source and carry no licence fee, and Hyper-V comes with Windows Server. The hard part is the move itself, and that is the part we do.
How does a VMware migration work?
- 1We list every virtual machine you run, what it does and what depends on it, so nothing gets forgotten.
- 2We build the new host on the platform you choose and size it for the machines that will move.
- 3We move the machines across and check each one starts and does its job on the new host.
- 4We switch your users over and keep the old host available until you are happy.
How long it takes depends on how many machines you have and how large they are. On one client's move from VMware to Incus, more than 15 virtual machines went across in a few hours.
Why we recommend Incus
Incus is an open-source platform for running virtual machines and system containers, maintained by the Linux Containers project. We support all four platforms on this page, but Incus is the one we put in for most clients, for three reasons we have seen on our own installs.
It has been more stable for us than the others. It uses noticeably fewer resources than VMware, so the same hardware runs more virtual machines. And it can copy a machine while it is still running, which means live data gets backed up without anyone having to stop work.
Incus, Proxmox, Hyper-V and VMware compared
The four platforms we support, and what each one costs you to license.
| Platform | What you should know |
|---|---|
| Incus | Open source, no licence fee. Runs virtual machines and system containers. Our usual recommendation. |
| Proxmox VE | Open source, no licence fee, with an optional paid support subscription. Runs virtual machines and LXC containers, managed from a web interface. |
| Hyper-V | Included with Windows Server. A natural fit if your servers are mostly Windows and already licensed. |
| VMware vSphere | Sold by Broadcom as a subscription. If you are staying on it, we still support it. |
Virtualisation support in Pretoria, Centurion, Midrand and Johannesburg
We work on site across Pretoria, Centurion, Midrand and Johannesburg, and remotely anywhere in South Africa and further afield in Africa. Once your hosts are running, they are looked after under the same contract and SLA as the rest of your IT support, and your virtual machines can go into your backups.
Thinking about leaving VMware?
Tell us how many hosts and virtual machines you run and when your renewal is due, and we'll tell you what a move would involve.
Ask about moving off VMwareQuestions
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about VMware migration and virtualisation.