Choose Esx or ESXi?

Recently, with several integrators VMware engineers talking about my intention to use ESXi instead of ESX, they are very surprised to say that ESXi is not free software? Just as when we bought storage, the domestic integrator always recommended only FC Sans without considering the fact that Oracle's large databases can also use NFS, they always seem to be stuck with the technology they used to be, rather than accepting new things.

Things have changed, now there are 3 versions of the ESXi, ESXi Free is the release, of course, the free version has a lot of limitations and limitations, for small businesses may be a good start, but for the desire to build a high availability of the production environment virtual platform is not appropriate. The other 2 versions of ESXi are embedded and installable. The embedded version is a ESXi version of the installation in Flash that is in collaboration with hardware vendors, usually flash is integrated on the motherboard or USB flash. ESXi installable is the installed version of the ESXi, is the most common a ESXi version. ESXi installable cannot be installed on an NFS, IP San or FC San partition, so when purchasing hardware, be sure to buy a local hard drive.

Looking at this KB, you can get more information about the difference between the 2 versions of ESX and ESXi.

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1015000

If you are not interested in reading carefully, then look at my first and sloppy translation.

(1) Service Console

ESX has a Linux service Console on which you can install Third-party tools and agents, such as HP SIM agents for monitoring performance, hardware health, and management.

ESXi no service Console,esxi behaves more like a firmware integrated in the hardware

Cheats: But ESXi has a hidden command line interface, in the console press ALT-F1, and then blind to enter the account unsupported, will appear password prompts, enter your root password can enter the Mini console. Some simple basic commands and ESXCFG-XXXX commands can be executed. However, with no VMware engineer under the guidance of the use of this mini console problems, VMware is not providing technical support. (so this account is called unsupported)

(2) CLI

ESX has OS, so there is a complete CLI.

ESXi can only run the CLI through a remote virtual interface called VCLI. The free version of the ESXi VCLI has only read-only instructions.

(3) Script installation

ESX supports script installation.

ESXi does not support script installation.

(4) Boot from SAN

ESX support booting from San

ESXi does not support booting from SAN

Tip: So if you want to install ESXi, remember to buy the hardware when you must buy the local hard drive

(5) SNMP

The free version of ESXi does not support SNMP. The fee-based version of ESXi and ESX supports SNMP

(6) Active directory Integration

ESX supports AD integration.

ESXi does not support AD integration and cannot be authenticated with AD account.

Question: Does this mean that ESXi is worse than ESX? Answer: Not also, because generally we all use vcenter to manage Esx/esxi,vcenter is to support AD account.