Difference Between VMware ESX and VMware ESXi (With Table)

VMware’s enterprise server virtualization product is called ESX (Elastic Sky X)  and it is handled by a console running system called Service console. It is based on Linux and serves as a management interface for the host. Several control representatives and other third-party software agents are placed on the service console to provide functionalities such as hardware assessment and tracking of the ESX hypervisor.

VMware’s enterprise server virtualization product is called ESXi (Elastic Sky X Integrated). The Service console is no longer available in ESXi. All VMware-related agents, as well as third-party agents like administration and monitoring agents, can operate on the VMkernel. ESXi is an ultra-thin design that is extremely dependable, and its minimal code base makes it safer with fewer patches to apply. Instead of a service console, ESXi employs the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) to manage the server. When compared to ESX installation, ESXi installation will be much faster.

Comparison Table Between VMware ESX and VMware ESXi 

What is VMware ESX?

ESX (Elastic Sky X) is a virtualization technology for the company server of VMware. VM kernel is the virtualized kernel operated in ESX via an operational console system, commonly known as the console of services. The principal goal of Linux is to have a management interface and many monitoring representatives and others on the system console are deployed to just provide functionalists such as hardware management and ESX hypervisor tracking. The functionalism of the service console is built on Linux.

Key advantages of VMware ESX are:

1. Reduction of refrigeration and energy expenses.
2. The lowering of the entire footprint of an industry’s hardware.
3. The efficiency of high level.
4. A safe and trustworthy virtualization environment for servers.

It operates on the physical equipment without having to have an existing operating system. VMware ESX comes with ESX Server and ESXi Server integrated hypervisor technology. Before vSphere 5.0, the ESX framework focused on a Linux-based COS for workability and advisor partner compatibility. The majority of security concerns in an ESX-based environment end up causing by security flaws in the COS. Allowing third-party agents or tools could face privacy issues and should therefore be closely controlled. When facilitated to run in the COS, third-party agents or equipment compete for the program’s assets with the hypervisor.

What is VMware ESXi?

VMware’s enterprise server virtualization system is also known as ESXi (Elastic Sky X Integrated). The Service console is no longer available in ESXi. All VMware-related and third-party agents, such as control and reporting agents, can immediately run on the VMkernel. ESXi is an extremely reliable ultra-thin design with a slight code base that enables it to become safer with very few codes to patch. To handle the ESXi server, ESXi employs the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) rather than a service console. When compared to ESX installation, ESXi installation will be much faster.

ESXi is aimed at enterprise organizations, small companies, and individual consumers, according to VMware’s website. Enterprise licenses are currently part of the paid vSphere version. Small people and corporations can even use the server’s free vSphere Hypervisor version. Installation necessitates a host with at least 2 CPUs and 4 GB of physical RAM.

Among the features of VMware ESXi Server are:

1. Tools for remote access.
2. API integration, which eradicates the need for administrators to install and handle third-party control agents.
3. A lighter-weight design with a small codebase.
4. Environments for control scripting.
5. Easy establishment via USB flash drive.
6. Easy protection configurations.

The centralized management characteristics of the ESXi can help to simplify IT management and its small code carbon footprint decrease hardware compatibility. This is what gives ESXi the prestige of being more efficient at a cheaper price. The VMware ESXi Server can operate up to 128 CPUs and as little as 6TB of data.

Main Differences Between VMware ESX and VMware ESXi

1. For workability and agent-based partner integrations, the ESX architecture depended on a Linux-based COS, whereas the new,  ESXi architecture has eliminated the 1 to 2 GB COS and incorporated the required management functions straight in the core VMkernel.
2. Safety, stability, and control are not greater in ESX architecture, however, security is superior in ESXi.
3. ESX is dependant on an operating system, whereas ESXi is not.
4. In ESX, troubleshooting is done through the service console, but in ESXi, troubleshooting is done through the ESXi Shell.
5. In ESX, the Service Console is present, however in ESXi, it is not.

Conclusion

When it comes to performance and reliability, the two hypervisors are very comparable, at least when evaluating the 4.1 release editions, but they are completely different when it comes to structure and management effectiveness. Unlike ESX, ESXi does not depend on a basic operating system, which allows you to address a variety of performance and security problems. VMware urges users to migrate to the ESXi design; according to their literature, the process will be done with no VM downtime, albeit it does necessitate careful planning.

References

1. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=AhmJnURkQnEC&oi=fnd&pg=PA39&dq=VMware+ESX+and+VMware+ESXi+&ots=fc_Njib-7H&sig=EFXCB7GJ3-QDLV71C-JQhNzv1Qs
2. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Wsglfnflv-kC&oi=fnd&pg=PR21&dq=VMware+ESX+and+VMware+ESXi+&ots=EziaeYTQK1&sig=-Amwomp2cNmKe-G3zeJoNzhuvkg