vSphere ESX and ESXi Info Center
It Is Time to Upgrade to vSphere 5.5!
VMware vSphere® 5.5 has many new features and enhancements that deliver unprecedented value to VMware customers. VMware vSphere 5.5 is based on the VMware® ESXi™ hypervisor architecture, a thin, purpose-built hypervisor that does not depend on a general purpose operating system. In order to benefit from the unique capabilities and features of vSphere 5.5, VMware recommends that customers:
- Migrate vSphere deployments running the earlier VMware® ESX® architecture to the new ESXi hypervisor architecture.
- Upgrade older vSphere deployments to vSphere 5.5.
Learn About VMware's Most Advanced Hypervisor Architecture
vSphere 5.5 is a "bare-metal" hypervisor, meaning it installs directly on top of the physical server and partitions it into multiple virtual machines that can run simultaneously, sharing the physical resources of the underlying server. vSphere delivers industry-leading performance and scalability while setting a new bar for reliability, security and hypervisor management efficiency.
Deploying VMware's Most Advanced Hypervisor Architecture
vSphere 5.5 uses the same proven VMkernel to deliver virtualization capabilities, but unlike earlier versions it does not require the overhead of a Linux-based console operating system (COS or "service console") to perform local management tasks such as executing scripts or installing third-party agents. With vSphere 5.5 the COS has been removed, drastically reducing the hypervisor install footprint (less than 150MB vs. 2GB) and moving management functionality from the COS to remote management tools.
Migrating to vSphere 5.5 — Take Advantage of Unique Benefits
Thanks to its ultra-thin architecture with less than 150MB of disk footprint, vSphere 5.5 delivers the same industry-leading performance and scalability as prior vSphere releases with several additional benefits:
Improved Reliability and Security - Based on the new ESXi architecture with fewer lines of code and independence from a general purpose OS, vSphere 5.5 drastically reduces the risk of bugs or security vulnerabilities and makes it easier to secure your hypervisor layer.
Streamlined Deployment and Configuration - With its small footprint the ESXi architecture has far fewer configuration items, greatly simplifying deployment and configuration and making it easier to maintain consistency.
Higher Management Efficiency - The API-based, partner integration model of the ESXi architecture eliminates the need to install and manage third-party management agents on the vSphere host. You can automate routine tasks by leveraging remote command line scripting environments such as vCLI or PowerCLI.
Simplified Hypervisor Patching and Updating - Due to its smaller size and fewer components, ESXi requires far fewer patches, shortening service windows and reducing security vulnerabilities.
