We were faced with a very similar dilemma when we set up our virtualized cluster... Do we go with a free open-source solution like KVM, forgoing an easy-to-use

We were faced with a very similar dilemma when we set up our virtualized cluster... Do we go with a free open-source solution like KVM, forgoing an easy-to-use GUI, or do we go with a more expensive solution such as VMware? We eventually decided to build a KVM-based cluster, and while we were already extremely glad we did before the vSphere 5 licensing change, this latest development only serves to confirm the wisdom of our choice. We have enterprise-level support if we need it, the virsh command-line interface is very straightforward and easy to pick up, and we have not shackled our fates to an organization that can yank the rug out from under us whenever they like. Moreover, for Linux-based folks who find themselves pondering their options, consider that VMware requires that you run Windows in your cluster if you want the full advantages of vSphere (e.g., live migration). Because of the added maintenance and security concerns, we were quite loathe to introduce any Windows operating systems into our cluster environment, and the unfortunate state of the VMware world is that it's extremely Windows-centric. The best part? Not only do we have a fast, rock-solid virtualization solution in place, but the easy-to-use GUI we wanted is also on the horizon. Take one look at the Archipel Project at http://archipelproject.org/ http://archipelproject.org/, and I think you'll agree its interface puts vSphere to shame. Archipel is not yet ready for critical production environments and (last I checked) currently lacks full support for libvirt-based storage APIs (e.g., for LVM-backed virtual storage pools), but development is progressing steadily. I, for one, am looking forward to getting the best of both worlds (liberated + easy-to-administer software) in our data center when the time is right. If that interests you, head on over to https://github.com/primalmotion/archipel https://github.com/primalmotion/archipel and fork away!