Vmware product vs Virtual Server R2 sp1 (in hindsight of 2008hypervisor and VMM 2007)?

[Guest markm75]

Vmware product vs Virtual Server R2 sp1 (in hindsight of 2008hypervisor and VMM 2007)?

 

I dont want to start any sort of flame wars here.. but looking for any

technical info anyone can point me too.. perhaps benchmarks or

independent reviews of each...

 

We are starting to virtualize our servers.. some of them will be sql

based.. ie: Dynamics 9.0/10.0, Systems Center Config Manager, Live

Comm Server 2007 etc.. into 1 role per VS (which i believe is the

general rule here)..

 

The hardware is xeon 2.5 (dual cpu, quad cores).. with sata2 harddrive

system (32mb cache drives, enterprise) with raid5 array and raid10

array. (for 40 users, usually 10 simulanteous sql type hits a time)

 

From what i can see, it appears, Vmware runs better, but what % better

is unknown? I dont see us installing ESX and replacing the main OS

of this server or servers either..

 

I was planning on using Virtual Machine Manager 2007.. I'm wondering

if this gives any edge to MS or sp1 of VS gives any edge? We will

ultimately be going to 2008 server in some time, so the hyper visor

would be an option there..

 

I'd hate to go VMware right now, then have to switch everything later

on under 2008 server..

 

Curious on thoughts out there.. is performance going to be THAT much

better with Vmware? What if i use physical partitions instead of vhds

with VS 2005, does this help the situation.. etc..

 

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.