VMware NSX is a comprehensive tool for network virtualization and security, offering advanced features like micro-segmentation and multi-cloud networking to enhance scalability and management efficiency within enterprises.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| VMware NSX | 28.5% |
| Cisco ACI | 28.3% |
| Cisco Enterprise Network Functions Virtualization | 8.7% |
| Other | 34.5% |
| Title | Rating | Mindshare | Recommending | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SentinelOne Singularity Cloud Security | 4.4 | N/A | 99% | 129 interviewsAdd to research |
| Darktrace | 4.1 | N/A | 95% | 84 interviewsAdd to research |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 26 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 19 |
| Large Enterprise | 49 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 289 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 162 |
| Large Enterprise | 598 |
VMware NSX revolutionizes enterprise networking by integrating security and scalability into one streamlined platform. With capabilities like dynamic policy updates and automation, it simplifies complex configurations and provides robust API integration. Its support for Layer 4 and 7 load balancing, along with its seamless integration in multi-cloud environments, makes it a preferred choice among companies. Although deployment speed and management console features require refinement, NSX is an effective solution for private cloud and hybrid environments, enabling centralized orchestration and management of complex networks.
What are the key features of VMware NSX?
What benefits and ROI should users consider?
In the tech industry, VMware NSX is instrumental in managing private and hybrid cloud environments, allowing companies to replace traditional networking with software-defined networks. In finance, it helps secure transactional data through micro-segmentation. Healthcare organizations leverage its flexibility for managing sensitive patient information securely and integrating cloud services.
VMware NSX was previously known as VMware Nicira, Lastline Defender.
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| Author info | Rating | Review Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Redhat Linux Vmware & Azure & Cloud & Nutanix Ahv-Vmware & Backup Senior System Administrator at AlDawaa Medical Services | 5.0 | I've used VMware NSX for five to six years and find it flexible, secure, and stable, with excellent micro-segmentation and automation features, though some functions are complex and costly, requiring advanced expertise to fully utilize. |
| Services Presales Solutions Architecture - UAE & Gulf at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees | 4.0 | I primarily use VMware NSX for data center connectivity, appreciating its micro-segmentation and security features. However, the expensive and rigid licensing model could be improved, especially following Broadcom's acquisition. Competitors include Cisco and Arista. |
| Technical Manager at Allianz Cloud Private Limited | 4.0 | I use VMware NSX on-prem in our HCI for load balancing, routing/switching, and micro-segmentation. It enables VLAN-independent Zero Trust isolation and consistent policies, but licensing is expensive, needs expert skills, and integration outside VMware can be difficult. |
| Senior VMware Administrator at Johnson Controls, Inc. | 4.5 | We use VMware NSX for software-defined networking, appreciating its robust and user-friendly network creation features, though we don't leverage its full capabilities. Improvements are needed in reporting and pricing. We haven't explored alternatives and operate with various vendors, including Cisco. |
| Senior IT Strategy Consultant at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees | 3.5 | I primarily use VMware NSX to enhance security through micro-segmentation, efficiently managing subnet segregation. Its dynamic network configuration offers flexibility, although the initial setup was complex. We considered Akamai but faced issues with its client-side agent. |
| Sr . IT Infrastructure Manager at a computer software company with 201-500 employees | 4.0 | I use VMware NSX for automating and supporting multi-cloud environments, primarily in our data centers. Its valuable features include configuration management. However, I see room for improvement in visualization and response time despite satisfactory support quality. |
| Joint Staff Officer at Hellenic National Defence General Staff | 4.5 | I find VMware NSX valuable for its micro-segmentation and automation with Python, enhancing our application security and efficiency. It saves us time, meets our needs, and fits organizational requirements, making it our chosen solution without exploring alternatives. |
| Presales Solutions Architect at Freelance | 3.5 | As a presales professional for VMware NSX, I value its virtualization and networking capabilities. However, migrating from NSX V to NSX T is complicated, and the cost is high and variable. Some customers consider alternatives like Nutanix. |
| Manager Data Centre at a consultancy with 51-200 employees | 4.0 | We use VMware NSX for hosting citizen-centric portals, benefiting from its ease of configuration, especially during VM migrations. However, VMware's ticket support response time needs improvement. We've always used VMware products, preferring AWS over alternatives like Azure. |
| Principal Engineer at a computer software company with 5,001-10,000 employees | 4.0 | We use VMware NSX for network virtualization in our cloud environments, valuing its security features like IPS and IDS. However, we see room for improvement in boot times and synchronization issues. We're also exploring alternatives like Nutanix and OpenShift. |
We are using VMware NSX, which provides micro-segmentation for our network, our subnet, and integration with cloud strike. We are using Software-Defined Network (SDN), which is a very good feature from VMware NSX.
We have multiple workloads including databases, application servers, and web servers. We have a user network and a data center network. These workloads help us implement micro-segmentation for each workload.
This feature gives us flexibility and allows us to manage everything under one pane. We can see everything on one console, including network operations and behavior. Monitoring and security are among the best features for VMware NSX.
For micro-segmentation, it's integrated with our endpoint security. If there are any issues with servers or VMs, it notifies us so we can isolate the servers and investigate.
It provides distributed security features such as firewall and intrusion, IDS, IPS. The security level with IPS and IDS in VMware NSX is excellent. It also provides logical switching and routing which gives an extra layer for Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching requirements.
The solution provides flexibility, automation, and self-service capabilities, resulting in cost savings as extensive expertise isn't required. Once automation and self-service are implemented, many tasks can be completed automatically.
Load balancing is another excellent feature. Multiple servers can run on load balancing features, which is particularly useful since we have many application servers running. Sharing loads between servers provides the best performance.
Sometimes we face issues when a server is compromised or we have an infection. The isolation feature helps, but we need to work more on this aspect. While it's not impossible to address, the feature can sometimes result in service inaccessibility.
While automation and single pane of glass management console are valuable, these features require high-level expertise. Simplifying these features would be beneficial.
The complexity increases when utilizing each feature of the product. Basic routing switching features are manageable, but advanced feature utilization becomes more complex and requires significant expertise.
I have almost 15 years of experience with VMware. Specifically with VMware NSX, I have been working for the last five to six years, while my experience with ESXi and VMware spans more than 15 years.
Currently, the system runs very effectively. Occasionally, during isolation scenarios, services may go down, but load balancing features can handle these situations. The product performs at 99% efficiency without any showstoppers or significant issues. It is an absolutely stable product.
Scalability is fine without any issues.
They are absolutely fine. They are quick and understand things easily, so the support is aligned very effectively.
Positive
VMware NSX is somewhat expensive.
It's a very comprehensive product that enables many capabilities through micromanagement and micro-segmentation at the security level. If you are running cloud infrastructure, it can manage your cloud operations effectively. It's a vast product with numerous features that can fulfill IT infrastructure requirements under one umbrella.
On a scale of 1-10, I rate VMware NSX a 9.
I am currently working with Dell, as I am a Dell employee. I work with both Dell and non-Dell solutions in services.
I work in networking solutions, storage solutions, security solutions, and cloud solutions. For network management and troubleshooting, I work with open-source SDN solutions such as SONiC solutions.
SONiC solutions are for networking. It is similar to VMware NSX from Cisco, and it can control the LAN and data center switches under one layer of management. This is mainly what I work with, along with some products from Brocade.
Brocade is mainly for networking and data center networking, specifically for the connectivity between storage and network.
With VMware, I work not only with switches but also with vCenter, the entire VCF, the VMware Cloud Foundation, which includes VMware NSX, vCenter, Tanzu, and everything under the new licensing model of VMware.
I am in pre-sales, so I do not configure systems myself. I design, put the scope of work, and establish pricing. From the design perspective, I work with the Tanzu platform and everything under the VCF licensing model. When a customer purchases VCF from VMware, it comes with six to seven elements under this licensing model, and the customer needs everything to be working, from VMware NSX to Tanzu.
The micro-segmentation and security for the product itself and the ease of usage from the administration point of view are the most valuable features of VMware NSX.
Security policies across different environments, such as private and public cloud, are very helpful because security is crucial. When moving to the cloud, all customers are asking for security. When you have a solid secure solution between your on-premises and cloud solution, you are in a safe place.
I would suggest improving the licensing model of VMware NSX.
The licensing model has become expensive since Broadcom bought VMware, making it costly with no other options to select specific components from the license itself. Customers must buy the whole package even if they do not need all components.
I have been using the solution for around three years.
There is nothing better or worse here; it depends on your use case and your budget.
I would rate the stability of VMware NSX as nine out of ten.
I would rate the scalability as nine out of ten.
You are building a scalable solution, a secure solution, and a stable end-to-end solution with VMware NSX.
I previously worked with Brocade products.
I would rate the setup process as eight out of ten.
I am a partner regarding my use case with VMware.
We have seen a return on investment.
There are costs associated with the new licensing model of VMware.
The main competitor for VMware NSX in the market is Nutanix for the whole portfolio. When speaking about VMware NSX specifically, there are competitors such as Cisco, Arista, and other open-source products.
Open source is a standard solution where you take a gray box or white box and put the software from your end. You can do programming with Ansible and make the network work in the software-defined mode, providing automation and management capabilities.
I am currently working with VMware. It integrates easily with everything and can work with any system.
When discussing micro-segmentation, it enhances security, providing more secure data in your data center while allowing for extra layers of security outside your data center. If you have an ACI, there is communication between locations, keeping your data secure in your data center and throughout the path it takes, such as to SD-WAN or the cloud.
I work with cloud solutions including AWS, Azure, GCP, and private cloud.
My overall rating for VMware NSX is 8.5 out of 10.
VMware NSX serves as the primary virtualized networking solution in our hyper-converged infrastructure to provide load balancing between the ESXi hosts and basic security through routing and switching.
We are also implementing micro-segmentation of the networking layer for internal security.
The advantages of VMware NSX include its micro-segmentation for internal security at the firewall and VM levels, which is very powerful and helps us comply with complete Zero Trust security models. We are able to achieve this and configure network level virtualization with no dependency on VLANs.
Micro-segmentation helps improve our security significantly. We are not totally dependent upon our physical upfront firewall, and it makes sense to configure everything using VMware NSX, leading to multiple improvements in our organization. We moved from traditional networking such as VLANs from the firewall and switches to VMware NSX segmentation. We achieve one firewall per VLAN and can stop lateral movement such as ransomware control. The Zero Trust model is the main functionality and architecture it offers, allowing application isolation, such as having a separate production and test environment.
Consistent networking and security policies across different environments have a major and very positive impact on our business operations, allowing us to achieve the security posture we want with compliance and regulations.
Some disadvantages of VMware NSX include a price challenge due to the high licensing cost compared to competitors, and it may sometimes require a specific skill set.
We definitely require an experienced engineer to handle VMware NSX. It is not a product that an entry-level engineer can configure. VMware NSX is completely a VMware ecosystem-friendly product, so we sometimes face difficulties with integration.
I have been using VMware NSX in my organization for almost seven years.
VMware NSX implementation is quite straightforward.
VMware NSX implementation took four to five days for the full phase.
Deploying VMware NSX required two or three people from the team.
VMware NSX implementation provides a return on investment that is justifiable in the long cycle, but not for a small one.
When measuring complexity and costs for our organization, we consider some parameters for effectiveness.
In terms of effectiveness in reducing operational complexity, I measure it to be high on the complexity side, but it is necessary for business demand, so we have to use it. The complexity is too high in terms of price.
I have been working in my field in the software sphere for ten years. I rate VMware NSX an eight out of ten.
We use it for a software-defined network. We don't use it for much that it is capable of. Since we are corporate, we have different vendors and collaborations with Cisco and other providers. Some products are possibly duplicates.
VMware NSX has the ability to create networks in software. This feature eases life by enabling management with one team. It's robust, stable, and easy to use, but we don't fully utilize its capabilities.
The reporting functionality could be better, and there could be an easier way of forwarding events. There's room for improvement in the product. We don't use it to its full capabilities and much more could be done with it. The pricing for the product is another area for improvement as I'm not satisfied nowadays.
We have been using it for six to seven years.
It was easy to deploy this product.
From my standpoint, they rate nine out of ten. They were always helpful.
Positive
The setup process was easy.
There's a collaboration between multiple teams working corporate. VMware NSX requires patching occasionally. Usually, one or two people participate in maintenance.
I do find some return on investment and I track it. With Broadcom, we don't talk about return on investments nowadays with the way they handled their licensing.
I'm not satisfied nowadays. There is room for improvement in terms of pricing.
We have not considered alternatives to VMware NSX. We have stayed with it for a while.
I'm currently working with VMware. The deployment was completed in approximately days, though it was a long time ago.
I'm on the VMware side of things so I wouldn't know if there are any third-party tools used.
Some products are possibly duplicates which can impact how we fully utilize VMware NSX. Some reporting could be easier.
It is effective in terms of reducing operational complexity and cost for my organization. However, I can use any other product and the impact is not substantial.
I rate VMware NSX a 9 out of 10.
I primarily use VMware NSX for improving security through micro-segmentation of our network. We have strict security regulations that require us to segregate different subnets, and NSX helps us efficiently manage this.
I value the ability to dynamically configure our network on the fly using VMware NSX. This flexibility is a huge advantage because it allows us to avoid static configurations that come with traditional hardware setups.
Additionally, the micro-segmentation feature is beneficial for adhering to strict security regulations from our security department.
The initial configuration and integration within our existing environment were not easy. The configuration process was a bit complex, specifically during the initial setup.
I have been working with VMware NSX for about two years.
I would rate the stability of the product at eight out of ten.
I rate the scalability as ten out of ten. There is a high level of satisfaction with its ability to scale.
The initial setup was not easy, and it involved challenges with integration within our existing environment.
The cost of VMware NSX is considered high. I would rate the price at two or three out of ten. It could be cheaper.
I am familiar with a competing product from Akamai. We performed a number of tests with it during due diligence but did not move to production due to its client-side agent setup being unacceptable by our security department.
I would rate the overall solution a seven out of ten.
I recommend VMware NSX, depending on the organization's environment. It is often suitable for enterprise-level companies due to deployment complexity and cost considerations.
We have our data center, and we also have cloud-based data centers. Most of the features which come with VMware NSX are used in the data center to run our core infrastructure.
We primarily use VMware NSX for automation and multi-cloud support.
We use the microsegmentation features of VMware NSX for isolating the workloads within different environments and for different customers.
The functions of VMware NSX that I find most valuable include configuration management, which helps in optimizing workload and reducing costs.
Based on my experience, I would like to improve VMware NSX, particularly on the visualization side, aiming for improved visibility in the environment.
Function-wise, VMware NSX is performing well, and I don't see any major areas for improvement since most of the functions meet my expectations.
The response time needs improvement, while the quality of support is satisfactory.
I have been working with VMware NSX for six to seven years.
The technical support from VMware NSX deserves a rating of seven out of ten.
Neutral
The initial setup for VMware NSX is a bit complex; it's not as simple as it could be.
VMware NSX deserves a rating of nine out of ten for stability.
For scalability, VMware NSX also deserves a nine out of ten.
I would recommend VMware NSX for mid-size to large companies.
The pricing for VMware NSX deserves a rating of four to five out of ten.
Overall, I would give VMware NSX a rating of eight out of ten.
I can definitely recommend VMware NSX to other users.
Usually, when we are deployed for a period of two months, we have to program VMware NSX from the beginning and set up all the security measures.
VMware NSX has helped by saving time. A task that would typically take a man several days can now be done in one or two days.
The most powerful feature of VMware NSX is the micro-segmentation that allows us to separate the different protocols our application works with. We also benefit from automation capabilities using Python scripts.
I cannot think of something specific that needs improvement since our needs are currently covered by VMware NSX. I have no complaints regarding the user interface or any technical issues.
I have been working with VMware NSX for two years. That said, it is not part of my everyday work.
No stability issues were mentioned.
No scalability issues were mentioned.
Our technicians have a good support experience from the company. I would rate customer service eight out of ten.
Positive
We have to follow specific rules and use accredited tools like VMware and have not used anything else.
We underwent training first, which made the deployment process not very difficult.
The primary benefit is time-saving for my organization.
VMware NSX is a little higher in price compared to the competition. I haven't gone through the internal analysis.
There are other solutions available, however, we are required to go with specific vendors due to accreditation and our organizational requirements.
I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.
I am in a presales role, selling the VMware solution. The typical use case is vague due to the wide range of institutions that make up our customer base.
I feel confident when I work with NSX since I have mastered the solution. It is good for all virtualization and networking.
If you had asked when it was NSX V, which was dedicated only for Hyper-V and VMware, I would have said they could open the door for all partners. At the moment, NSX T is complete. Migrating from V to T is very tricky, complicated, and there are a lot of parameters to account for. The pricing is also an issue; it's very expensive and changes all the time. VMware is not easy to negotiate with.
I would say the stability of the solution is a nine out of ten.
The scalability is rated at eight out of ten.
I would rate technical support as ten as they have a lot of support and specialists who can meet with the customer.
Positive
Previously, some of the customers chose Nutanix and a few other solutions.
I think the initial setup is complex. You need knowledge of both networking and virtualization. It's complex for everyone, although I have experience with it.
The pricing is another discussion. The pricing is rated three because it's very expensive, changes often, and isn't easy to negotiate.
We did evaluate Nutanix.
The main challenge is upgrading from NSX V to NSX T. This upgrade requires considering many parameters that are not known by everyone.
I'd rate the solution seven out of ten.
We host citizen-centric portals. They are web portals where citizens can enter and fetch data. For example, we have tax-related portals, health-related portals, and education-related portals. These are social welfare portals, and for that, we use AWS services.
NSX helps us by making IT management and operations more efficient. When VMs spin off from the DC to the DR site, all required settings on the network level are handled automatically.
The most valuable feature of NSX is the ease of configuration. It handles automatic configuration of IP addresses and network settings during VM migrations between data centers.
The ticket support response time from VMware could be improved. Often, callbacks are delayed, which can be problematic if the servers are in production.
We have been using NSX for almost one year.
NSX is stable and reliable. I would rate its stability between eight or nine out of ten.
NSX is quite scalable. I would rate its scalability as eight out of ten.
The customer support from VMware could be more responsive, as sometimes callbacks are delayed, causing delays in addressing critical issues.
Positive
We did not switch from another solution to NSX. We have been using VMware products, including vSphere, for many years.
The initial setup of NSX was complex, but with the help of an experienced vendor and support from VMware, we managed to configure it successfully in a short time.
We had an experienced vendor help with the implementation and received good support from VMware during the setup.
VMware has moved to a bundled pricing model, which means we are sometimes forced to pay for features we don’t use. This has increased our overall costs.
I recommend NSX because it simplifies IT operations and management, especially for data center network configurations.
We use VMware NSX for our cloud and public cloud environments in different data centers. It supports our network virtualization and data center operations.
VMware NSX has greatly improved our network manageability and security. Since deployment, we've done various upgrades and health checks without facing major issues. It has also contributed to efficiently building enterprise and public cloud environments.
The most valuable features are its security aspects, especially the IPS and IDS for intrusion detection and protection. We've found these features beneficial in enhancing our network security.
The boot times for NSX managers and the time it takes to clear alarms and warnings could be improved. The differences between NSX-V and NSX-T, especially regarding the managers and controllers, can also cause synchronization issues. A faster resolution time would be beneficial.
The product itself is stable. However, the frequency of patches has increased significantly, requiring more maintenance and patching than before. This sometimes affects stability since the bugs we need to fix have become more frequent.
The product is scalable, although we haven't pushed our environment to its limits yet. We appreciate the potential scalability related to its federation capabilities.
VMware's technical support services have deteriorated in quality and responsiveness. We often find that L1 and L2 engineers are not as knowledgeable or responsive as needed, causing delays in issue resolution.
Positive
The initial setup was straightforward for the hardware deployment, but the configuration of the BGP and edge services presented challenges. Once integrated into vCloud Director, the process became simpler.
The deployment was handled by three principal engineers in-house, and we've continued to handle maintenance internally.
Not quantified directly in terms of financials. There are ongoing considerations regarding moving towards a VPS model to streamline costs.
The licensing for NSX is relatively expensive. We are considering moving to a VPS licensing model to optimize costs. Overall, I would rate the cost-effectiveness as a seven out of ten.
Our executive team has mandated the evaluation of other products like Nutanix and OpenShift due to cost considerations with VMware.
Overall, I highly recommend VMware NSX due to its robust features and stability. Despite some necessary patches and updates, it is an excellent product for network virtualization and security.
I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
