Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware and the steep licence price increases that followed have forced many organisations to look for alternatives to this popular virtualisation solution. In some cases, the cost of maintaining a VMware environment has risen by as much as 200%, making migration to KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) an increasingly attractive option for SAP environments.
Why is KVM becoming a real alternative?
In the face of Broadcom’s new pricing policy, KVM is gaining in appeal not only because it carries no licensing costs. This technology, built into the Linux kernel, has come a long way since 2007 and now offers a level of maturity sufficient to support even the most demanding production SAP environments.
KVM - the younger sibling with an open heart
KVM, which made its debut in 2007 as part of the Linux kernel, has come a long way. Unlike the commercial VMware, KVM is an open-source solution, meaning lower deployment costs and no licence fees. It is precisely this feature that has attracted the attention of giants such as Amazon and Oracle, who use KVM in their cloud infrastructures.
“KVM consists of only around 10,000 lines of well-optimised code, which translates into high performance,” explains one SUSE engineer. “Compared to the estimated 60 million lines of code in VMware ESXi, this is a considerably ‘lighter’ solution.”
Performance - surprising results
Contrary to common concerns, performance tests show that KVM matches VMware in most use-case scenarios. For SAP HANA applications, performance differences are minimal and often unnoticeable under typical production workloads.
SUSE, as one of the leading distributors of solutions for SAP, carried out detailed tests showing that:
For OLTP or mixed OLTP/OLAP workloads, the performance difference does not exceed 10% For pure OLAP workloads, the difference is even smaller - below 5%
Management and administration - where the devil is in the detail
The biggest difference between KVM and VMware lies in how the environment is managed. VMware offers an advanced vCenter interface with extensive management and monitoring capabilities. KVM, on the other hand, requires more manual work and familiarity with Linux.
“This is exactly the area where VMware shines,” admits an administrator at a large data centre. “vCenter simply works, it’s intuitive and has everything to hand. With KVM you have to work harder, especially at the start.”
Costs and licensing - a significant difference
One of the main arguments in favour of KVM is cost. While VMware requires the purchase of expensive enterprise licences and additional modules, KVM is available free of charge. The only costs are any technical support purchased from vendors such as Red Hat or SUSE.
Sample savings from migrating from VMware to KVM can reach as much as 70% of total cost of ownership (TCO) over a three-year horizon.
Functionality - where are the differences?
KVM offers most of the key functions familiar from VMware:
Live migration of virtual machines Snapshotting Thin provisioning High availability (albeit in a more limited form)
However, some advanced VMware features have no equivalent in KVM:
Storage vMotion (live storage migration) Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) Fault Tolerance
SAP HANA on KVM - what you need to know
SUSE officially supports SAP HANA on KVM, offering a certified solution. Key aspects include:
Support for virtual machines with up to 6TB of RAM The ability to use up to 4 processors Certification for various deployment scenarios (single-VM, multi-VM)
Conclusions - KVM as an alternative to VMware
KVM is a real alternative to VMware, particularly for organisations that:
Want to reduce licensing costs Have Linux competencies within the team Do not need all of VMware’s advanced features Are prepared for greater involvement in infrastructure management
However, before deciding to migrate, it is essential to carefully analyse:
The team’s available resources and competencies Business application requirements Total cost of ownership (TCO) The planned development path for the environment
SLES for SAP Applications: the foundation for SAP environments on KVM
Choosing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications as the platform for SAP environments running on KVM is far more than just an operating system choice. It is a complete solution, optimised for the performance and security of SAP systems, while also offering advanced administrative tools.
Optimised performance
SLES for SAP Applications delivers predefined performance profiles tailored to different SAP use-case scenarios. “The ability to automatically tune system parameters using the saptune tool is a huge advantage,” explains Jarek Zdanowski. “The system automatically optimises itself for specific SAP workloads, which, combined with KVM, gives us a very high-performance environment.”
Key optimisation elements include:
Automatic page cache memory management I/O scheduler optimisation Network parameter tuning for maximum throughput Energy profile management for optimal performance
Security first
SLES for SAP Applications introduces a multi-layered security architecture:
SAP application firewall - predefined rules for various SAP components, automatic configuration during installation, easy modification via YaST System hardening - automatic security updates, a built-in integrity control system, the SecurityHub module for central security policy management Encryption - built-in support for volume encryption, integration with external key management systems, transparent encryption for KVM virtual machines
Administrative tools
SLES for SAP Applications provides a range of specialised tools that simplify day-to-day administration:
YaST SAP Installation Wizard
Automation of the SAP installation process System configuration in line with best practices Integration with SAP Software Provisioning Manager
System monitoring
Built-in performance monitoring tools Integration with SAP Solution Manager Advanced diagnostics for performance issues
High-availability management
Cluster Resource Manager optimised for SAP Automatic failover for SAP HANA systems Advanced replication scenarios
Integration with KVM
SLES for SAP Applications has been specifically optimised to work with KVM:
Memory optimisation - support for huge pages, automatic NUMA memory management, intelligent swap-space management Resource management - granular control over resource allocation, quality of service for I/O, advanced resource-usage monitoring Migration tools - support for live migration, automated migration procedures, tools for verifying migration correctness
Automation and orchestration
One of the biggest advantages of SLES for SAP Applications is the level of automation it offers - thanks to integration with Salt and Ansible, we can easily manage the entire environment, from the KVM layer up to the SAP applications.
Key areas of automation:
Automatic deployment of new systems Configuration management Update orchestration Automatic backups
Support and updates
SLES for SAP Applications offers extended technical support:
An extended support cycle (LTSS) Priority security patches Dedicated update channels for SAP systems Access to the SUSE and SAP knowledge base
ROI and TCO
“Combining KVM with SLES for SAP Applications isn’t just about saving on VMware licences,” Zdanowski stresses. “It also means lower operating costs thanks to automation and simplified management. Our clients often report a 40-60% reduction in time spent on routine administrative tasks.”
Key factors affecting TCO:
No virtualisation licensing costs Reduced administration overhead Lower training costs thanks to standard Linux tools Lower hardware requirements
Future outlook
SUSE is actively developing both KVM and SLES for SAP Applications, focusing on:
Integration with cloud solutions Support for containerisation Expanding automation functions Increasing security
What sets SLES for SAP Applications apart is its holistic approach to the needs of SAP environments. It is not simply an operating system with a KVM hypervisor, but a comprehensive platform designed specifically for SAP, delivering all the tools needed to manage and secure the environment effectively.
SNOK - your partner in migrating from VMware to KVM
SNOK, as a certified SAP and SUSE partner, specialises in comprehensive SAP environment migrations, including transitions from VMware to KVM. Our experience in transformation projects, combined with deep knowledge of both platforms, allows us to carry out migrations with minimal impact on business continuity.
Our migration methodology is based on a proven five-stage process:
Analysing the environment and planning the migration using application dependency-mapping tools Preparing the target KVM environment in line with SUSE best practices Test migration of selected non-production systems Actual migration of the production environment with minimal downtime Optimisation and knowledge transfer to the client’s team
Thanks to our partnership with SUSE, SNOK has access to the latest technologies and expert support, which translates into the high quality of the projects we deliver. Our engineers hold both SUSE and SAP certifications, guaranteeing a comprehensive approach to migration that takes into account the specifics of SAP environments.
“Over the past year we have carried out more than a dozen VMware-to-KVM migration projects for clients across various sectors,” says SNOK’s Technical Director. “The key to success is thorough planning and using automation wherever possible.”
SNOK also offers post-implementation support and training for IT teams, enabling a smooth handover of management of the new environment to the client’s staff. Our experience shows that, with the right preparation and support, migrating from VMware to KVM can deliver significant savings without compromising on the performance or stability of the SAP environment.
“We’re seeing growing interest in migrating from VMware solutions to KVM, not only because of cost, but also security and operational flexibility considerations,” comments Jaroslaw Kamil Zdanowski, Partner at SNOK responsible for cybersecurity, SAP BASIS and the SUSE partnership. “Our experience shows that KVM, combined with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, offers a level of security and performance comparable to VMware, and in some scenarios even better. What matters most here is security integration at the Linux kernel level and the ability to respond quickly to potential threats thanks to the open source code.”
Jarosław Zdanowski also stresses the importance of proper preparation for migration: “At SNOK we have developed a methodology that allows migration to be carried out safely with minimal downtime. We combine our expertise in SAP BASIS, cybersecurity and the SUSE platform, allowing us to comprehensively address all technical and security aspects. Properly mapping application dependencies and preparing contingency procedures is particularly important, as it minimises the risk to the client’s business continuity.”
If you are considering migrating from VMware to KVM, or would like to learn more about the possibilities and benefits of such a transformation, get in touch with our experts. SNOK will help you plan and carry out this process safely and cost-effectively.
Summary
KVM has proven itself to be a mature solution, capable of supporting critical SAP workloads. While it does not offer all of VMware’s advanced features, its lower costs and open nature may be appealing to many organisations. The key to success is careful migration planning and ensuring the team has the right competencies to manage a KVM environment.
As the experience of companies such as Amazon and Oracle shows, KVM can successfully support even the most demanding production environments. The question is no longer “is KVM an alternative to VMware”, but rather “is KVM the right alternative for your organisation”.