Situation: I'm going to upgrade a couple web servers where I'm currently running the free version of ESXi/vSphere 4.0. When 5.0 came out, I decided not to look at VMware's newer versions because of the vRAM restriction and either run an older version or something else. I ran across a post that said 5.1 licensing was different and stopped by the 5.1 page and read this http://www.vmware.com/products/datacenter-virtualization/vsphere-hypervisor/requirements.html which indeed reads differently.
Questions: Am I correct in my understanding the restrictions for 5.1 are:
1. 32GB max. PHYSICAL RAM? (That's a big change from 32GB vRAM.)
2. No limits on the number of CPUs or cores? (That's a big change from 1 physical processor up to 6 cores max.)
Thanks!
PS: If the only real limitation now is 32GB of virtual RAM, then VMware made a good move. I'm not out to skin VMware, so I think 32GB physical is perfect. There is still only so much you can get done in 32GB, yet there are none of the licensing complexities. The vRAM restriction was unworkable. The socket and core restrictions unnecessarily complicated server buying. This would mean that I could buy a cheaper standard speed 8 or 10 core XEON or use an older multi-processor machine instead of an expensive high-frequency 6 core with hyperthreading.