One of the first questions that come up when we talk to customers and partners is "Why should we use Lanamark Suite when we can use VMware Capacity Planner for free?" Here are some guidelines for when to use VMware Capacity Planner and when Lanamark Suite is a good alternative.
Use VMware Capacity Planner when
- VMware Infrastructure is the only target virtualization platform under consideration
- Customers feel comfortable having data about their data center accessible online
- High-level analysis and what-if modeling are sufficient
Use Lanamark Suite when
- Offering customers choice of virtualization platforms is important
- Customers prefer not to have their data accessible online
- Analysis and what-if modeling need to be comprehensive to avoid over- or under-provisioning
- Automation of analysis and reporting is essential
- Trying to differentiate services from other solution providers who are using standard VMware Capacity Planner templates and reports
- Having visibility and manageability across customers, assessments and consultants is valuable
It is always tempting to use a free product. However prior to doing so, it is important to examine other potential costs involved:
- Hardware and software costs of over-provisioning
- Deteriorating service levels due to under-provisioning
- Time and effort required to collect data, analyze results and design solutions
Links:
VMware Capacity Planner
Lanamark Suite
