Can someone please identify the company's dominant product and
pricing?

http://www.vmware.com/vmwarestore/buyVI3.html

I don't understand why I need to  pay $3750 (Standard) or $5750
(Enterprise) when I could get an Advanced platform from Red Hat with
unlimited virtual instances for $1500.

Other than technological differences (I've seen the back and forth
between Xen and VMWare), what am I missing? What's the added value of
VMWare over a RH Advanced Server or Xensource enterprise product?

Thanks in advance.

Just guess since I'm not familar with the RHT advanced server, but
support for guest OS's other that linux?

Looks like they both support multiple OS's.
---------
https://www.redhat.com/rhel/server/advanced/

Included in Red Hat Enterprise Linux Advanced Platform

Critical technologies in a single solution. Fully integrated. Ready to
go. No need to purchase additional products from multiple vendors.

    * Unlimited virtualized guests. Multiple operating systems,
multiple versions, multiple performance and security settings, all
running on the same server using Red Hat's virtualization technology.
    * Storage virtualization. Multiple guests, running on the same or
different servers, access and share logical storage volumes and file
systems. Reap the full benefits of server virtualization with shared
storage.
    * High availability clustering and failover. Application and guest
operating system failover.
    * Management. Includes comprehensive management capabilities.

VMWare has dramatically better management tools as well as better
performance.  The Xen-based virtualization solution in Red Hat is open
source, and cheaper.

--
Jess
http://theunknownstock.blogspot.com/2007/08/vmw-vmware-inc-zooms-on-i...

hmmmm....citrix supposed to announce its acquistion of xensource
tomorrow...interestng move, should really heat up this sector.
Hopefully they wont ruin the proliferation of this technology by price
gouging us..

sometimes having a solution is not enough. having a field proven
product always counts. for vmware it took yrs to prove the concept and
then make it main stream. So for Xen source/Virtual Iron/ Microsoft to
catch up it would take atleast 2-3 yrs depending on how good you are.
and ofcource pricing model also matters. the one thing vmware has
going for it is that csco is already working with to integrate vmware
into networking.  I am not for astronomical $$ share values but all I
am saying is that vmware is  "value added service"

I guess the question is how effective are your "virtual instances" and
can you do anything with them? Can you move them from server to
server, is there High Availability, DRS, or Consolidated backup? Even
if there things like it, it is automatic? What generation is it (3 or
better like VMware)? How many Fortune 100 companies use and love the
product?

That was my concern today..."next Google"? Most everyone knew who
Google was and even used it. Most people don't know the benefits of
virtualization, if they  did, this would have been a bigger mover.
sigh.

http://www.crn.com/software/201400070

Check this review out and see what you think. http://www.crn.com/software/201400070

Virtual Iron also seems to have price and feature advantage over
VMWare.