From VMware to Vates XCP-ng: flexibility, savings and control

Running high-performance virtualised environments can become expensive and restrictive, especially when proprietary licences limit flexibility. An enterprise client contacted us because it needed to cut costs, gain autonomy and break free from dependence on specific vendors.

In this case study we describe the solution we chose: migrating from VMware vSphere to Vates XCP-ng, an open-source platform based on Xen, known for high performance and advanced control.

Modernising the infrastructure: from challenge to solution

When we started working with the client, its virtual environment had rising licence costs and growing operational complexity.

The goal was to migrate without interrupting services, guarantee business continuity and move every virtual machine to a more flexible and sustainable platform.

IT Global's solution? A modular, collaborative approach, working closely with the internal IT teams.

The migration was not just a software change: it meant rethinking the operating model, using the open-source ecosystem and automating management and backup processes.

IT Global's technology choices and architectural reasons

To handle a complex migration from VMware vSphere to an open-source ecosystem, we selected complementary technologies to ensure security, business continuity and high performance, together with advanced management and automation tools.

Vates XCP-ng: we chose it as the main platform for the critical VMs. Based on Xen, it offers stability, high performance and full control of the virtual infrastructure, reducing licence costs and avoiding lock-in with proprietary vendors.

Xen Orchestra gave us centralised, granular VM management, with real-time monitoring dashboards, automatic backups and simplified snapshot management. With Xen Orchestra the whole infrastructure can be orchestrated without repetitive manual work, reducing the risk of errors and speeding up provisioning.

We integrated Veeam Backup & Replication to protect data and keep services running. The combination of incremental backups, snapshots and granular restores ensured every VM was protected, keeping downtime to a minimum in case of faults or upgrades.

Custom scripts automated repetitive tasks such as deployment, VM migration and post-migration configuration. This automation optimised resource use and let the internal IT team focus its time and skills on strategic rather than operational tasks.

Finally, we kept VMware vSphere as the starting platform to map the current state of the VMs precisely, transfer existing policies and plan a gradual transition, minimising risks and interruptions.

This combination of technologies ensured a modular, secure and scalable approach, ready for future expansion, containerised environments and hybrid cloud deployments.

A modular approach and a migration without interruptions

IT Global planned every phase of the IT consulting engagement carefully: from the initial assessment to the VM migration and the training of internal staff.

All virtual machines were moved with no impact on services, thanks to preliminary testing and a gradual transition. Meanwhile, the IT team was immediately able to manage day-to-day operations independently.

Concrete results and savings of over 50%

Thanks to the strategies put in place by IT Global, the client now has a more efficient, secure and sustainable virtual infrastructure, able to support the continuous evolution of its IT services. The migration to Vates XCP-ng delivered concrete, tangible results.

Licence cost savings exceeded 50%, freeing budget to reinvest in innovation and new initiatives. The transition took place without operational interruptions, ensuring continuity for critical applications and business services.

Choosing an open and independent ecosystem removed the constraints of proprietary vendors, giving freedom of management, faster updates and the flexibility to integrate future technologies.

Finally, the internal IT team gained greater autonomy: with centralised management tools, process automation and custom scripts, it can now orchestrate provisioning, backup and monitoring faster and more securely, turning IT from an operational function into a real driver of innovation for the company.

See also our case study NSX-V to NSX-T migration, or discover our data center management services.