What are the advantages/disadvantages moving from esx4 to a windows 2008 host for vcenter/vmware

I don't really understand your question?

Do you mean moving from VMware ESX to Hyper-V?

or Virtual vCenter for Windows to Physical Server for vCenter?

Virtual vCenter for Windows is what I am thinking. Havent really used hyper-V and I only have windows server 2008 r2.

So you are wanting to know about using vCenter Server with ESX 4.0 ?

The main advantages are

1. Reporting - ESXi standalone has no way to provide alerts
2. Cloning VMs
3. VM Templates
4.  With multiple VMs and shared storage possibility of vmotion, HA, etc..

Disadvantage is cost, and a license required for a Windows Server. Although there is the latest VCenter Appliance based on Linux.

How many ESX servers do you have?

see here

http://www.vmware.com/products/vcenter-server/overview.html

I have one esx 4 server.
I am want to move away from our current ESX 4 server to windows server 2008 r2 for hosting that we do have a licenese for.

Currently running: vSphere 4 Enterprise Plus

You want Windows 2008 R2 to host your Virtual Machines?

vCenter is for managing ESXi hosts.  If you want to use Windows for hosting VMs then you'll need to install HYper-V (you may actually want to wait a few weeks until Windows 2012 comes out due to Hyper-V 3 with new features)

2008 r2 is the only valid windows license I have and cannot afford to upgrade or purhcase 2012. Im not terribly familiar with ESX of any type. I inherited this system as is and have been working through it the best possible way I can.

I was always under the assumption vmware was a better product fo rvirtualization

VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper-V are noth very good products.

Why do you want to change if you already have the licensed for VMware vSphere?

the license expires in 107 days for VMware vSphere and I not that ESX savy, but it seems i may have to RTFM on ESX so I can at least be intelligent about this. Just dont have a lot of time

You license expires in 107 days?

You can still apply a Free License, which will allow you to continue to use VMware vSphere, on your single server, without the options of Enterprise, but if you only have a single server, it's a little overkill to use VMware vCenter server.

OR Migrate to Windows 2008 R2, and add the Hyper-V option.

understood and agree but thats how I inherited it.

think you right and going to find some cheap & quick ways to learn ESX (ESX 4 dummies) and quit crying about it. How do I apply a fre license to continue using what I have and how long will it last?

Im on the vSphere client and in the bottom right hand corner it says License Period: 106 days remaining.

its unusual to see that, usually only on free or trial licenses issued by VMware.

Most licenses issued when money has exchanged hands do not expire.

You may want to check if a License was Officially purchased, but it can be replaced with a Free license.

But a free license you will only be able to use 32 GB ram per server.

Basic License can be purchased VMware vSphere Essentials for approx $500

how do I apply for a free license?

Register for free at VMware, note the license number and see http:#a38406844