Alternatives to VMware: Exploring the Benefits of Proxmox Virtual Environment

In our six-part blog series about alternatives to VMware vSphere's virtualization platform, part one explains the benefits of using Citrix Hypervisor, part two describes the benefits of using Microsoft Hyper-V, part three explains the benefits of using Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization, part four explains the benefits of using Oracle VM VirtualBox, and in this fifth part, we'll explain the benefits of using Proxmox Virtual Environment.

Proxmox Virtual Environment is a virtualization platform that uses the KVM Type-1 hypervisor.  It is based on Debian Linux and is fully open-source. The first stable release came in 2008 and offered a scalable solution to manage virtual machines and containers. Over the years, Proxmox VE has introduced features such as HA (high availability) and live migrations. Proxmox continues to evolve with new features, improvements, and security enhancements.

5 Benefits of Using Proxmox Virtual Environment

Proxmox offers a range of features that make it a strong VMware alternative, including:

1. Cost-effective: Proxmox VE is open to the public and free to download without paying for a license on its website (Proxmox Enterprise Repository not included). The license-free features include HA (high availability), live storage migrations, live migration of VMs (virtual machines), and host clustering.

2. Open Source: Proxmox is an open-source server management platform with a web GUI, which means users can access the source code and customize the platform to their specific needs on an enterprise level for a total centralized management solution.

3. Cluster File System: Proxmox VE uses a unique cluster file system that enables you to synchronize the configuration of files across your cluster. This means all files can be replicated in real-time to several thousand virtual machines (VMs).
4. Backup Testing Tool: Proxmox provides a fully integrated backup tool that creates consistent snapshots of containers, physical hosts, and virtual machines, allowing easy restoration.
5. Strong Community Support: As an open-source, free platform, Proxmox VE benefits from the support of a large community of developers and users.
   

Disadvantages of Promox Virtual Environment

While Proxmox offers many benefits as a VMware alternative, there are some disadvantages to consider:

• Limited Support (including third-party): Proxmox's support response time is limited to office hours in Central European Time (six hours ahead of EST and nine hours ahead of PST).  They also handle all support tickets through the Proxmox Customer Portal and their website, offering no phone support.
• Steep learning curve: Proxmox can be complex to set up and manage, but it offers a self-taught learning path that includes documentation, videos, eBooks, and more.
• Subscription Model Pricing: Proxmox's paid subscription model is based on the number of physical servers AND their CPU sockets rather than just the physical servers.

Proxmox Virtual Environment Is a cost-effective, open-source solution with innovative features like a cluster file system and a backup testing tool. While it may have limitations in terms of support and a steep learning curve, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for many users looking for a VMware alternative. With strong community backing, transitioning to Proxmox could be a smart move for your virtualization needs.