Proxmox VE Reviews

Name: Proxmox VE
Brand: Proxmox
Rating: 4.3 (62 reviews)

Vendor: Proxmox

4.3 out of 5

62 reviews
98% willing to recommend

4,725 followers

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What is Proxmox VE?

Proxmox VE is a complete virtualization management solution for servers. It is a powerful open-source platform and supports two virtualization technologies - KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) for virtual machines and LXC for containers. Proxmox VE has a central user interface that allows you to manage not only VMs and containers, but also storage resources, network configuration, and high availability for clusters. It is enterprise-ready and is valued for its scalability and maximum flexibility, enabling you to virtualize very demanding workloads. Proxmox VE makes it possible for you to easily install, manage, and monitor hyper-converged (HCI) data centers.

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Proxmox VE is the #1 ranked solution in best Server Virtualization Software. PeerSpot users give Proxmox VE an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Proxmox VE is most commonly compared to VMware vSphere: Proxmox VE vs VMware vSphere. Proxmox VE is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 48% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 16% of all views.

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Featured reviews

Toby Champion

Independent Consultant at Toby Champion Associates

Improvements are needed for the API. Currently, there are several features inaccessible through the API, necessitating the use of either the WebUI or the command line interface. While the command line interface suffices, it's apparent that efforts are underway to enhance this aspect. In future releases, one potential feature enhancement could be improved remote screen access, allowing users to connect to the screen of another machine more seamlessly. Additionally, integrating with Terraform or providing better support for Terraform workflows might be beneficial, as there seems to be some lacking in that area. There's a minor inconvenience where you have to switch the license file from the open-source community license to an enterprise license.

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Juan Barandiaran

General manager at BCloud Services SAC

My primary use case for Proxmox VE focuses on replacing VMware solutions and migrating to a Centric Solution for medium-sized companies. This product serves as a hypervisor in environments where performance is crucial Proxmox VE has provided performance improvements, particularly with its…

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Albert Lacerda

Managing Partner at Dynamis Informatica

It is very easy to set up. It is a robust virtual environment and can be deployed within a few days. Typically, an environment can be set up in two, or three days. The most complicated part is migration from VMware. However, the new virtual Proxmox offers a built-in tool to directly connect to the VMware environment and convert the virtual machines to Proxmox. You need to have one person with expertise in network components and configuration for that part of the physical environment. The most important aspect is working with the vendors who supply your standard software. This is often the most challenging part. You need to contact support to help set up the new environment if something changes. This process usually involves more time and effort to get the vendors to ensure compatibility with Proxmox. Many people, including those at Zendesk, are often reluctant to assure that Proxmox will work with other unfamiliar systems. I rate the initial setup an eight to nine out of ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy.

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Proxmox VE mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Proxmox VE in the Server Virtualization Software category stands at 18.5%, down from 21.5% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

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Key learnings from peers

Last updated Nov 6, 2024

Valuable Features

Proxmox VE offers valuable features such as effortless installation, compatibility with diverse hardware, full and container-based virtualization, and a user-friendly web interface. Users appreciate its open-source nature, active community, high availability, live migration, and comprehensive backup options. It excels in performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, allowing seamless integration, easy virtual machine creation, and management. Proxmox VE delivers strong support for clustering, storage solutions like ZFS and Ceph, and an efficient user interface.

"The documentation and the community support are very helpful."
"Some of the most valuable features of Proxmox VE include great performance, particularly in the container environment, and cost-effectiveness."
"The solution's most valuable feature is that it allows customers to use the power of KVM easily."

Room for Improvement

Proxmox VE requires enhancements in Windows performance, USB handling, and OSx support. Users experience GUI stability issues and complex configurations. Backup processes are slow and lack efficiency. The platform needs better mobile management tools and resource monitoring capabilities. Network and storage management improvements, alongside clearer documentation, are necessary. Users find the virtualization functionality limited, while high availability features need expansion. Integration with other platforms and support for cloud deployments should be prioritized.

"I don't have enough experience to say what can be improved."
"An area that could be improved is the replication of virtual machines from site to site for disaster recovery."
"Proxmox VE editions should be made available to other Linux distributions because they are only attached to Debian."

ROI

Proxmox VE offers users cost-efficiency, often generating a rapid return on investment. Many commended its ability to enhance server capabilities and repurpose existing hardware, driving increased revenue. Users appreciated the minimal costs for licenses and support compared to other options. While direct returns are tough to quantify, the benefits include learning opportunities and operational efficiencies. By utilizing used hardware, many achieved substantial profits, valuing the experience and minimal required adaptation time.

Pricing

Enterprise users find Proxmox VE to be a cost-effective, open-source solution with flexible pricing. The software itself is free, with optional support subscriptions starting at 17 euros per node monthly or around $2,500 annually for comprehensive support. Many users appreciate its affordability compared to VMware or Hyper-V. Although the community version can suffice for experienced Linux users, enterprises may opt for paid support to ensure robust assistance and access to premium updates.

"The solution’s pricing is very fair."
"Since Proxmox is open-source, it's freely available."
"The product is open-source and I rate its pricing an eight out of ten. You need to pay for support and it is costly."

Popular Use Cases

Proxmox VE is used for virtualization in private cloud data centers, application testing, training, and hosting virtual servers. Organizations deploy services using its stable, flexible platform, running SQL servers, Active Directory, and Apache cloud stacks. It offers cost-effective alternatives to VMware, providing a user-friendly interface for managing virtual machines and containers. Proxmox VE enables infrastructure flexibility, high availability, and is favored for hosting internal services and on-premises deployments across various industries.

Service and Support

Proxmox VE's customer service is valued for its comprehensive documentation and robust community support. Many users solve issues through online resources without contacting technical support. Support quality varies, with some finding it adequate while others suggest improvements. Paid support is available but often unnecessary for experienced users, as the open-source community provides quick solutions. The documentation is praised for clarity, although some users encounter challenges with direct support.

Deployment

Proxmox VE's initial setup is generally straightforward, with many noting its simplicity. Some find it complex at first but easier after understanding the interface. Initial deployment often takes a few minutes to a couple of hours. While custom configurations might be challenging, basic setups require minimal time and effort. Many users highlight the ease of installation without needing external assistance, supported by clear documentation and a user-friendly web interface.

Scalability

Proxmox VE demonstrates excellent scalability, easily accommodating additional hosts and resources without licensing requirements. Users find it straightforward to expand, often rating it highly on scalability. Organizations with thousands of users have successfully integrated it into their infrastructure. While some note room for improvement in vertical scaling and automation, Proxmox VE excels in managing clusters and expanding virtual instances. Many appreciate its ability to handle diverse environments, even under varying network and hardware configurations. Some reports suggest scaling issues when managing a large number of virtual servers.

Stability

Proxmox VE is highly stable with minimal issues reported by users. Many note no problems with bugs, crashes, or freezes and emphasize its reliability. Some highlight exceptional long-term stability even on older hardware. While a few mention specific hardware-related performance concerns, the overall feedback indicates a robust platform. Regular updates and improvements are valued. Multiple ratings emphasize high stability, ranging from seven to ten out of ten, indicating confidence in its reliability across various scenarios.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Proxmox VE Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

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Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

Government

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

University

Financial Services Firm

Media Company

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Energy/Utilities Company

Construction Company

Hospitality Company

Insurance Company

Non Profit

Real Estate/Law Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Outsourcing Company

Legal Firm

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Transportation Company

Performing Arts

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Pharma/Biotech Company

Consumer Goods Company

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Learn more about Proxmox VE

Proxmox VE Key Features

The Proxmox VE platform has many powerful features, including:

pen-source software, high-available clusters, command line, fencing, a web-based management interface, flexible storage options, REST API, live/online migration, storage replication stack, software defined storage, virtualized networking, backup and restore, two-factor authentication, role-based administration, and VM templates and clones.

Proxmox VE Benefits

Some of the biggest benefits of Proxmox VE are:

Central management: To manage all tasks of your virtual data center, you can use the central, web-based management interface.
Unique multi-master design: Proxmox VE allows you to carry out maintenance tasks cluster wide, from any node.
Minimize downtime: With the integrated live/online migration feature, you can move running virtual machines from one Proxmox VE cluster node to another, without any downtime or noticeable effect from the end-user side.
Granular access: Using Proxmox VE’s role-based permission management system helps you define granular access to all objects.
Multiple authentication sources: Proxmox VE supports multiple authentication sources, including Linux PAM, an integrated Proxmox VE authentication server, LDAP, Microsoft Active Directory, and OpenID Connect.
Several storage options: The Proxmox VE storage model is very flexible and the web interface allows you to add multiple storage types (LVM Group, iSCSI target, NFS Share, SMB/CIFS, Ceph RBD, Direct to iSCSI LUN, GlusterFS, CephFS).
Collaboration with Ceph: Proxmox VE fully integrates Ceph, giving you the ability to run and manage Ceph storage directly from any of your cluster nodes.
Scheduled backups: With Proxmox VE, backups can be scheduled so that they automatically run on specific days and times, for selectable nodes and guest systems.
IT infrastructure protection: Proxmox VE has a built-in firewall that works to protect your IT infrastructure. The firewall is completely customizable, allowing complex configurations via the GUI or CLI.

Reviews From Real Users

Here is some feedback from some of our users who are currently using the solution:

A PeerSpot user who is a director at a tech services company says, “The most valuable features of Proxmox VE are the ease of containerization. Overall the solution is generic, feature-rich, and has compatibility.”

Another PeerSpot user who is a head of IT operations at a tech services company mentions that "In addition to the virtualization, the firewall and the routing functions that it provides are valuable."

Deepen D., director and CTO at TechnoInfotech, expresses that "The feature that I have found most valuable is that its storage container, LVM, and everything else work out of the box."

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Proxmox VE customers

Municipality of Trento, SwitchMIA, inDenova, Valmeita City Council, Alpha IT AS, Grupo Inversor Veracruzano S.A.P.I. de C.V. (GRIVER), Laut und Schoen, IT-Services - Hamburg e.K., KMI Learning, Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd., Serwise AG