Lots of companies are choosing to simplify their IT infrastructure through virtualisation, and among the various solutions available on the market, VMware is prominent. However, the acquisition of VMware by Broadcom in 2023 has led to an increase in costs, causing Directors of IT systems to wonder whether an alternative is conceivable. Among the options available, German software vendor Proxmox is making a name for itself. Our goal is to compare the two tools, without promoting one over the other, so that you can make the best choice for your business.
Introducing Proxmox VE
Proxmox Virtual Environment (abbreviated to “Proxmox VE” or “PVE”) is an open-source virtualisation platform (AGPLv3 licence) based on theLinux hypervisor KVM, which also offers a Linux container solution with LXC. In addition, paid support is available.
Proxmox VE is suitable for a wide range of virtualisation needs, from small-scale development and test environments to large-scale production deployments in data centres. Its major advantage lies in its ease of use compared with other hypervisors.
Introducing VMware
VMware vSphere is a complete virtualisation platform built on proprietary code, including the ESXi Type 1 hypervisor and the vCenter Server management platform. VMware implements ESXi for high-performance virtualisation directly on physical hardware.
One of the biggest advantages is how automation and artificial intelligence tools are integrated in a robust virtual environment to facilitate large-scale operations.
It’s a sophisticated virtualisation solution complete with a suite of enterprise-level tools such as vMotion for live migration, Distributed Resource Scheduler for workload balancing and vSAN for software-defined storage.
Comparison of features found in Proxmox VE and VMware
Storage options
Here are the details:
| Functionality | Proxmox VE | VMware vSphere |
|---|---|---|
| Software-defined storage (SDS) | Ceph | VMware vSAN |
| File systems | ZFS, CephFS, POSIX file systems | VMFS |
| Storage protocols | iSCSI, FC, NVMe-oF, NFS | iSCSI, FC, NVMe-oF, NFS |
| Backups and georeplication | Not by default | Not by default |
| Snapshots and cloning | Support for ZFS | Supported |
| Scalability options for storage | Upgrade by adding disks or nodes. Flexibility depends on Ceph configuration. | Evolve by adding disks or nodes. |
| Performance optimisation | Caching, cache tiering | Advanced storage performance features with DRS, storage I/O control |
| Deduplication and compression | Supported | Supported |
| SDS licences | Open-source, with optional commercial support | Proprietary, subscription-based |
In addition, a detailed experiment conducted by Blockbridge on VMware and Proxmox storage performance revealed that Proxmox performed very well in terms of IOPS.
In fact, Proxmox VE beat VMware ESXi in 56 of the 57 tests carried out.
Proxmox generated 50% higher peak performance than VMware, while maintaining 30% lower latency and 38% higher bandwidth.
This means that Proxmox significantly outperforms VMware on storage performance at peak load, but the gap narrows under typical load conditions.
Backup and restoration
VMware and Proxmox VE have a lot in common:
- They support full VM backup.
- They support the creation of instant live backups (snapshots) to capture the state of a VM without service interruption.
- They allow you to configure multiple storage locations and define retention policies to manage the backup lifecycle.
- They provide graphical user interfaces (GUI) and command line interfaces (CLI), with the ability to manually execute scheduled tasks and monitor backup status in real time.
- They enable complete restoration of VMs from backups, as well as file-level restoration.
Despite these similarities, VMware and Proxmox VE differ in their approach to backup management:
- Proxmox VE integrates its backup functions directly into its open source platform.
Backups can be scheduled and executed via the pvescheduler.
Proxmox Backup Server offers incremental and live restore functionalities. - While VMware offers native backup capabilities, with vSphere Replication technology for rapid, automated recovery in multi-site environments, it relies heavily on third-party solutions for advanced backup management.
Tools such as Veeam, Commvault and Veritas provide additional features such as flexible backup scheduling, advanced retention policy management, file restore, application object restore, and even instant VM restore.
Veeam announces that it will support Proxmox VE from the third quarter of 2024.
It will offer immutable backups for VMs and will also enable VMs from other platforms, such as VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V, to be restored to Proxmox VE.
Security and updates
Security
Proxmox VE and VMware offer several integrated security features to protect virtualized environments, such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and role-based administration for granular definition and management of user permissions.
Proxmox VE includes an integrated firewall that can be configured at datacenter, node and VM level.
LXC uses Linux security modules such as AppArmor or SELinux.
VMware offers a more comprehensive suite of security tools through its NSX platform and other VMware security products (vRealize Log Insight, vSphere Trust Authority, VMware Site Recovery for disaster recovery). The VMware platform can facilitate compliance with standards such as LPD, RGPD or HIPAA thanks to its enterprise-oriented features.
Updates
With Proxmox VE, updates are managed by the open-source community and are frequently revised and released.
However, Proxmox users need to be proactive in applying updates and managing system patches, as these operations are generally manual.
With VMware, you have an automated system for managing updates and patches via VMware Update Manager (VUM), requiring minimal manual intervention.
In a nutshell:
What about their performance?
Performance and scalability
VM performance
Hardware compatibility
Proxmox VE can be used in test or production environments with locally available hardware (desktop PCs, professional servers) without requiring major investment in new infrastructure, and is compatible with a variety of hardware (support for network cards, storage controllers and other common peripherals).
ESXi is primarily designed for enterprise server environments, and VMware has a strict Hardware Compatibility List (HCL), which means that only certain hardware and configurations are officially supported, guaranteeing optimum performance and stability.
Hypervisor speed
KVM is generally known to be faster in running applications than other hypervisors, according to the SPECvirt-sc2013 reference.
It is generally faster at creating and running servers than ESXi.
However, it should be noted that the difference in speed is not very significant in the context of a regular workload.
Scalability of solutions
Proxmox VE can run on a wide range of hardware.
To set up a high-availability (HA) cluster, a minimum of three nodes is required.
However, Proxmox does not offer hot migration and high availability capabilities as sophisticated as those of VMware ESXi.
VMware ESXi, on the other hand, is renowned for its high scalability and advanced high-availability features, with tools such as vMotion for hot migration of virtual machines, vSphere HA for automatic fault tolerance, and Distributed Resource Scheduler for resource optimization.
The minimum configuration for an HA cluster with VMware requires at least two nodes.
Let’s turn to the crux of the matter: the budget.
Cost and type of license for Proxmox and VMware
Proxmox license model
One of the main advantages of Proxmox VE is the reduction in implementation and operating costs.
Thanks to its open source model, there are no mandatory license fees.
What’s more, Proxmox VE offers a free version of the software, as well as subscriptions starting at around a hundred euros a year for advanced features and user support.
VMware licensing model
Since the Broadcom takeover, two major changes have taken place: firstly, the free version of ESXi is no longer offered.
Secondly, VMware is moving from a perpetual license model to a subscription model for new customers.
Those who have already acquired a perpetual license will keep it, and VMware will provide active support for the duration of the contracts.
Offers are now grouped into packs, the 4 main ones being :
- Cloud Foundation, a complete solution that integrates several VMware technologies to create an integrated hybrid cloud infrastructure and combines server, storage, and network virtualization;
- vSphere Foundation is less comprehensive than VMware Cloud Foundation, but provides the essential tools for virtualization (centralized management and server virtualization);
- vSphere Standard, the basic solution for virtualization, which provides essential functionality and includes vCenter for centralized management;
- vSphere Essentials Plus, designed for small businesses with a bundled license, includes the features needed to manage a small-scale virtual infrastructure.
Cost comparison
Proxmox’s open source model offers significant savings on licensing costs, especially for those who don’t need commercial support.
However, bear in mind that you need skilled professionals to manage updates, which will not be carried out automatically, but manually, and potentially commit a dedicated budget, if you outsource the procedure.
VMware tends to be more expensive, especially for large enterprises that need advanced capabilities and professional support.
Moving to a subscription model can also influence costs, depending on the organization’s specific needs.
Now let’s take a look at their ergonomics.
Easy to use and install
Proxmox VE user interface
Its intuitive web interface makes it easy to manage virtual machines, containers, storage and networks without additional software.
What’s more, Proxmox VE supports role-based management, enabling secure delegation of tasks.
VMware user interface
VMware hasa broader ecosystem and uses vCenter Server as a centralized management tool for all virtual machines.
The interface is designed to control and monitor the entire virtual infrastructure, with advanced features for automation, resource management and performance analysis.
It is also more complex.
Installation process
Proxmox VE is less demanding than ESXi: it can run on an x86 processor with support for hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x/AMD-V). Minimum requirements are 2 CPU cores, 2 GB RAM and 16 GB disk space.
To install, download the Proxmox VE ISO from the official website.
After installation, the system reboots and you can access the Proxmox web interface to complete the configuration.
As for VMware ESXi, it requires 2 CPU cores, a 64-bit processor with support for hardware virtualization, at least 8 GB RAM and 5 GB disk space, just for installation.
More is needed for VM data, logs and production environments (4 CPU cores, 32 GB RAM and disk space).
Its installation process is identical to that of Proxmox VE.
That said, this default installation will certainly be insufficient: to ensure that the system meets your needs, it may be necessary to install additional components or configure virtual networks, for example.
Let’s talk about user support.
Support and community
Support for Proxmox VE
The support service is available by subscription (standard or premium).
The Proxmox customer portal lets you create and manage support tickets.
Extensive documentation is freely available online via the official website.
It covers a wide range of topics, as well as tutorials on advanced features.
It’s free, but a paid support subscription gives access to additional resources.
Support for VMware
VMware stands out for its enterprise-level support offering, which includes robust SLAs, direct technical assistance and comprehensive documentation, available free online, covering not only ESXi and vSphere products, but also integration with other VMware solutions such as NSX, vSAN, and vRealize.
VMware also offers a wider range of paid support, such as training courses.
Community activities and resources
As you’d expect, the dynamics of the Proxmox and VMware communities differ due to the nature of their business models.
Proxmox is an open source project, which fosters a very active and committed community.
Users regularly participate in forums, contribute to the source code and are very responsive.
Numerous guides, wikis and video tutorials are created and shared by the community, including troubleshooting solutions, enriching the unofficial support available to users.
Although VMware is proprietary software, it has a large base of professional users who form an active community, notably via VMware community forums and events such as VMworld.
Indeed, VMware organizes numerous events and conferences, reinforcing community involvement.
Qim info will help you choose between Proxmox and VMware and deploy the chosen solution.
Qim info offers you optimum support for your business in three main areas:
- Collaboration and transparency: we work together to improve team coordination by proposing adapted processes and tools.
We unite teams around a shared vision to facilitate informed decision-making. - Personalized approach: your choice is not just any company’s choice.
Our experts work closely with you to understand your specific needs and the challenges you face, so that we can implement the most appropriate solution. - Multi-disciplinary expertise: with 20 years’ experience, we have developed a wide range of skills in all areas of IT.
Whether you opt for delegation or project mode with a dedicated team, we have the ideal solution for you.
In conclusion, there is no single best solution, and choosing between Proxmox VE and VMware depends on 3 essential criteria:
- Your company’s specific needs,
- Your budget,
- Your support requirements.
Our Cloud & DevOps Solutions team will be happy to help.
