What is our primary use case?
Proxmox VE can manage clusters across sites. It is really easy to set up a cluster of products. It has a lot of integrations, and it works flawlessly. It is a very robust solution for any enterprise. Additionally, if needed, you can pay for support, which is much less expensive than VMware.
What is most valuable?
Many of my customers are moving away from VMware because of its acquisition by another company, which has resulted in skyrocketing prices, making it very expensive and viable only for larger enterprises.
Proxmox VE is easy to set up and can be used as off-the-shelf hardware. There is no need for dedicated hardware; it works out of the box with whatever hardware you have. It delivers more performance from the same hardware than VMware. It's faster and more efficient.
What needs improvement?
Some parts of the Proxmox installation are a bit complex. Proxmox relies on the ZFS file system, which can be difficult to understand and configure correctly. There is no documentation or videos to discuss the process.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Proxmox VE for six months.
How are customer service and support?
There is a lot of documentation available for Proxmox VE, including papers, online tutorials, training materials, and free resources.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I did extensive research by myself and tried the standardization tools available on the market, both free and paid. Proxmox is by far the best option. For large enterprises, Proxmox is the preferred choice. Now that VMware has been acquired, many companies are trying to move away from it. I personally face a problem because I use VMware Workstation to visualize my work on my computer.
How was the initial setup?
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.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Proxmox VE is open source and available under the GPLv3 license. If you want, you can pay for a subscription, which will give you access to additional updates, an updated repository for special updates, and support, allowing you to call them for help. However, if you prefer, you don't have to subscribe; you can use the product for free in any environment with no limitations or strings attached.
What other advice do I have?
The cluster feature of Proxmox VE is very useful for us because all of our clients need some form of high availability. They need multiple nodes to shut down nodes for upgrades and move services to other nodes without experiencing downtime. The easy deployment of a web-based management interface is very useful for all our clients. Nobody wants to stay offline these days; everybody wants 24/7 operation. Proxmox VE meets this need cost-effectively.
Over 80% do not actually require continuous uptime. For example, pausing service for maintenance in the middle of the night for an hour or two is usually acceptable.
Proxmox VE does require the normal maintenance of a server. You need to have backups, and Proxmox provides its own free backup tool. It also works with VM, so everybody uses VMs. By using a Linux-based infrastructure and database, the maintenance is minimal. It's very stable—just keep the patches and updates regular, and you are good to go. It's not like a Windows environment, where sometimes things break.
Proxmox VE has robust security features. It can authenticate users independently or integrate with Active Directory and various other authentication services. It can connect to and manage multiple authentication systems seamlessly. In terms of updates, it uses a version-based system connected to both the public and subscription repositories. If you have a paid subscription, you gain access to the proprietary repository, which includes additional patches and fixes. Updates can be scheduled and performed automatically, ensuring the system remains stable and up-to-date. I have been using the system for a while now, and it consistently receives updates without any problems, maintaining its stability.
Proxmox VE is an excellent product. The available documentation might not be very user-friendly, especially for less experienced users. It often assumes that the user already has a certain level of expertise. For someone new to the digitalization world or with less experience, the documentation might not be very helpful. However, for an experienced user, it is easier to navigate and understand.
Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.
