Original: https://www.wundertech.net/proxmox-vs-esxi/
In this article, we will compare Proxmox and ESXi to determine which is the best hypervisor. In fact, Proxmox and ESXi can be nested within each other.
A hypervisor is a type of virtualization software. It creates a virtualization layer that separates RAM, CPU, and other physical resources for use in virtual machines (VMs). This means that the underlying host hardware can run one or more virtual machines independently as clients.
The most practical benefit of using a hypervisor is the ability to virtualize the management layer. There are various hypervisors on the market, but two that can be used in production are Proxmox and VMware ESXi.
Proxmox and ESXi are common considerations for many looking for the right hypervisor. There are differences in performance, pricing, and features between the two. This article will provide a side-by-side comparison of Proxmox and ESXi.
Comparison of Proxmox and ESXi
We will discuss the comparison of Proxmox and ESXi below, but first, let’s understand what Proxmox and ESXi actually are.
What is Proxmox?
Proxmox Virtual Environment (VE) is a Type-1 hypervisor that runs directly on host hardware and is used for guest operating systems. Proxmox is a Debian-based Linux distribution that is completely free. It allows users to experience enterprise-level virtualization across various platforms and is highly compatible with different types of hardware.
Proxmox is open-source and allows users to use KVM virtualization. It provides an easy-to-use web interface for containers, VMs, and related resources across various nodes and clusters.
It is worth noting that the free version of Proxmox does not provide updates and reliability like the paid version. However, in my experience, its reliability has never been an issue.
What is VMware ESXi?
VMware ESXi is also a Type-1 hypervisor that runs directly on system hardware without the need for an operating system (can run from a USB drive). ESXi is the core of the vSphere virtualization suite and the vSphere management portal.
ESXi is a VMkernel-based hypervisor that performs excellently in virtualizing servers while occupying less space compared to other hypervisors. It is also a favorite in enterprise environments and is widely used (with a very high market share).
If you are a home user interested in learning a lot about enterprise-level hypervisors, then ESXi is definitely a great choice for you, although it does have some limitations, which we will cover below.
Features – Comparison of Proxmox and ESXi
Features of Proxmox
Proxmox supports a range of unique server virtualization management features. In terms of compatibility, it is also very friendly to hardware, so if you have an old computer (assuming it supports virtualization, which can be found in the BIOS), you should be able to run Proxmox quite easily.
IT Infrastructure Protection
Proxmox VE has a built-in firewall that protects virtual machines and containers. The Proxmox firewall is highly customizable and allows for complex configurations via CLI or Web GUI.
Scheduled Backups
Proxmox allows users to set scheduled backups for nodes and guests to run automatically at specific dates and times.
Collaboration with Ceph
By integrating Proxmox VE with Ceph, cluster nodes can manage Ceph storage directly.
Multiple Storage Options
The storage model of Proxmox Virtual Environment is very flexible. The customized web interface of Proxmox allows users to add various types of storage such as CephFS, GlusterFS, and NFS shares.
Users also have multiple choices on how to manage virtual machine storage (ZFS, Ext4, LVM, etc.).
Live Migration Feature
Proxmox’s live migration feature allows users to move virtual machines between clusters without experiencing any downtime!
Proxmox VE API
Proxmox provides an API to perform various operations.
Multiple Authentication Sources
OpenID Connect, LDAP, Microsoft Active Directory, Linux PAM, and the integrated authentication server of Proxmox VE can all work together in Proxmox VE.
Of course, you can also use the default settings to manage users and groups on the Proxmox server.
Fine-Grained Access
Proxmox keeps you informed about who has access to what through a role-based permission system.
Multi-Host Design
The multi-host design of Proxmox VE allows users to perform maintenance tasks for the entire cluster from any node.
Central Management System
Proxmox features web-based and centralized management capabilities to manage all tasks of a virtual data center.
Virtual Machine Image Storage
Proxmox allows users to use ZFS file systems, LVM containers, or other shared storage (like iSCSI and NFS) to locally store images, which is very convenient.
Features of VMware ESXi
VMware ESXi supports all the features of Proxmox but excels in many areas as it also includes the following advanced features:
Quick Installation
The quick installation of ESXi allows users to set up their infrastructure extremely quickly. VMware ESXi is lightweight and can boot from a USB flash drive.
Small Footprint
VMware ESXi does not require frequent patching. With a smaller codebase, ESXi reduces the attack surface for external vulnerabilities while ensuring easier maintenance. This is a significant advantage of ESXi, although many users are not aware of it.
User-Friendly Management Tools
VMware has an HTML-5 built-in browser for management. It also allows enterprises to utilize the vSphere Command Line Interface (CLI) for remote management and APIs.
Secure Design
The built-in management portal ensures your data’s security by preventing snooping and other vulnerabilities. VMware ESXi helps users maintain a secure virtual platform from the start through VMware’s extensive logging and auditing capabilities.
Scalable Reliability
A single ESXi hypervisor allows users to run up to 128 virtual CPUs and 120 devices on 6 TB of memory. The high-performance cluster files of ESXi allow for efficient allocation of more storage resources.
Keep in mind that these are features that primarily benefit enterprise users.
Performance – Comparison of Proxmox and ESXi
Both Proxmox and ESXi virtual environments are Type-1 hypervisors that perform excellently across various configurations. However, VMware ESXi offers higher host features and memory than Proxmox VE (though you may need the paid version).
Proxmox provides enterprise-grade utilities for backing up and restoring virtual environments, hosts, and containers that are better than those of ESXi. In terms of backup and restore solutions, Proxmox supports features such as Zstandard compression, validation encryption, deduplication, and incremental backups.
The performance level of ESXi depends on the memory capacity of each host, licensing, and the number of hosts in the cluster. In contrast, Proxmox VE offers the same free performance tier to all users and provides a paid “enterprise” repository designed to offer reliable updates, patches, and support.
The free version of VMware ESXi does not support file-based backup and backup solutions. To access backup solutions in the vCenter application, you need to use native applications. Due to the lack of backup solutions, the free version of VMware ESXi is not recommended for enterprise use.
Clustering – Proxmox vs. ESXi
Proxmox Clusters
Proxmox VE provides clustering installation functionality and supports centralized management of multiple Proxmox servers from a single network management console. This feature is very convenient when you need to manage a large server cluster. Proxmox clusters provide
Multiple Authentication Methods
Centralized Network Management
Easy Migration of Virtual Machines and Containers
Proxmox allows users to create clusters of up to 32 physical nodes and configure them through a single management console.
ESXi Clusters
Creating an ESXi cluster requires VMware vCenter. ESXi clusters allow users to access some of the most powerful features in vSphere, such as Distributed Resource Scheduler, High Availability, vMotion, and Fault Tolerance.
The capacity of VMware ESXi clusters is 1024 datastores and up to 32 ESXi hosts. Since the free version does not support advanced features like High Availability and vMotion, you need to purchase a license to access all cluster features.
Usability – Comparison of Proxmox and ESXi
Proxmox
Since Proxmox integrates graphical user interface tools, users can complete all management tasks in one place without needing separate management tools. The web management interface is very user-friendly and powerful.
Proxmox VE is based on Debian, so if you have experience with any Debian-based Linux distributions (like Ubuntu), it will be easy to learn and use. However, some advanced options require using the command line.
VMware ESXi
VMware ESXi uses the vSphere Web Client for management, maintaining user-friendliness while providing advanced features that allow you to quickly and efficiently start and run virtual machines.
Security – Comparison of Proxmox and ESXi
Security of Proxmox
Proxmox supports automatic backups and advanced security features specified by users for nodes. The hypervisor can run all virtual machines separately, meaning that potential issues with one virtual machine will not affect others.
As an open-source hypervisor, developers can quickly address security vulnerabilities and bugs, but some enterprises shy away from open-source applications.
Security of VMware ESXi
ESXi only runs the services necessary for its operation by default and some firewall ports to enhance its security. It ensures boot security through a Trusted Platform Module, securing the host. Automatic ESXi host management and lockdown mode give ESXi high security out of the box.
Pricing – Comparison of Proxmox and ESXi
Pricing Plans for Proxmox
The free version of Proxmox supports multiple features, but a paid subscription is required to access technical support and the enterprise repository.
License level costs and available features
Community Edition starts at about $100 per year (95 euros), supporting CPU sockets.
Basic Edition starts at about $300 per year (295 euros), supporting CPU sockets. Three support tickets per year.
Standard Edition starts at about $468 per year (445 euros), supporting CPU sockets. Ten support tickets per year.
Premium Edition (CPU sockets) starts at about $935 per year (890 euros). Unlimited support tickets.
Pricing Plans for ESXi
For many, a paid subscription to ESXi is essential, as the free version has many limitations. However, trying the free version is worth it, especially if you won’t be affected by the limitations!
The table below shows the pricing plans for ESXi.
License level costs and available features
Basic Edition starts at $576.96 per year. Basic server virtualization and management. Supports three hosts, with up to two CPUs each.
Standard Edition starts at $1268 per year. Supports basic server consolidation, vMotion, High Availability, vShield Endpoint, and vSphere Replication.
Enterprise Plus starts at $4,350 per year. Supports a range of features, including virtual machine encryption, vSphere Trust Authority, and static data encryption for virtual machine data and disks.
Essential Plus starts at $5,596 per year. Supports three hosts, each equipped with two CPUs. Supports all advanced features.
Conclusion: Proxmox vs. ESXi – Which to Choose?
This article has outlined the comparison between Proxmox and ESXi. If you are a home user with no interest in learning hypervisors for professional purposes, Proxmox will provide you with a great deal of flexibility as it has no restrictions and is easy to use. In most cases, everything can be used without CPU limitations, and you can build a large number of virtual machines and containers on a reliable platform.
ESXi is also a great tool if you are interested in developing skills widely used in IT infrastructure enterprises; ESXi is a good choice. Keep in mind that the free tier has many limitations (although you may not need/want any paid features).
Where ESXi excels over Proxmox is its market share. According to a recent analysis, ESXi has a market share of 50.19%, while Proxmox has only 0.22%. If you want to learn about hypervisors, this is a big deal for your career, as ESXi is the undisputed winner, and the skills learned will translate into real-world opportunities. Unfortunately, Proxmox is too small to provide value on a large scale.
Thank you for reading the article about Proxmox vs. ESXi. If you have any questions about Proxmox and ESXi, please leave a comment!
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