Proxmox vs XCP-ng: Which Hypervisor is Best in 2024?

The current Broadcom acquisition of VMware is creating uncertainty around the future of vSphere and other VMware products, with the latest change being the end of perpetual licences. With such a key shift underway in the virtualization space, many businesses are exploring alternative solutions to VMware. Two prevalent open-source options that often emerge in this debate are XCP-ng and Proxmox.

In this article, we will dive deep into the world of Proxmox and XCP-ng, comparing their features, performance, management capabilities, and open-source nature. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, you will be able to make an informed choice on which virtualization platform best suits your networking needs.

So, let’s embark on this journey to find the ultimate winner in the Proxmox vs XCP-ng battle! But first, we’ll look at exactly what XCP-ng and Proxmox are afore comparing XCP-ng vs. Proxmox.

Also Read: VMware Alternatives: 8 Best Virtualization Solutions for 2024

Proxmox VE: A Popular Home lab and SMB Choice

Let’s start with Proxmox, as it is absolutely one of the most popular virtualization platforms for home lab and small office/home office (SOHO) users. Polls conducted on virtualization forums constantly show Proxmox topping the list when it comes to personal and non-professional use cases. There are worthy reasons for its popularity in these circles.

Key Features of Proxmox:

• Proxmox supports both virtual machines (VMs) and containers, allowing you to run various operating systems simultaneously.
• Several Authentication Sources Proxmox VE has an integrated authentication server with numerous authentication sources including the OpenID Connect authentication protocol, LDAP, Microsoft Active Directory, and Linux PAM.
• The storage options of the Proxmox virtual environment are very flexible. The web interface of Proxmox allows users to add multiple storage types, such as CephFS, GlusterFS, SMB/CIFS, iSCSI, and NFS shares (which can also be used for backing up VMs or Containers).
• IT Infrastructure Protection & Scheduled Backups with Proxmox VE by using a built-in firewall.
• User-Friendly Web Interface makes it easy to create, manage, and monitor your virtualized environment.
• High Availability options, ensuring continuous uptime and minimizing downtime.
• Backup and Restore options enable you to protect your data and applications.
• Granular Access & Collaboration with Ceph giving users access to and control over Ceph storage directly from their cluster nodes. Users are able to define granular access to all objects using Proxmox VE’s role-based permission management system.

Proxmox is a comprehensive virtualization platform that empowers organizations with the flexibility and scalability required for modern IT environments. With its powerful features and user-friendly interface, Proxmox is a popular choice for businesses of all sizes.

Also Read: Proxmox vs VMware ESXi: Which One Should You Choose?

XCP-ng: Stability, Scalability and Support

XCP-ng, an open-source hypervisor that addresses some of Proxmox’s potential shortcomings for business use cases. XCP-ng is a drop-in replacement for Citrix XenServer that maintains near feature parity while being fully open source and non-proprietary.

Whether you are running a small business or dealing a large-scale data center, XCP-ng offers the tools and capabilities to streamline operations and deliver optimal performance.

Key Features of XCP-ng:

• Multi-Server Management enables you to manage, monitor, and administer all of your data and infrastructure using a single agentless web interface.
• Live VM Migration allows you to migrate your virtual machines (VMs) live with little downtime.
• Live patching allows you to patch the XCP-hypervisor without suspending or shutting down VMs. You also aren’t forced to migrate your VMs from the host.
• Storage Migration enables you to move your virtual disk within and across the resource pools. It also helps you adapt, maintain, and administer your storage and infrastructure without downtime.
• Accelerated Performance XCP-ng works with the Xen Orchestra Web UI and XCP-ng Center (Windows-based), allowing you to manage, monitor, and administer all your data and infrastructure from a single interface.

By leveraging XCP-ng, organizations can unlock the full potential of their infrastructure, harnessing the power of virtualization to drive efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.

Pricing Plans: XCP-ng vs. Proxmox

The free version of Proxmox supports numerous features, but you must have a paid subscription to access technical support and enterprise repositories.

The pricing plans of XCP-ng don’t have feature restrictions or license fees. You only pay for support. Subscription costs are affordable even for medium-sized businesses. And the open-source nature means self-support is always possible as well.

Key Factors to Consider

Flexibility

Proxmox provides a very flexible and customizable Debian-based environment, perfect for experimenting and learning.

XCP-ng focuses more on stability and scalability out of the box.

Ease of Use

Proxmox’s GUI installer and streamlined interface make it simpler to get up and running quickly.

 XCP-ng /ZO necessitates more initial configuration.

Scalability

XCP-ng has proved itself capable of huge deployments with thousands of VMs.

Proxmox’s abilities at gigantic scales remain relatively untested.

Support Options

Commercial 24/7 support is available for XCP-ng through Vates.

Proxmox only offers limited online community help during business hours.

Suitability

Proxmox bests for home labs, non-profits and small businesses.

 XCP-ng targets large, diverse enterprise deployments with round-the-clock operations.

Total Cost of Ownership

Proxmox remains free to use without limits. But, Proxmox offers paid plans, which come with stable updates as well as limited support.

XCP-ng support subscriptions become more worthy at larger scales.

For elastic tinkering, personal learning or small deployments, Proxmox offers an outstanding free solution. However businesses requiring serious scalability, high availability, and commercial support would be best served by XCP-ng, backed by the expertise of the Vates team. Both remain excellent options, depending on specific virtualization needs and priorities.

Also read: VMware Alternatives: 8 Best Virtualization Solutions for 2024

Key Differences Between XCP-ng and Proxmox

The main difference between XCP-ng and Proxmox is that XCP-ng uses Xen Hypervisor and is built on CentOS, while Proxmox uses KVM and is built on Debian GNU/Linux. These are substantial differences when it comes to user interaction and the decision on which to use can solely be based on operating system comfort in certain cases.

The chart below highlights key differences summary between XCP-ng vs. Proxmox.

	XCP-ng	PROXMOX
Based On	Derived from XenServer, a commercial type-1 hypervisor product by Citrix.	Based on Debian, a popular Linux distribution.
Virtualization Type	Primarily a Xen-based type-1 hypervisor. Provisions paravirtualization and full virtualization.	Uses KVM and container-based virtualization with LXC.
Interface	Primarily managed via Xen Orchestra or CLI, but also has a basic GUI.	Provides a web-based GUI and CLI for management.
Backup	Provides a series of backup options via Xen Orchestra, including continuous replication.	Supports snapshot, backup, and live migration.
Storage	Supports local storage, NFS, iSCSI, and Fiber Channel.	Supports local storage, NFS, iSCSI, Ceph, and GlusterFS.
Networking	Provides network bonding, VLANs, and the option for software-defined networking with Open vSwitch.	Offers network bonding, VLANs, and software-defined networking with Open vSwitch.
High Availability	High availability can be achieved using clustering and pool features.	High availability is supported with Proxmox VE Cluster.
Community & Support	Open-source with active community support. Commercial support is available.	Open-source with a strong community. Commercial support is available.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when comparing Proxmox VE and XCP-ng, it is important to consider the distinctive strengths and differences of each platform. Proxmox VE stands out for its user-friendly management interface, making it accessible for users of all skill levels. On the other hand, XCP-ng offers advanced features and scalability, making it suitable for complex environments.

When deciding between Proxmox VE and XCP-ng, it is critical to evaluate specific needs, available resources, and personal preferences. Proxmox VE’s ease of use and intuitive interface make it an ideal choice for those seeking simplicity and streamlined management. Conversely, if advanced features and scalability are of utmost importance, XCP-ng may be the preferred option.

It is suggested to thoroughly assess your virtualization requirements and conduct testing on both platforms to determine which one best aligns with your needs. Whether you prioritize user-friendliness or advanced features, both Proxmox VE and XCP-ng offer robust virtualization solutions that can enhance your infrastructure’s performance and efficiency.

Cheers for checking out the article on XCP-ng vs. Proxmox. If you have any questions on XCP-ng vs. Proxmox, please leave them in the comments below!

FAQ’s

WHAT IS Proxmox VE?

Proxmox VE is a comprehensive open-source platform for enterprise virtualization that offers a web interface for easy management of virtual machines (VMs) and containers. It also provides tools for software-defined storage and networking, high-availability clustering, and more.

WHAT IS XCP-ng?

XCP NG is a turnkey open-source hypervisor built on the foundation of XenServer. It offers a feature-rich product without limitations and provides all its code on GitHub, letting transparency and community contributions.

WHICH VIRTUALIZATION PLATFORM IS BETTER SUITED FOR MY NEEDS?

The choice between Proxmox VE and XCP NG depends on your particular needs, resources, and preferences. It is recommended to assess your requirements and test both platforms to determine the best fit for your virtualization needs.

WHAT ARE THE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR RUNNING PROXMOX?

To run Proxmox, your system must have a 64-bit processor with virtualization extensions (Intel VT/AMD-V), a minimum of 4GB RAM, and sufficient storage space with a minimum of 32GB recommended.

SHOULD I CHOOSE SSD OR HDD FOR PROXMOX INSTALLATION?

The choice between SSD and HDD for Proxmox installation depends on your budget, performance requirements, and storage requirements. SSDs offer quicker data access and improved system responsiveness, while HDDs are more affordable and provide larger storage capacities.