KVM vs Proxmox VE: What are the differences?

KVM and Proxmox VE are both open-source virtualization solutions that offer different features and functionality. Here are the key differences between the two:

1. Architecture: KVM is a kernel-based virtual machine hypervisor that is built into the Linux kernel. It leverages the features of the host operating system to provide hardware virtualization. Proxmox VE, on the other hand, is a complete virtualization management solution that combines KVM and container-based virtualization technologies.

2. User Interface: Proxmox VE provides a web-based user interface that allows users to manage virtual machines, containers, storage, and networking resources from a centralized dashboard. KVM, on the other hand, does not provide a built-in user interface and requires users to interact with it through command-line tools or third-party management tools.

3. High Availability: Proxmox VE includes built-in high availability features that allow virtual machines and containers to be automatically migrated to other nodes in the cluster in the event of a hardware failure. KVM does not provide built-in high availability and requires additional configuration and setup to achieve similar functionality.

4. Community and Support: Both KVM and Proxmox VE have active communities and provide support through forums, documentation, and community-driven resources. However, Proxmox VE offers additional commercial support options and enterprise features for users who require professional assistance.

5. VM Snapshots: Proxmox VE supports creating snapshots of virtual machines, allowing users to capture the state of a virtual machine at a specific point in time and roll back to that state if needed. KVM does not have built-in snapshot capabilities and requires manual management of disk images for similar functionality.

6. Networking: Proxmox VE includes advanced networking features, such as VLAN tagging, bridged networking, and software-defined networking (SDN) capabilities. KVM also supports these features but requires additional configuration and setup.

In summary, KVM and Proxmox VE differ in their architecture, user interface, high availability features, support options, snapshot capabilities, and networking capabilities. While KVM is a kernel-based virtual machine hypervisor, Proxmox VE provides a complete virtualization management solution that combines KVM and container-based virtualization technologies.