Parallels vs Proxmox VE: What are the differences?

Introduction

Parallels and Proxmox VE are two popular virtualization platforms that offer different features and functionalities. Here are the key differences between them:

1. Supported Virtualization Technologies: Parallels primarily focuses on desktop virtualization and supports running multiple operating systems on a single machine. It integrates well with macOS and provides a user-friendly interface with seamless integration of Windows applications. On the other hand, Proxmox VE is a server virtualization platform based on open-source technologies. It supports both containerization with LXC and full virtualization with KVM, providing flexibility and scalability for running virtual machines and containers.

2. Cost and Licensing: Parallels follows a commercial licensing model, where users need to purchase a license to use the software. The cost varies depending on the edition and number of users. Proxmox VE, on the other hand, is an open-source platform and is available free of cost. However, Proxmox also offers a subscription-based support model for users who require additional assistance or advanced features.

3. Management Interface: Parallels provides a user-friendly graphical interface for managing virtual machines and accessing their desktops. It offers features like drag-and-drop file sharing between host and guest operating systems, support for 3D graphics acceleration, and easy application installation. In contrast, Proxmox VE offers a web-based management interface that provides comprehensive control and monitoring of virtual machines, containers, and the entire virtual infrastructure. It includes features like live migration, high availability, and resource allocation management.

4. Community and Support: Parallels has a large user community and offers comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and support resources for its users. It also provides paid technical support options for users who require additional assistance. Proxmox VE, being an open-source platform, has an active community of developers and users who contribute to its development and provide support through forums, mailing lists, and community-driven resources.

5. Backup and Disaster Recovery: Parallels includes built-in backup and restore functionality, allowing users to easily create backups of their virtual machines. It also offers a snapshot feature to capture the VM state at a specific point in time. Proxmox VE offers backup and disaster recovery solutions through its integrated backup system. It supports both full and incremental backups, along with options for replication and snapshot-based backups.

6. Integration and Ecosystem: Parallels integrates well with macOS and provides seamless integration of Windows applications with the host operating system. It also offers integration with cloud storage services like Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive. Proxmox VE, being an open-source platform, can be integrated with various third-party tools and services for monitoring, orchestration, and automation. It has integration options with popular cloud platforms like AWS and Azure.

In summary, the key differences between Parallels and Proxmox VE lie in their focus (desktop vs. server virtualization), licensing model (commercial vs. open-source), management interface (graphical vs. web-based), support options, backup and disaster recovery features, and integration capabilities.