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Proxmox VE vs Xen: What are the differences?
Introduction
Proxmox VE and Xen are both popular virtualization platforms that offer a range of features. While they share some similarities, there are key differences between the two.
Hypervisor Architecture: Proxmox VE uses a hypervisor based on KVM, which allows for efficient virtualization of full operating systems. On the other hand, Xen uses a hypervisor architecture that allows for paravirtualization, which enhances performance by modifying operating systems to run efficiently.
Management Interface: Proxmox VE provides a web-based management interface that allows for easy monitoring and management of virtual machines and containers. On the other hand, Xen provides a command-line interface along with graphical tools like XenCenter for managing and monitoring virtual machines.
Open-Source Support: Proxmox VE is an open-source solution that offers a free community edition, allowing users to benefit from a large community and regular updates. Xen also has an open-source version, but it requires paid support for enterprise-level features and support.
Supported Guest Operating Systems: Proxmox VE supports a wide range of guest operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and BSD. Xen also supports various guest operating systems, but it provides better support for older versions of Linux compared to Proxmox VE.
Live Migration: Proxmox VE supports live migration, allowing administrators to move running virtual machines between physical hosts with minimal downtime. Xen also supports live migration but requires shared storage for this feature to work.
Networking Capabilities: Proxmox VE offers software-defined networking capabilities, allowing users to create virtual networks with firewall, NAT, and other networking features. Xen, on the other hand, provides basic networking capabilities but lacks the advanced features offered by Proxmox VE.
In summary, Proxmox VE and Xen differ in their hypervisor architecture, management interfaces, support options, guest operating system compatibility, live migration capabilities, and networking capabilities.
Pros of Proxmox VE
- HA VM & LXC devices9
- Ease of use8
- Robust architecture7
- Avoid vendor lock-in6
- Free6
- Cluster3
- Backup2