Proxmox VE vs XenServer: What are the differences?

Proxmox VE and XenServer are both popular virtualization platforms, each offering different features and capabilities. Let's discuss the key differences between Proxmox VE and XenServer.

1. Hypervisor Type: Proxmox VE uses the Linux Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) as its hypervisor, while XenServer utilizes the Xen hypervisor. This difference in hypervisor type affects the way virtual machines are managed and overall performance.

2. Management Interface: Proxmox VE provides a web-based management interface where users can easily manage their virtual machines, containers, and storage. On the other hand, XenServer offers XenCenter, a Windows-based management application that allows users to control and monitor their virtual infrastructure.

3. License Type: Proxmox VE is an open-source virtualization platform, and therefore it is free to use with optional subscription-based support. XenServer, however, is a proprietary product that requires a commercial license for full functionality. This distinction may affect the cost considerations for organizations.

4. High Availability: Proxmox VE supports High Availability (HA) clustering, allowing multiple hosts to work together, automatically migrating virtual machines in the event of a failure. XenServer also offers HA capabilities, ensuring continuous availability of virtual machines by enabling failover to other hosts in the cluster.

5. Supported Operating Systems: Proxmox VE provides a wide range of supported guest operating systems, including various Linux distributions, Windows Server, and more. XenServer also supports numerous operating systems, but it focuses primarily on supporting Windows and Linux operating systems.

6. Backup and Restore: Proxmox VE offers built-in backup and restore functionality, allowing users to easily back up their virtual machines, containers, and configurations. XenServer does not provide native backup and restore capabilities out of the box, and users need to rely on external tools or third-party solutions.

In summary, Proxmox VE, an open-source solution, integrates virtualization (KVM) and containerization (LXC) in a unified platform with a web-based management interface. XenServer, developed by Citrix, focuses on enterprise virtualization, providing advanced features like live migration and centralized management for virtual machines, making it suitable for large-scale and mission-critical virtualization deployments.