{"id":10436,"date":"2025-07-01T16:21:52","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T14:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/promox-ve-what-it-is-and-how-the-hypervisor-works\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T14:25:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T12:25:43","slug":"promox-ve-what-it-is-and-how-the-hypervisor-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/promox-ve-what-it-is-and-how-the-hypervisor-works\/","title":{"rendered":"Proxmox VE: what it is and how the hypervisor works"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.proxmox.com\/en\/products\/proxmox-virtual-environment\/overview\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.proxmox.com\/en\/products\/proxmox-virtual-environment\/overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Proxmox VE<\/a> (Virtual Environment) is an open-source virtualization platform. It integrates KVM (for VMs), LXC (for containers), native clustering, snapshots, backups, replication, web-based management and support for Ceph for distributed storage. <\/p>\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/proxmox-vs-vmware-which-is-the-best-virtualisation-solution\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"8134\">a genuine alternative to VMware<\/a><\/strong> or Hyper-V, you\u2019ll find everything you need here to work in a professional environment.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Proxmox Virtual Environment works<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each Proxmox node is a bare-metal host running Debian. You can use it as a standalone system or create a cluster with multiple nodes. The interface allows you to:  <\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li>create and manage KVM virtual machines<\/li>\n<li>use LXC containers for lightweight environments<\/li>\n<li>configure storage: ZFS, Ceph, NFS, iSCSI<\/li>\n<li>create backups, snapshots, and replication jobs<\/li>\n<li>manage <strong>high availability<\/strong> (HA)<\/li>\n<li><strong>migrate virtual machines (VMs)<\/strong> between nodes, even while they are running<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The web UI is lightweight and functional, and allows you to do everything without a shell, although those working at scale will find the REST API or integration with tools such as Zabbix, PBS, and Ansible useful. And when it comes to high availability, with <strong>integrated Ceph and a minimum of three nodes<\/strong>, you have a <strong>true hyperconverged infrastructure<\/strong>, with native HA and distributed storage. <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An example of a Proxmox cluster<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2023, we migrated a manufacturing company from a VMware infrastructure, with two hosts and a NetApp SAN, to a <strong>Proxmox HCI cluster<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Hardware: three Supermicro nodes, dedicated 10GbE network, distributed Ceph, and 45 VMs (file servers, business management systems, SQL servers, and virtual desktops).<\/li>\n<li>Setup time: <strong>5 days, with no significant downtime<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Results after 12 months: <strong>zero major outages<\/strong>, costs reduced by 35%, and average <strong>performance improved<\/strong> by 27%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why use Proxmox VE in hyperconverged environments<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Proxmox natively supports HCI, or hyperconverged infrastructure (<a href=\"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/hci-cluster-what-it-is-how-it-works-and-why-to-adopt-it-in-your-it-infrastructure\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"8813\">read the HCI guide<\/a>). All you need is at least three nodes and a reliable network to set up a <strong>distributed cluster <\/strong>in which each node provides compute and storage resources, thanks to Ceph. <\/p>\n\n<p>Key benefits:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li>native redundancy (automatic failover)<\/li>\n<li>linear scalability (add nodes without redesigning)<\/li>\n<li>high-performance, replicated and self-healing storage<\/li>\n<li>a centralized interface, accessible from anywhere<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p>We have already installed<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/scalability-and-resilience-guaranteed-with-server-cluster-infrastructure-ginvest-case-study\/\"> over 65 HCI clusters using Proxmox<\/a><\/strong>: they work reliably, are well-documented, and can be managed by in-house IT teams.<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to choose the Proxmox open-source hypervisor<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Proxmox is the right choice for many organizations, especially if you find yourself in one of the following situations:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n<li>you want to move away from <strong>VMware<\/strong> or are tired of<strong> ever-increasing subscription costs<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>you manage clusters ranging<strong> from two to many nodes<\/strong>, on-premises or in a colocation facility<\/li>\n<li>you need centralized <strong>HA<\/strong>, <strong>replication<\/strong> and <strong>backups<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>you need <strong>scalability<\/strong>, but also complete control<\/li>\n<li>you want an open, well-documented and flexible technical stack<\/li>\n<li>you work in environments where <strong>cost and control<\/strong> are key considerations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if I wanted to set up an HCI cluster?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can. With at least three nodes and a dedicated Ceph network, you can create a fully-fledged hyperconverged cluster. Each node contributes CPU, RAM and storage (Ceph OSDs), all orchestrated via Proxmox. Replication, resilience, self-healing. All with <strong>hardware assembled directly by AXOL Server<\/strong> at our offices in Ivrea (Turin), in the former Olivetti factory, and in Lomazzo (Como).    <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/axol-partner-certificato-proxmox-axol_server_news-2025-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"AXOL Server &#xE8; partner certificato Proxmox\" class=\"wp-image-8577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/axol-partner-certificato-proxmox-axol_server_news-2025-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/axolserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/axol-partner-certificato-proxmox-axol_server_news-2025-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/axolserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/axol-partner-certificato-proxmox-axol_server_news-2025-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/axolserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/axol-partner-certificato-proxmox-axol_server_news-2025-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/axolserver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/axol-partner-certificato-proxmox-axol_server_news-2025.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Is Proxmox stable in a production environment?<\/strong><br\/>Yes. It is used by service providers, businesses, public-sector organizations, and IT firms in mission-critical environments. With a stable network and reliable storage, it is fully production-ready. Take a look at some <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/scalability-and-resilience-guaranteed-with-server-cluster-infrastructure-ginvest-case-study\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"8291\">case studies<\/a><\/strong>.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How do I choose the right hardware for Proxmox?<\/strong><br\/>You can do this yourself using our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/configurator\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5419\">free online configurator<\/a><\/strong>: just follow a few guided steps to select your CPU, RAM, storage, networking, and additional services. Once you\u2019ve finished, you can request<strong> one hour of free consultation<\/strong> with one of our expert Proxmox systems engineers to review the configuration together and tailor it to your specific needs. No obligation, just practical technical support.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Can I use it even if I\u2019m not familiar with Linux?<\/strong><br\/>Yes, the interface is user-friendly. But having a good understanding of Debian and ZFS is a great help when it comes to advanced configurations. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Do you offer certified Proxmox support?<\/strong><br\/>Of course! AXOL Server is <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/axol-server-a-proxmox-certified-partner-for-italy-and-switzerland\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"6111\">Proxmox-certified<\/a><\/strong>. We offer a range of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/support-plans\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1359\">technical support packages<\/a><\/strong>, designed to assist you in every way.  <\/p>\n\n<p><strong>Where can I buy Proxmox VE and Proxmox Backup Server subscriptions?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Directly from AXOL Server. Choose the Proxmox VE or Proxmox Backup Server subscription that best fits your needs, either when purchasing a server cluster or as a standalone option. See <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/proxmox-ve-and-backup-server-subscriptions\/\">Proxmox subscription costs<\/a><\/strong>.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Proxmox VE (Virtual Environment) is an open-source virtualization platform. It integrates KVM (for VMs), LXC (for containers), native clustering, snapshots, backups, replication, web-based management and support for Ceph for distributed storage. If you\u2019re looking for a genuine alternative to VMware or Hyper-V, you\u2019ll find everything you need here to work in a professional environment. How [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":10261,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_nfpndx_meta_title":"Proxmox VE: what it is and how to choose a hypervisor","_nfpndx_meta_description":"Find out what Proxmox is, how it works and why it is a viable alternative to VMware. Real-world experience, tangible benefits and IT tips.","_nfpndx_meta_title_blogname":""},"categories":[140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-proxmox-and-ceph"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10436","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10436"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12096,"href":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10436\/revisions\/12096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/axolserver.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}