Proxmox VE: Open-Source Virtualization Backed by 45Drives
- Enterprise Type 1 KVM Hypervisor
- Open-Source Replacement to Legacy Vendors
- Integrated Software-Defined Storage & Networking
- No Vendor Lock-in
Proxmox VE: Open-Source Virtualization Backed by 45Drives
Legacy hypervisors have long been trusted for virtualization, offering robust features and ease of use, with a large base of experienced users. However, as proprietary and closed-source platforms, they can carry significant contractual risks and unexpected financial costs associated with vendor lock-in.
Proxmox Virtual Environment (VE) is an open-source hypervisor, offering powerful enterprise-grade virtualization, storage, and networking. It features a simple web-based interface and supports clustering with automatic VM failover for mission-critical operations. However, like many open source solutions, Proxmox VE often lacks a single point of accountability for both hardware and software, turning deployment into a risky DIY project.
45Drives offers a one-stop shop, drop-in replacement for legacy hypervisors. Our solutions tightly integrate carefully selected and tested, enterprise-grade hardware with Proxmox VE to deliver reliable, high-performance virtualization. We serve as your single point of accountability, combining the flexibility of open source with none of the DIY complexity or vendor lock-in.
Open-Source
No vendor lock-in, own your destiny
Type 1 Hypervisor
Bare metal for low latency
Integrated Storage & Networking
Software-defined
KVM & LXC
Kernel-based virtual machines & Linux containers
Web-Based GUI
Easy to use, no Command Line needed
High-Availability
Built-in clustering for VM failover
Easy Live/Online Migration
Between Proxmox VE nodes without downtime
Architecture, Configuration, Training & Support
24/7 access to 45Drives' North American team
Open-Source Freedom: No Vendor Lock-in
Proxmox VE is an open-source hypervisor trusted in enterprise and government environments. Its open-source nature eliminates the contractual risks often tied to proprietary virtualization software, putting control back in your hands.
Type 1 (Bare Metal) Hypervisor for Low Latency Virtual Machines
Proxmox VE is a type 1 hypervisor designed to be installed on bare-metal, providing low latency and high performance VMs. This architecture ensures optimal resource allocation and minimal overhead for your virtualized workloads.
Integrated Storage & Networking
Works seamlessly with open-source software-defined ZFS storage for single servers, and Ceph for highly available clusters. Through software-defined networking (SDN), Proxmox VE can manage advanced networking configurations and multitenancy setups across clusters.
Web-Based Graphical User Interface
Accessible from any modern browser, Proxmox VE's GUI provides a single pane for virtualization management tasks, overview of task history and system logs of all nodes. This includes backup tasks, live migrations, software-defined storage, and VM failover activities.
High Availability for Mission-Critical Uptime
When configured as a cluster with multiple servers, Proxmox VE HA Manager provides instant failover for VMs. No additional software or configuration required as it is included in Proxmox VE as ready-to-use functionality.
Easy Live/Online VM Migration
Move VMs between Proxmox VE cluster nodes without downtime. This reduces downtime in the event a Proxmox VE host within a cluster needs to be taken offline for maintenance or hardware upgrades.
Private Webinar: Learn More About Proxmox VE
Join the 45Drives Enterprise team to learn how Proxmox VE, the powerful open-source hypervisor, can help you move away from the proprietary risks of legacy hypervisors. Request your private webinar now.
Book a Proxmox VE WebinarFeature Parity: Proxmox VE vs. VMware ESXi
With years of experience providing solutions to enterprises and government agencies, we've learned how choosing the right hypervisor is critical to reducing operational risk. The stakes are high, as the virtualization platform directly affects performance, reliability, and flexibility.
While VMware ESXi has long been the default choice for its strong feature set, Proxmox VE delivers the same core capabilities in a transparent, straightforward way. Free from proprietary jargon, Proxmox VE is easy to understand and built for power and flexibility.
VMware ESXi Proprietary Product
Proxmox Equivalent
VMware vSphere Hypervisor
Proxmox VE (KVM/QEMU for full virtualization, LXC for containers)
VMware vCenter Server
Proxmox VE Cluster Manager
VMware vSan
Ceph or ZFS for Proxmox VE
VMware NSX-T Data Center
Proxmox Defined Networking
VMware vRealize Operations
Proxmox VE Monitoring with InfluxDB/Graphite/Grafana
VMware Site Recovery Manager
Proxmox Backup Server
VMware vSphere Distributed Switch
Open vSwitch
VMware vMotion
Proxmox VE Live Migration
VMware Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS)
Proxmox VE HA Groups
VMware High Availability (HA)
Proxmox VE High Availability Cluster
VMware Update Manager
Proxmox VE's Package Management System (Apt)
VMware vCenter Converter
Proxmox VE Upgrade Management
45Drives Proxinator Servers
Purpose-built hardware optimized for Proxmox Virtual Environment with enterprise-grade components and zero vendor lock-in
Enterprise-Grade Components
Non-proprietary hardware built with reliability and performance in mind. North American manufacturing with 16ga cold-rolled steel chassis.
High Compute & RAM
Powerful CPU and memory configurations for demanding VM workloads. Up to 64 cores and 4TB of ECC DDR5 memory.
Hyperconverged NVMe Storage
Direct U.3 NVMe storage for ultra-low latency VM performance. Toolless hot-swap bays in 4, 8, and 32-bay configurations.
GPU Acceleration
Integrated NVIDIA GPU options for AI/ML workloads, rendering, and VDI environments.
Proxinator 2U Hyperconverged
Compute + Storage + GPU
All-in-one virtualization platform with direct NVMe storage and optional GPU acceleration. Ideal for organizations seeking simplified infrastructure.
Proxinator 1U Compute
Compute Only
Dedicated compute server designed to run Proxmox VE alongside separate storage infrastructure. Perfect for disaggregated architectures.
Complete Deployment & Migration Services
From initial architecture to seamless VM migration, our team handles every technical detail
Architecture & Configuration
For organizations transitioning away from VMware, 45Drives provides guidance and support at every stage. We design solutions tailored to each customer's unique use case, aligning with their current infrastructure or plans.
After hardware deployment, our team handles the complete setup of Proxmox VE, storage, and software-defined networking, ensuring a fast, reliable, and confident start to your open-source virtual environment.
Virtual Machine Migration
After the Proxinator solution is fully configured, existing virtual machines can be migrated seamlessly from ESXi or vSphere hosts. Our expert team manages the entire migration process, providing a smooth, turnkey experience from start to finish.
Assessment & Planning
Evaluate workloads and design migration strategy
Data Transfer & Setup
Move VMs and configure Proxmox environment
Testing & Validation
Verify performance and ensure business continuity
Proxmox VE Training
Training your IT team in Proxmox VE puts your organization in control of its virtual environment. It enables faster, more strategic decision-making and supports smooth, reliable operations.
Every 45Drives deployment includes basic training on the Proxmox VE interface. For teams seeking a deeper understanding, we offer advanced training courses, available remotely or on-site.
Explore Training Courses →Continuous Proxmox VE & Storage Support from 45Drives
45Drives is your single point of accountability for open-source solutions, proudly supported from both the United States and Canada. Our North American-based team provides end-to-end expertise in hardware, software, networking, and application interfaces. We offer a wide range of support packages, from basic hardware troubleshooting to fully managed, white-glove service with 24/7 emergency response.
Whether you're in the planning phase, deep into deployment, or maintaining operations long term, our North American support presence ensures your success every step of the way.
Contact Us
Our Dedication to Open Source
As sponsors of the Linux Foundation, Diamond Members of the Ceph Foundation, and principal sponsors of Rocky Linux, we are deeply committed to advancing the open source community and driving innovation.
Brett Kelly
45Drives Technical Director
Ceph Foundation
Board Member
Mitch Hall
45Drives Chief Architect
Ceph Foundation
Board Member
45Drives is an official reseller partner of Proxmox Server Solutions.