Virtualization Comparing: Proxmox(kvm) vs ESXi (VMware) vs Hyper-V

Often there is a question about virtualization in small and medium companies with limited resources.
which virtualization ( Proxmox (kvm) vs ESXi (VMware), vs Hyper-V) solution is better suited for small and medium companies with limited resources

Hyper-V

When comparing Hyper-V, Proxmox (KVM), and ESXi (VMware), you need to understand that Hyper-V is not a virtualization administration system, but a virtualization method. For this reason, we compared Hyper-V with the “Hv Manager” utility, as Hyper-V does not have browser-based tools by default.

Benefits of Hyper-V

  1. Flexibility of migrations of virtual machines and templates.

Since this is Windows, the directory structure and storage of virtual machines is very convenient for creating copies and migrations, compared to others.

1.1. There are utilities for synchronizing and transferring VMs to Amazon, etc.

  1. Full support for Microsoft software RAID.
  2. Licensing: Windows Server Datacenter and Hyper-V Server 2019.
  3. Embedded Windows 7 and above.
  4. Additional Software.

5.1. Full or partial support for Windows programs.

Disadvantages and features of Hyper-V

  1. Virtualization is targeted mainly for Windows virtualization.
  2. Hard to forward in VMs: the physical hardware of the expansion board’s video card.
  3. There is no web interface out of the box, it can be installed separately.

web interfaces Hyper-V:

Experience with Hyper-V:

We like the migration of virtual machines—it takes practically two clicks.

Configuring virtual network cards is very simple, unlike Proxmox, where you have to manually assign VLANs.

Proxmox(kvm) 

It is a more complete tool than the virtualization method.
Proxmox is usually used when just getting acquainted with virtualization.
For it is easy to install and configure at first glance.

Benefits of Proxmox(kvm) 

  1. Web interface out of the box.
  2. Easy porting of hardware in VM, but some hardware requires drivers mostly for PCI devices.
  3. Simple, understandable, extensive VM settings inside the server, differences from Hyper-V.

Disadvantages and features of  Proxmox (kvm) 

  1. Virtualization is optimized mainly for Linux virtualization.
  2. Difficult migration of VMs and LAN, which can take several weeks per couple of VMs.
  3. Few up-to-date drivers.

Experience with Proxmox (kvm):

I had several unpleasant experiences with Proxmox when we moved our servers from one location to another.
After the relocation, the network interface configuration was completely messed up, and, most frustratingly, some virtual machines (including Git servers) stopped working properly.
A similar issue also occurred after an unexpected power outage.

ESXi (VMware)

Benefits of ESXi (VMware)

  1. Web interface out of the box.
  2. Easy forwarding of hardware, PCI, USB, etc. devices.
  3. The fastest and most optimized virtualization platform.
  4. More settings than Proxmox.

Disadvantages and features of ESXi (VMware)

  1. License and cost per server are expensive ($995-$11,350 per year).
    (The information is already out of date, the rates have recently changed and become more expensive)
  2. Poor hardware compatibility, only works on certain servers.
  3. No practically third-party software.

Experience with ESXi (VMware):
Our colleagues encountered some issues in VMware related to hardware compatibility.