Proxmox Virtual Environment vs OpenMetal Hosted Private Cloud

OpenMetal is a leading provider of automated infrastructure, offering a fusion of private cloud, public cloud, and bare metal solutions. Their Hosted Private Cloud offering is built on OpenStack and Ceph, providing a robust and scalable platform for businesses of all sizes.

Pricing

OpenMetal offers flexible pricing models, including hourly billing and long-term agreements with up to a 5-year price lock. They also provide an egress pricing calculator to help users estimate their egress costs. This allows businesses to optimize their spending and avoid unexpected bills.

Support

OpenMetal’s support philosophy centers around close collaboration and mutual success. They provide dedicated support teams, including an account manager, account engineer, and executive sponsor, to ensure customer satisfaction. They also offer Slack for engineer-to-engineer support, fostering direct communication and quick resolution of issues.  

OpenMetal has been recognized for its exceptional support and customer service. For example, they have been praised for their “culture of aligning their team with our goals”. This commitment to customer success sets them apart from many other infrastructure providers.  

Use Cases

OpenMetal’s private cloud solutions are suitable for a wide range of use cases, including:

• Hosting and public cloud providers: OpenMetal’s infrastructure and features are well-suited for hosting providers who need a scalable and reliable platform to offer cloud services to their customers.
• Colocation alternative: Colocating directly within a data center has traditionally offered several benefits, including greater control over hardware and potentially significant savings in the long term. However, it also comes with challenges including high initial and ongoing costs. OpenMetal’s hosted private cloud allows businesses to rapidly scale with low starting investment and minimal operational overhead.
• Large deployments: OpenMetal’s on-demand fleet and dedicated support team can handle complex infrastructure needs and large-scale deployments.

Proxmox Virtual Environment (Proxmox VE) is a powerful open source server virtualization platform that combines KVM for virtual machines and LXC for containers. It provides a comprehensive solution for managing virtualized environments, with a focus on flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

Key Features

Proxmox VE offers a range of features, including:

• Support for various operating systems: Proxmox VE allows you to run various operating systems within virtual machines, including Windows and different Linux distributions.
• Flexible storage options: Proxmox VE supports a wide range of storage technologies, including local storage, NFS, iSCSI, Ceph, directory, LVM, GlusterFS, and ZFS over iSCSI. This gives users more choices for their specific needs and preferences.
• Rolling release model: Proxmox VE follows a rolling release model, with regular updates and security enhancements. It’s recommended to use the latest stable version to benefit from the latest features and bug fixes.

Support

Proxmox primarily offers community support to all through its forum and mailing lists. However, they also provide more personal support options with different levels of service, including Basic, Standard, and Premium. These subscriptions offer access to the Proxmox Enterprise Repository, which provides stable and reliable software updates.

Use Cases

Proxmox VE is a popular choice for various use cases, including:

• Homelabs: Proxmox VE is a popular choice for homelab setups due to its cost-effectiveness and flexibility. Users can experiment with different operating systems and applications in a virtualized environment without significant investment.
• Small and medium businesses: Proxmox VE can be a cost-effective solution for small and medium businesses that need a virtualization platform without the high licensing costs of proprietary solutions.
• Educational institutions: Proxmox VE is often used in educational settings to provide students with hands-on experience with virtualization technologies.

OpenMetal and Proxmox are both viable and trusted options for building a private cloud, but they cater to different needs and preferences.

OpenMetal is a good choice for those who:

• Want a hosted, turnkey solution with predictable pricing and uptime guarantees.
• Need a highly scalable and performant cloud environment with integrated storage and networking.
• Value dedicated support and SLAs.

Proxmox is a good choice for those who:

• Prefer a more DIY approach with greater control over hardware and software choices.
• Have the technical expertise to manage their own virtualization environment.
• Want a highly cost-effective solution with the flexibility to fully customize nearly everything about their setup, including hardware.

The choice between OpenMetal and Proxmox involves trade-offs. OpenMetal’s hosted approach offers convenience and agility, but it comes at a higher cost. Proxmox’s DIY approach provides greater flexibility and control, but it requires more technical expertise and may not be suitable for all users.

For users who prioritize convenience, scalability, and ease of use, OpenMetal is a strong contender. For those who value low costs, high customization and control, and have the technical skills to manage their own environment, Proxmox is a viable alternative.