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Why I Chose Proxmox: From Single Host to Proper Virtualization

· 3 min read
BankaiTech
BankaiTech
Homelab Enthusiast & Self-Hosting Advocate

Before Proxmox, all my services ran on a single host with no isolation. One bad update could take down everything. Here's why I chose Proxmox and how virtualization transformed my homelab.

The Problem: Everything on One Host​

My original setup was simple but fragile:

  • Docker containers running directly on the host OS
  • No isolation between services
  • One kernel panic = entire homelab down
  • Updates were terrifying
  • No easy way to snapshot or rollback

It worked, but it wasn't sustainable.

Why Virtualization?​

Moving to a hypervisor provides:

  • Isolation - Problems in one VM don't affect others
  • Snapshots - Test changes safely, rollback instantly
  • Resource management - Allocate CPU/RAM per workload
  • Flexibility - Run different OSes side by side
  • Better backups - Backup entire VMs easily

Options I Considered​

VMware ESXi​

The enterprise standard, but in 2023 Broadcom acquired VMware and discontinued the free ESXi hypervisor. Even before that, the free tier had limitations that made it less appealing for homelabs.

Proxmox VE​

Open source, free, and actively developed. Supports both VMs and LXC containers. This is what I went with.

Other Options​

  • Hyper-V - Windows-only, still need a Windows license
  • XCP-ng - Solid option, but smaller community
  • Unraid - Great for storage-focused builds

Why Proxmox Won​

1. It's Truly Free (and Open Source)​

Proxmox VE is free to use without artificial limitations. The paid subscription gets you enterprise support and access to the stable repository, but the free tier is fully functional.

2. Built-in Container Support​

Proxmox supports both VMs and LXC containers out of the box. Running lightweight services in containers instead of full VMs saves significant resources.

# Create a container from template
pct create 100 local:vztmpl/ubuntu-22.04-standard_22.04-1_amd64.tar.zst \
  -hostname mycontainer \
  -memory 2048 \
  -cores 2 \
  -rootfs local-lvm:8

3. Web-Based Management​

The Proxmox web UI is modern and capable. No need for special client software—just a browser.

4. Excellent ZFS Integration​

Native ZFS support means I can create pools, snapshots, and replications directly from the UI.

5. Clustering is Free​

Want to cluster multiple nodes? It's included. No additional licensing required.

My Setup Now​

After migrating to Proxmox:

  • Separate VMs for different workloads (media, networking, development)
  • LXC containers for lightweight services
  • Snapshots before updates - no more fear
  • Easy backups to NAS storage
  • GPU passthrough to a dedicated VM

The difference is night and day. I can experiment freely knowing I can roll back in seconds.

Getting Started​

If you're still running everything on bare metal, consider making the switch. Check out my Proxmox installation guide for a step-by-step walkthrough.

Still running everything on a single host? Made the switch to virtualization? Share your experience on Discord!