VMware to Proxmox migration
Expert migration services
We migrate production VMware workloads to Proxmox with a phased plan — assessment, pilot, cutover — aimed at minimal downtime and configurations that still make sense after the move.
Move off VMware to Proxmox VE with minimal downtime
Since Broadcom took over VMware, perpetual licences have ended and vSphere is sold only as subscription bundles priced per CPU core. For many organisations, renewal quotes rose sharply for the same infrastructure they already run.
Proxmox VE is a mature open-source virtualization platform built on KVM and Linux containers. It covers what most vSphere estates actually use day to day: clustering, high availability, live migration, shared storage and integrated backup, managed from a single web interface. There is no licence fee to run it, and enterprise support subscriptions are optional.
We plan and run VMware to Proxmox migrations for production environments, from a few hosts to large multi-site estates, with a cutover method designed to keep downtime to a minimum.
Why organisations are leaving VMware for Proxmox
The main trigger is cost predictability. With subscription-only bundles and per-core minimums, a VMware renewal often includes products you do not use, and the price follows core counts rather than workloads. Proxmox VE has no licence cost; if you want the enterprise repository and vendor support, subscriptions are priced per CPU socket and remain optional.
The second is control. Proxmox VE runs on Debian Linux, uses standard open formats (QCOW2 and raw disks, ZFS, Ceph, LVM, NFS, iSCSI) and exposes a complete REST API. Your platform no longer depends on a single vendor's roadmap or licensing decisions.
Proxmox is not the right target for every estate. If your operations are built around deep Microsoft integration, VMware to Hyper-V may be a better fit, and we will tell you so during the assessment.
VMware vSphere vs Proxmox VE at a glance
How the features most estates depend on map from one platform to the other.
| Capability | VMware vSphere | Proxmox VE |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing | Subscription bundles, priced per CPU core | Free to run; optional support subscription per CPU socket |
| Hypervisor | ESXi | KVM virtual machines plus LXC containers |
| Management | vCenter Server | Built-in web interface on every node, no separate appliance, plus REST API and CLI |
| High availability | vSphere HA | Integrated HA manager with Corosync clustering |
| Live migration | vMotion | Live migration between cluster nodes |
| Shared storage | VMFS datastores on SAN, NFS, vSAN | LVM on iSCSI or Fibre Channel SAN, NFS, ZFS, or Ceph for hyperconverged setups |
| Backup | Third-party tools via VADP | Proxmox Backup Server (incremental, deduplicated) or Veeam |
| Workload balancing | DRS | HA groups and resource rules; balancing is less automated than DRS |
What we migrate
A migration is more than copying disks. We cover the whole platform around the virtual machines:
- Virtual machines and their disks, converted from VMDK to Proxmox formats
- Guest drivers: VMware Tools removed, VirtIO drivers and the QEMU guest agent installed
- Networking: port groups and distributed switches rebuilt as Linux bridges, VLANs and bonds
- Storage: existing SAN LUNs presented to Proxmox, or new pools on ZFS or Ceph
- Backup and restore: jobs recreated in Proxmox Backup Server or Veeam, with restore tests
- High availability rules, resource pools, permissions and monitoring
- Documentation and runbooks for your team
Our migration process
The same seven stages on every project, sized to your estate:
Assessment
Full inventory of hosts, VMs, storage, networks and dependencies. You receive a migration report with target sizing and any workloads that need special handling.
Target design
Proxmox cluster architecture, storage layout, network design and backup strategy, validated with your team before anything is built.
Build and pilot
We build the Proxmox cluster alongside VMware and migrate a set of non-critical VMs to prove the conversion, performance and backup path.
Migration waves
VMs move in planned waves grouped by application and dependency. Each VM is converted and restarted on Proxmox in a short, scheduled window, usually outside business hours.
Validation
Application owners test each wave against agreed checks before the next one starts. VMware stays available as a rollback path until sign-off.
Handover
Administration training for your team, documentation and operating runbooks.
Day-two support
Optional monitoring, patching, backup supervision and ongoing Proxmox administration under a managed services contract.
Case study: 1,000 VMs moved to Proxmox in two weeks
- Sector
- Retail, United States
- Scope
- 60 hosts, 1,000 VMs
- Storage
- SAN
- Duration
- Two weeks
- Downtime
- Minimal
A US retailer running 60 VMware hosts and around 1,000 virtual machines on SAN storage asked us to move its estate to Proxmox VE after the change in VMware licensing.
We built the Proxmox cluster alongside the existing environment, reused the SAN, and moved workloads in waves grouped by application. VM restarts were scheduled outside trading hours to keep disruption to stores and business operations to a minimum. The full estate was migrated in two weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Can you migrate from VMware to Proxmox with minimal downtime?
Yes, with planning. Each VM needs a short restart when it starts on Proxmox, so it is not a live migration. We schedule those restarts in waves, outside business hours and around your applications' redundancy, to keep downtime to a minimum. That is how we migrated 1,000 VMs for a retailer in two weeks.
How long does a VMware to Proxmox migration take?
It depends on the number of VMs, their size and your change windows. As a reference, we migrated 60 hosts and 1,000 VMs in two weeks. The assessment gives you a firm timeline before any work starts.
Can we keep our existing SAN?
Usually, yes. Proxmox VE can use iSCSI and Fibre Channel SAN storage through shared LVM, and NFS storage directly. We check compatibility and multipathing during the assessment.
What replaces vSAN?
For hyperconverged storage, Proxmox VE integrates Ceph, which is managed from the same web interface. Ceph needs at least three nodes and a fast dedicated network, which we size during the design stage.
Does Veeam work with Proxmox VE?
Yes. Veeam Backup & Replication supports Proxmox VE, and Proxmox also offers its own Proxmox Backup Server with incremental, deduplicated backups. We recreate your backup jobs and test restores before go-live.
Can VMware and Proxmox run side by side during the migration?
Yes, and that is how we work. Both platforms run in parallel until every wave is validated, which keeps a rollback path open throughout the project.
Is Proxmox VE supported for production?
Yes. Proxmox Server Solutions offers enterprise support subscriptions with access to the stable enterprise repository. We can also provide ongoing administration and support ourselves.
Start with a free assessment
Tell us about your VMware environment. We will review it, identify what needs special handling and give you a realistic migration plan and timeline.