Proxmox Virtual Environment and Backup Server - Comprehensive Licensing Overview

Promox in modern era

In today's world of virtualization and data management, Proxmox Virtual Environment (VE) and Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) represent cutting-edge solutions for modern data centers and IT infrastructure. Let's explore in detail the licensing and support options these systems offer, including the benefits of combining them with local support.

Basic Licensing Model

Proxmox offers two fundamental licensing models that cover various organizational needs. The Proxmox VE Community Edition represents a free version available under the GNU AGPL v3 license. This version includes all key virtualization platform features and provides access to updates through the Community repository. It's an ideal choice primarily for testing and non-critical deployments where professional support isn't required.

For more demanding environments, the Enterprise Edition is available. This paid version not only provides access to the Enterprise repository but also includes guaranteed security updates and stable tested packages. Enterprise license prices start at 95 EUR per year per CPU socket, representing a reasonable investment given the services and support provided.

Professional Proxmox Support

Proxmox offers two main service levels for professional support. Basic Support is designed for smaller deployments and includes email support during business hours with guaranteed next business day response. It includes access to the Enterprise repository and basic technical assistance that covers most common use cases.

For more demanding environments, Standard Support is available. This support level extends the basic package with telephone support and reduces the response time to just 4 hours during business hours. Customers receive priority problem resolution, which is crucial especially for business-critical systems where every minute of downtime can mean significant losses.

Synergy with Local Support

The possibility of combining official Proxmox support with a local partner represents significant added value. Local support brings several key advantages: communication in the local language, detailed knowledge of the local environment, and the possibility of physical on-site interventions. A local partner can also assist with infrastructure planning and implementation, and thanks to their proximity, often offers faster response times than remote support.

Proxmox Backup Server as a Comprehensive Solution

Proxmox Backup Server operates on a similar licensing model to Proxmox VE, offering both Community and Enterprise versions. The PBS license is independent of Proxmox VE, allowing flexible combinations according to organizational needs. Cost-effective packages are available for customers using both solutions, optimizing the total infrastructure costs.

Recommendations for Different Types of Organizations

For small organizations, the optimal choice might be combining the Community edition with local support, which ensures basic implementation, monitoring, and assistance in problem-solving. Medium-sized companies often choose Enterprise licensing with Basic support, complemented by local partner services for quick resolution of common issues and regular system maintenance.

Large companies typically require comprehensive solutions in the form of Enterprise licensing with Standard support. In this case, local support is extended with a dedicated management team and SLA guaranteed by the local partner. This combination ensures maximum system availability and reliability while maintaining reasonable costs.

Conclusion

Choosing the right licensing model and support level is crucial for the long-term success of a virtualization solution. The combination of official Proxmox support with a local partner creates a robust ecosystem that can effectively respond to various operational situations and provides optimal price-to-performance ratio for organizations of all sizes.