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Proxmox vs OpenShift – Virtualization vs Containerization

Nov 25th, 2025 | 7 min read

As businesses evolve with modern workloads, choosing the right infrastructure platform is more important than ever. Proxmox and OpenShift represent two distinct approaches to managing workloads: Proxmox focuses on simplifying virtualization with its integrated management of VMs and containers, while OpenShift provides a robust solution for container orchestration at scale. 

Understanding how these platforms differ in their approach to managing infrastructure will help you make the right choice based on your organization’s specific needs.

Proxmox for Virtualization and Containers

Proxmox is an open-source platform that combines KVM (for full virtualization) and LXC (for container-based virtualization). It allows users to manage both virtual machines and containers from a single interface, making it a versatile solution for hybrid cloud environments. 

Proxmox’s simplicity and scalability make it ideal for small-to-medium-sized businesses that need a unified platform to manage different types of workloads.

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Key Features of Proxmox

Proxmox provides a range of features designed to streamline virtualization and container management.

  • Supports both KVM for virtualization and LXC for container management.
  • High availability clustering to ensure continuous uptime for workloads.
  • Built-in backup and restore capabilities for data protection.
  • User-friendly web interface for easy management and monitoring.

Proxmox for Hybrid Cloud Environments

Proxmox is ideal for businesses looking to manage hybrid environments that combine virtual machines and containers.

  • Easily integrates with existing infrastructure and cloud setups.
  • Allows for seamless management of both VMs and containers in one platform.
  • Offers flexibility in scaling resources based on business needs.
  • Reduces overhead with an open-source, cost-effective solution.

Scalability and Performance with Proxmox

Proxmox offers excellent scalability and performance, making it suitable for businesses that require flexibility in expanding their infrastructure.

  • Efficiently scales with clustering for both VMs and containers.
  • Provides excellent performance for enterprise workloads with optimized resource allocation.
  • Supports multi-node setups for high availability and fault tolerance.
  • Reduces resource wastage with efficient containerization and virtualization technologies.
Proxmox vs OpenShift infographics
Proxmox vs OpenShift

OpenShift for Containerized Application Management

OpenShift is an enterprise-grade container orchestration platform based on Kubernetes. It enables businesses to deploy, manage, and scale containerized applications at scale. With integrated tools for continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD), monitoring, and security, OpenShift provides a comprehensive solution for managing cloud-native applications. 

This makes it ideal for organizations looking to optimize their containerized workloads with enterprise-level automation and security.

Core Features of OpenShift

OpenShift provides a robust platform for managing and scaling containerized applications with integrated tools and services.

  • Built on Kubernetes, offering powerful container orchestration and management features.
  • Integrated CI/CD pipelines automate the application lifecycle, speeding up deployment.
  • Includes built-in security features like role-based access control (RBAC) and network policies.
  • Manages multiple OpenShift clusters across hybrid or multi-cloud environments.

Why OpenShift is Ideal for Enterprise Applications

OpenShift provides advanced security, automation, and scalability, making it ideal for large-scale enterprise applications.

  • Advanced security features to ensure data protection and secure application access.
  • Scales containerized applications easily across clusters and environments.
  • Built-in automation reduces manual intervention and increases operational efficiency.
  • Ensures high availability with self-healing, load balancing, and automated scaling of workloads.

How OpenShift Drives Modern App Development

OpenShift accelerates application development by providing developers with an integrated platform for continuous integration and deployment.

  • Provides tools to streamline development, testing, and deployment for faster release cycles.
  • Efficiently manages cloud-native applications in containerized environments.
  • Optimizes resource allocation to minimize waste and improve performance.
  • Seamlessly integrates with public and private clouds for flexible deployments.

Proxmox vs OpenShift – How They Differ

Proxmox and OpenShift serve different purposes in the world of infrastructure management. Proxmox is focused on managing virtualized workloads, while OpenShift is designed for orchestrating containerized applications. Below is a detailed comparison of the two:

CategoryProxmoxOpenShift
Primary PurposeVirtual machine and container managementContainer orchestration and management
Technology BaseKVM for VMs, LXC for containersKubernetes-based container orchestration
Ideal Use CasesVirtualized environments, hybrid cloudCloud-native applications, microservices
Deployment ModelsPrivate cloud, on-premisesMulti-cloud, hybrid, on-premises
Core ComponentsVirtual machines, LXC containersPods, Nodes, Deployments, Services
ScalabilityScales VMs and containersScales containerized applications across clusters
Storage ManagementVM storage, container storage managementPersistent storage for containers, dynamic provisioning
Best ForHybrid workloads combining VMs and containersCloud-native applications and DevOps workflows

Running Postgres on Proxmox vs OpenShift

When running Postgres, Proxmox offers flexibility by managing VMs alongside containers, ideal for legacy workloads. OpenShift provides resilient scalability and high availability for containerized Postgres, optimizing performance in cloud-native environments.

If Postgres is the main workload you care about, it’s often easier to treat it as a platform rather than something you hand-roll on top of your virtualization choice. Vela is a Postgres platform by Simplyblock that runs on Kubernetes, providing high-performance PostgreSQL with built-in automation, backups, and scaling.

How Simplyblock Supports Both Proxmox and OpenShift

Simplyblock’s high-performance storage solution integrates seamlessly with both Proxmox and OpenShift, enabling businesses to scale their infrastructure without compromising performance or reliability.

Proxmox Integration

  • Proxmox users can easily manage persistent storage for VMs and containers.
  • Simplyblock integrates into the Proxmox interface, making storage management simple.
  • Scales dynamically with your Proxmox environment to meet growing workload needs.
  • NVMe storage delivers low-latency and high-throughput performance for demanding virtualized workloads.

OpenShift Integration

  • Easily manage storage for stateful applications running on OpenShift.
  • Integrates with Kubernetes-native storage solutions for automated provisioning and management.
  • Ensures reliable, scalable storage for containerized applications in hybrid or multi-cloud environments.
  • Provides high-throughput storage that scales with OpenShift workloads.

Why Simplyblock Works for Both

  • One storage solution for managing both virtualized and containerized workloads.
  • Offers high-speed, low-latency storage that advances the performance of both platforms.
  • Easily scales with both Proxmox and OpenShift, adapting to growing infrastructure needs.
  • Simplifies storage management across hybrid environments with a single platform.

Proxmox vs OpenShift – Choosing the Right Solution

Selecting between Proxmox, OpenShift, or both depends on your workload needs. 

  • Proxmox is ideal for managing virtual machines and containers in a hybrid setup. 
  • OpenShift excels in managing containerized applications at scale, especially in cloud-native environments. 

Using both can be beneficial for organizations running mixed workloads, combining the benefits of both VMs and containers. Simplyblock offers a unified storage solution that optimizes performance across both Proxmox and OpenShift, simplifying infrastructure management and providing scalability.

See other comparisons :

Take a look at how these platforms measure up.

Questions and answers

What is the primary difference between Proxmox and OpenShift?

Proxmox is an open-source platform that integrates KVM for full virtualization and LXC for containers. It’s ideal for managing hybrid environments with both virtual machines and containers. OpenShift, built on Kubernetes, is designed for large-scale container orchestration, ideal for cloud-native applications.

When should I use Proxmox over OpenShift?

Proxmox is best for businesses needing a unified solution to manage virtual machines alongside containers. It’s ideal for small-to-medium-sized businesses, hybrid cloud setups, and environments requiring flexible scaling of both VMs and containers with high availability features built in

Can Proxmox and OpenShift be used together in an organization?

Yes, combining Proxmox and OpenShift allows organizations to benefit from both platforms. Proxmox handles hybrid workloads, managing virtual machines and containers, while OpenShift manages large-scale containerized applications, providing flexibility to scale workloads seamlessly across both environments.

What makes OpenShift ideal for large-scale enterprises?

OpenShift is designed for large-scale container management and microservices. Its Kubernetes-based platform provides powerful orchestration, automated scaling, integrated CI/CD pipelines, and high security, ensuring efficient management, performance, and uptime for containerized applications in enterprise environments.

How does Simplyblock support both Proxmox and OpenShift?

Simplyblock integrates seamlessly with both Proxmox and OpenShift, providing high-performance NVMe storage. It offers scalable, low-latency storage solutions, advancing the performance of virtualized and containerized workloads across hybrid cloud environments, ensuring reliability and seamless management for both platforms.

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