ZFS or Ceph?
ZFS works from a single node: local performance, snapshots and asynchronous replication to a second node. Ceph pays off from 3 nodes and requires 10 GbE or faster, disks on an HBA instead of a RAID controller and around 8 GiB RAM per OSD. We evaluate both options against your workload.
Guide: ZFS, Ceph or LVMHow big does the cluster need to be?
We recommend three full nodes for HA. Automatic failover is also possible with two nodes and an independent QDevice. Accessible storage, fencing and sufficient remaining capacity are required. With ZFS replication, writes since the last sync may be lost.
Guide: Build an HA clusterProxmox: QDeviceNetwork: separated or shared?
Corosync needs its own low-latency link - otherwise you risk losing quorum under storage load. We separate management, storage and VM traffic via VLANs; MTU and bonding are defined before the build instead of being patched afterwards.
Guide: Cluster network designBackup architecture with PBS
Proxmox Backup Server locally for fast restores, plus an offsite sync to a second PBS for the worst case: ransomware, fire, data center outage. Deduplication and incremental backups keep storage demand low. Retention rules and restore tests belong in the architecture, not in the afterthoughts.
Guide: PBS offsite backupLicensing Windows guests correctly
Windows Server on Proxmox raises licensing questions: Standard or Datacenter, per-host core licensing, and what applies during live migration between nodes. We set these switches in the architecture before an audit does.
Guide: Windows Server licensingMigration path: VMware or Hyper-V
From VMware, the import wizard built into Proxmox moves VMs directly from ESXi into the cluster. For Hyper-V we use disk import of the VHDX files. Sequence, downtime windows and fallback are planned per VM group - not across the board.
VMware migrationHyper-V migration
Proxmox Consulting for Businesses: the Right Architecture for Your Workloads
Cluster size, ZFS or Ceph, hardware sizing, network design and the path out of VMware or Hyper-V: we advise independently of hardware vendors, at a fixed price after scoping. Implementation: Proxmox setup. Migration plan for VMware or Hyper-V: virtualisation exit assessment.
Consulting Topics
Proxmox consulting: what we clarify with you
Six central architecture questions that determine the success or failure of your Proxmox project.
Cluster Architecture
Single-node, 3-node quorum cluster or multi-node HA setup. We design the topology to match your workload and budget.
Storage: Ceph vs. ZFS vs. SAN
Which storage architecture for your IOPS and redundancy requirements? Ceph for hyperconverged clusters, ZFS local, NFS/iSCSI with existing SAN.
Hardware Sizing
CPU, RAM, NIC, NVMe - we calculate the right hardware based on VM count, storage needs and HA requirements.
Network Design
Separation of cluster, storage and VM traffic. Corosync on separate link, vSwitch/vRack/VLAN strategy for secure multi-tenant setups.
Migration vs. Greenfield
Migrate existing VMware/Hyper-V environment or build from scratch? We evaluate risks, effort and downtime requirements.
Compliance & Licensing
Do you need enterprise subscription? privacy-focused locations, BSI C5, ISO 27001 - we advise on the right compliance strategy.
Architecture Decisions
The decisions we make with you
Concrete instead of "it depends": the six pivotal choices of every Proxmox architecture - with the thresholds at which each option pays off.
Our Process
From workshop to architecture document
Requirements, options and decisions are recorded in the architecture document.
- 01
Workshop & Requirements Analysis
In a 2-hour online workshop we capture your current infrastructure, workloads, performance requirements and budget framework.
- 02
Architecture Proposal
You receive a detailed architecture document with hardware sizing, storage layout, network topology and migration plan.
- 03
Proof of Concept (optional)
For critical workloads we build a small PoC cluster to validate performance and failover behavior.
- 04
Implementation
We build the infrastructure, or you take over with detailed documentation. A managed service with a selectable service level is available as an option.
Deliverables
What you get after consulting
Contents of the architecture document: six chapters supporting implementation by your team or a commissioned provider.
1. Requirements
Workloads, availability and recovery objectives2. Topology and sizing
Node roles, capacity reserves, hardware list with models and prices3. Storage
ZFS, Ceph or existing shared storage4. Network and access
Management, storage, guests and permissions5. Backup and cost model
Recovery path, CapEx and OpEx over three years6. Migration sequence and risks
Steps, dependencies and rollback
Every format ends with a written artifact you can work with - whether with us or without us.
CephDisaster RecoveryAll Proxmox servicesConsulting Formats
Three formats, one principle: results instead of slide decks
All formats at a fixed price after scoping, between €2,500 and €12,000 excl. VAT depending on scope. The intro call is free and non-binding.
For existing environments
Architecture Review
- Structured assessment of the running environment
- Evaluation of storage, cluster, network and backups
- Recommendation paper with prioritized actions
- Remote and without touching production
- Ceph
- Disaster Recovery
For new builds and migrations
Design Workshop
- Requirements workshop with your team
- Target design: topology, storage, network, sizing
- Migration plan with sequence and fallback
- Architecture document as decision basis
- Ceph
- Disaster Recovery
For validation before the investment
PoC Support
- Test cluster with your real workloads
- Failover and performance tests under load
- Measured results instead of gut feeling
- Go/no-go recommendation with reasoning
- Ceph
- Disaster Recovery
Consulting vs. Operations
Where our consulting ends
Consulting ends with a clear recommendation and complete documentation - not with a contract for follow-up business. You can implement the architecture document yourself or hand it to a system integrator of your choice.
Proxmox Setup & Installation
We build the planned architecture: cluster, storage, network and backups - including handover-ready documentation.
from €1,490 excl. VAT one-timeView Proxmox setup OperateManaged Proxmox
We take over ongoing operations: 24/7 monitoring, updates, backup management and incident response.
from €179.90 excl. VAT / node and monthView Managed Proxmox For professional secrecy holdersOperate Proxmox in the Section 203 Managed Cloud
If Proxmox processes client, patient or other professional secrets, WZ-IT plans the application, infrastructure, access, backups and ongoing operations within a purpose-built operating model.
View the Section 203 Managed CloudFrequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most important questions
- The intro call is free and non-binding. Architecture consulting including workshop, documentation and PoC costs between €2,500 and €12,000 excl. VAT as a fixed price depending on scope. We give you a binding price range upfront.
- Companies and organizations that want to run virtual machines and containers themselves, from a single server to a cluster with several nodes. Proxmox VE is open source; the subscription is optional and provides tested updates and vendor support. The main limits are business applications whose vendor only supports a specific hypervisor. We check that first in the consulting.
- We recommend three full nodes for HA. Automatic failover is also possible with two nodes and an independent QDevice. Accessible storage, fencing and sufficient remaining capacity are required. With ZFS replication, writes since the last sync may be lost.
- The process depends on the existing environment, workloads and required decisions. Scope and dates are agreed after the assessment.
- Yes, absolutely. Our consulting is provider- and implementer-agnostic. You can hand the architecture document to any IT team or system integrator. Optionally we offer implementation as managed service, but that's not a requirement.
- It depends on the use case. Ceph: with 3+ nodes, hyperconverged, high redundancy, dynamic scaling, with 10 GbE or faster. ZFS: with single-node or small clusters, local performance, simple maintenance and replication to a second node. SAN/NFS: with existing storage infrastructure. In the workshop we clarify your requirements and recommend concretely.
- That depends on the number of hosts, CPU sockets and the term of the VMware contract. The renewal is set against the one-off costs for consulting and migration plus the optional Proxmox subscription per CPU socket. The consulting compares both sides in a cost model; Proxmox vs VMware compares technology and licensing. For inventory, target design and migration waves alone there is the virtualization exit check (from €1,490 excl. VAT).
- For production workloads we recommend a subscription with the enterprise repository (per CPU socket and year: Basic €370, Standard €550, Premium €1,100 excl. VAT, as of October 2026) - you get tested updates and vendor support. For development/test the no-subscription repository is sufficient. WZ-IT is an Authorized Reseller of Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH; subscriptions can be purchased through us. Architecture consulting follows your requirements, independently of subscription purchasing.
- WZ-IT does not sell hardware. You purchase directly from the supplier; we review the configuration. As an Authorized Reseller of Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH we offer subscriptions. Consulting remains independent of where you purchase them.
- For a greenfield design workshop: no. For an architecture review of an existing environment: yes, read access via web UI or SSH is usually sufficient. During the consulting phase we do not change anything on your systems, and every access is documented.
- Yes. If Proxmox is not the right platform for your case - for example because specific business applications are only supported on a particular hypervisor - we say so clearly and with reasoning. Consulting that always arrives at the same conclusion is not consulting.
- Remote by default: workshops via video call, reviews via remote access. On-site visits are possible on request, for example for a hardware walkthrough in your own data center, and are billed by effort.
- Always a written artifact, depending on the format: a recommendation paper with prioritized actions (review), an architecture document with topology, sizing, storage and network design plus migration plan (workshop), or a measurement report with a go/no-go recommendation (PoC).
- We coordinate the start based on availability, access and required documents. Include relevant contract dates in your request.
Knowledge
Further Proxmox guides
In-depth knowledge from our Proxmox knowledge base.
Guides
Further entry points
Related Tutorials & Guides
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Reviews & projects
Proxmox proof from real projects
Customer feedback on virtualization, backup, VPN, security and ongoing cluster operations.
Networking & Provisioning
WZ-IT moved our studio infrastructure from decentralised individual devices to a central platform: every site is securely connected via VPN, new devices are onboarded automatically and an entire site is provisioned from a template, without manual steps on location. What impressed me most is the breadth and depth of their knowledge: Timo and Robin are not a typical IT provider who sets up a server and leaves. The two of them think their way into highly complex infrastructure and software topics, work through every requirement we put in front of them, and build networking, provisioning and operations so that everything fits together in the end. WZ-IT is an excellent partner for complex software, network and architecture projects.
Steve KirchnerManaging Director, nextGYM GmbH
International
Built in Germany's Ruhr Valley. Running worldwide.
WZ-IT designs, develops and operates infrastructure and software for clients in Germany and internationally. We deliver projects remotely and continue supporting them in ongoing operations after go-live.
Selected projects
- LiveRemote access platform for distributed water treatment plantsABCO Water Systems · Australia · Secure Access & OT
- 81%AWS migration with substantially lower operating costsEVA Real Estate · UAE · Cloud exit & infrastructure
- 98%Provision new sites in minutes instead of hoursnextGYM GmbH · Germany · Automation & IoT
Read client reviews
Enquiry
Request scoped Proxmox consulting
Describe the decision, architecture question, or specific problem.
- Straight with Timo and Robin - no sales team, no pitch
- A professional assessment of your situation
- Concrete next steps for infrastructure, software or AI
The conversation is free and non-binding.
WZ-IT's advice on our Azure migration was technically sound and completely non-binding right from the intro call - we took away a great deal.
Jakob ÖschlbergerInno7 GmbH
WZ-IT's advice on our Azure migration was technically sound and completely non-binding right from the intro call - we took away a great deal.