OVA/OVF import of the paedML servers into Proxmox VE
VirtIO drivers and guest optimization
Proxmox for schools & school authorities
The LMZ officially documents paedML on Proxmox - and refers to service providers for the virtualization layer. That is exactly who we are: setup, monitoring and maintenance during holidays, for individual schools and entire school authorities.
- paedML-proven (LMZ guides)
- One contract, many schools
- Maintenance during holidays
The situation
Why schools are switching now
Three developments are converging: the end of VMware's academic programs, the official paedML documentation on Proxmox, and a school environment that prefers open source anyway.
VMware without an academic program
Broadcom discontinued the VMware IT Academy and Academic Licensing in August 2024. The education sector has been without academic discounts since then - renewals have reportedly more than doubled in some cases (per TechTarget, ComputerWeekly).
paedML officially documented on Proxmox
The Landesmedienzentrum Baden-Württemberg (LMZ) publishes the guide "paed.ML auf Proxmox" - making Proxmox officially "an alternative virtualization solution to VMware" for paedML. The path is documented, not experimental.
Open source fits the educational mission
No mandatory licenses, full transparency, no vendor lock-in. linuxmuster.net relies on this too: the official documentation (v7.3) uses Proxmox as its base - in essence, because this hypervisor matches the open-source concept.
A documented path, not an experiment
paedML & linuxmuster on Proxmox
The LMZ Baden-Württemberg publishes the guide "paed.ML auf Proxmox" (version 1.4, dated 5 Nov 2025, 31 pages) - it covers paed.ML Linux/GS 8.0, Novell 4.6 and Windows 5.4 and, per the document itself, is explicitly aimed at "IT service companies, IT administrators". We implement exactly this guide:
Network and bridges according to the LMZ guide
Product-specific follow-up work per paedML variant (Linux/GS, Novell, Windows)
linuxmuster.net: setup on the officially documented Proxmox base (v7.3)
Usable nationwide; we virtualize administration servers, specialist applications and backups regardless of the federal state.
"Your service provider's task" - that is exactly who we are
The LMZ documentation puts it literally: virtualization is "fundamentally one of your service provider's tasks". The LMZ hotline supports paedML independently of the virtualization layer.
LMZ support stays in place
So you keep LMZ support for paedML - and with us you get the service provider for everything underneath: Proxmox, storage, backups, monitoring.
One framework, many sites
The school authority model: one framework for many schools
School authorities rarely look after just one school. So we build one standardized model rolled out per site - with one contract and one point of contact.
Standardized setup per school
One proven reference setup, rolled out identically at every school: same hardware recommendation, same network structure, same backup strategy. That makes costs and operations predictable across all sites.Central monitoring of all sites
We proactively monitor host metrics, VM status, backups, and storage health across all school sites around the clock and address relevant anomalies early.Remote maintenance without open ports
Access is via a secure VPN connection - no open port on the school network, all access traceable.Maintenance windows during holidays - not during lessons
We schedule updates, upgrades and major maintenance during school holidays. Critical security patches are applied during the year as well, coordinated and outside teaching hours.
You can find the connectivity details on our VPN services page.
View VPN servicesDigitalPakt 2.0
Funding & procurement
The timing for infrastructure projects is favorable: DigitalPakt 2.0 provides a new funding framework for digital school infrastructure - and explicitly also for professional support and administration structures.
Managed Proxmoxfrom €179.90 excl. VAT / node and monthtiered by number of schools and nodes, with no hidden items
Predictable costs for your committees
- One-time fixed-price setup per school
- Then ongoing operations as Managed Proxmox
- Tiered framework offer for committees and budget planning
DigitalPakt 2.0 at a glance
- Federal-state agreement
- 18.12.2025
- Volume through 2030, split equally
- €5 billion
- Federal share, infrastructure (line I)
- €2.25 billion
- Early project start
- since 1 Jan 2026
As of July 2026. Implementation is regulated by the states - please clarify eligibility for your specific case with the school authority and state. We supply the technical service specification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most important questions
- Yes. The LMZ Baden-Württemberg officially documents paedML on Proxmox ("paed.ML auf Proxmox", version 1.4, dated 5 Nov 2025) - for paed.ML Linux/GS 8.0, Novell 4.6 and Windows 5.4. We implement exactly this guide: OVA/OVF import, network and bridges, VirtIO drivers and the product-specific follow-up work per paedML variant.
- No. The LMZ hotline supports paedML regardless of what it is virtualized on - that support remains fully intact. For the virtualization layer, the LMZ refers to service providers: the guide states that virtualization is "fundamentally one of your service provider's tasks". That is exactly the role we take on - the LMZ remains responsible for paedML, we for the Proxmox foundation underneath.
- Yes. paedML is specific to Baden-Württemberg, but the operating model is not: linuxmuster.net is used nationwide and relies on Proxmox as its officially documented base (v7.3), and we virtualize generic school IT - administration servers, specialist applications, backups - regardless of the federal state. Remote maintenance and monitoring work independently of location.
- We calculate transparently by number of schools and nodes: standardized setup per school, central monitoring, maintenance during holidays. Ongoing operations start at Managed Proxmox from €179.90 per node per month - for school authorities with multiple sites we prepare a tiered framework offer that you can use directly in committees and budget planning.
- As of July 2026: the federal and state governments agreed on DigitalPakt 2.0 on 18 Dec 2025 - €5 billion through 2030 (split equally between federal and state level), including a €2.25 billion federal share in action line I (infrastructure); early project starts have been possible since 1 Jan 2026. Eligible items include digital infrastructure and professional support and administration structures. Implementation is regulated by the states - clarify eligibility for your specific case with the school authority and state; we supply the technical service specification.
- Via a secure VPN connection with no open ports on the school network - all access is personalized and logged, and a data processing agreement under Art. 28 GDPR is part of the standard setup. Data stays on the school's servers; our monitoring transmits technical metrics only. Details: WZ-IT VPN services.
Knowledge
Further Proxmox guides
In-depth knowledge from our Proxmox knowledge base.
Guides
Matching solutions for your project
- NetBirdModern open-source VPN solution with centralized management
- AuthentikOpen-source identity and access management system
- PostgreSQLAdvanced open-source object-relational database system
- WazuhOpen-source security platform for threat detection, compliance monitoring, and incident response
- HetznerGerman cloud provider with high-performance and cost-effective server solutions
- AwsComprehensive cloud platform by Amazon offering a wide range of services
Reviews & projects
Proxmox proof from real projects
Customer feedback on virtualization, backup, VPN, security and ongoing cluster operations.
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
- Secure your Proxmox & backup setup
- Virtualize with Managed Proxmox
- Build a high-availability Proxmox cluster
- Cut cloud cost - up to −81%
- Modernize your infrastructure - sovereign
- Plan a sovereign open-source stack
- Integrate a local AI solution
- Modernize your legacy software
- Design an open-source AI architecture
- Get collaboration fully managed
- Ship your prototype to production
- Connect sites and clusters securely
Enquiry
Assess Proxmox for your organisation
Name sites, users, workloads, and organisational requirements.
- Straight with Timo and Robin - no sales team, no pitch
- An honest take, including when we are not the right fit
- Concrete next steps for infrastructure, software or AI
No risk: worst case, you leave with a clearer understanding of your project than before.
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.