User Switches from Proxmox to XCP-ng, Seeks Return to PVE

UPDATE: A home lab enthusiast has announced a shift from Proxmox to XCP-ng but is now contemplating a return to Proxmox as the preferred platform. This development, confirmed by the user today, highlights the ongoing debate over the best virtualization solutions for home labs in 2025.

The user, who experimented with XCP-ng after the reinstatement of the free version of ESXi, reported mixed results. While XCP-ng operates on the Xen hypervisor, which has been gaining traction, the user found the setup process and management to be more cumbersome compared to Proxmox. The urge to return to Proxmox stems from its extensive features and robust community support, which are deemed essential for efficient home lab operations.

To provide context, the user set up XCP-ng on an older machine, featuring a Ryzen 5 1600 processor, 16GB RAM, and a GTX 1080 graphics card. The installation process involved creating a bootable drive and navigating a menu-based setup, which, while straightforward, required additional steps compared to Proxmox.

“Although XCP-ng’s performance is commendable, the overhead of managing resources, especially on consumer-grade hardware, is a significant drawback,” the user stated. After completing the installation, they accessed the management interface, XO Lite, only to find it limited in functionality. This limitation led to the deployment of the Xen Orchestra Appliance (XOA), which demands additional resources—2 v-cores and 2GB RAM—to operate effectively.

The user noted that while XCP-ng performed well with Windows 11 and various Linux distributions, the lack of native container support and reliance on XOA’s premium features, such as backups and automation tasks, prompted frustration. “I appreciate the free version of Xen Orchestra, but the premium paywall for basic functionalities like backups is disappointing,” they remarked.

Despite these challenges, the user acknowledged that XCP-ng remains a viable option, especially for those willing to compile their management tools from scratch. However, the user plans to transition back to Proxmox due to its more user-friendly interface and fewer resource demands.

For home lab enthusiasts, this development underscores the importance of selecting a platform that balances performance, ease of use, and community support. As the landscape of virtualization continues to evolve, users must adapt to maintain efficient and effective home labs.

Moving forward, the user plans to experiment with XCP-ng on a more capable i5-125U system while firmly committing to Proxmox for regular home server tasks. This decision reflects a broader trend among home lab users who seek platforms that meet both performance criteria and ease of management, which Proxmox currently excels at.

Stay tuned for more updates on virtualization technologies as users navigate their home lab setups in this fast-changing environment.