There are many Type 1 hypervisors available today, but VMware ESXi and Proxmox remain two of the most popular choices. Each comes with its own strengths and limitations depending on whether you’re running an enterprise environment or experimenting in a home lab.
- Proxmox is widely loved by home labbers because it runs on nearly any machine, making it accessible and flexible.
- VMware ESXi on the other hand, has stricter hardware requirements and is primarily designed for enterprise-grade rack-mounted equipment.
During my recent project with VMware, here’s what I learned:
- Hardware matters – Don’t attempt VMware ESXi 8.0 without serious server hardware (modern CPU, 12+ GB RAM, multiple drives).
- Use Rufus, not Balena Etcher – Rufus ensures the boot partitions are created correctly when burning the ISO.
- Storage requirements – Even older versions like 6.7 or 7.x still need at least two drives: one for VMware itself and another for virtual machines.
- Desktop vs. Laptop – Desktops work far better; laptops often struggle with driver compatibility (e.g., network cards).
Once installed, VMware and Proxmox feel quite similar: both handle VM provisioning, storage management, logging, and backups. However, Proxmox has an edge with lightweight containers—perfect for conserving hardware resources.
For my setup, I used:
- 1TB 2.5” HDD for VMware installation
- My main PC for CPU and RAM needs
Ultimately, my takeaway is simple:
If you’ve got enterprise-grade hardware, VMware is worth a try.
If you’re repurposing older machines, Proxmox remains an excellent choice.
My next step will be to invest in a proper rack-mounted server to test VMware in a more enterprise-like environment. Until then, Proxmox stays in my home lab.
