Question 1

How long does a VMware → Proxmox migration take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on scope: number of VMs, network complexity, application dependencies and available migration windows. A 20 to 50 VM migration typically takes 4 to 8 weeks proceeding in waves. For 200+ VM environments with strict production constraints, the project can span several months. We always start with an audit that enables a realistic estimate based on your actual context.

Question 2

Will production be down during the migration?

Accepted Answer

No. Our approach keeps the VMware environment running in parallel throughout the migration. VMs are migrated in waves — non-critical first — and the final cutover only happens after full validation. Downtime windows, when needed, are planned and documented in advance.

Question 3

What happens if something doesn't work after the migration?

Accepted Answer

A rollback plan is designed and tested before each migration wave. If a problem occurs post-cutover, return to the VMware environment is possible without data loss. This rollback capability is non-negotiable in our methodology — it remains operational until final validation by your teams.

Question 4

Do we need to replace existing servers?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Proxmox VE runs on standard x86 hardware. During the audit we assess whether existing hardware is compatible, has sufficient capacity, and whether its network/storage configuration is suited to the target architecture. In most cases, existing hardware is reused.

Question 5

Is Proxmox really suitable for an enterprise environment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Proxmox VE is deployed in thousands of production environments worldwide, including regulated sectors. It supports high availability (Corosync), distributed storage (Ceph), SDN networking, and integrates with IaC workflows (Terraform, Ansible). The difference with VMware lies in the support model and ecosystem — not in technical capabilities for standard workloads.

Question 6

What internal skills are needed to operate Proxmox after migration?

Accepted Answer

Low-level Linux skills are a plus but not an absolute prerequisite. All our engagements include knowledge transfer and complete operational runbooks. An experienced system administrator — even without prior Proxmox experience — can operate the infrastructure autonomously with the documentation we deliver.

Question 7

Can we migrate progressively or does everything need to switch at once?

Accepted Answer

Wave migration is our standard approach. We prioritise VMs by criticality and dependencies: non-critical workloads first, critical systems last. This allows each step to be validated, problems to be identified early, and overall project risk to be reduced.

Question 8

Can VSHIFT manage Proxmox subscriptions for us?

Accepted Answer

Yes. VSHIFT is an authorised Proxmox reseller. We handle the purchase of Proxmox VE and PBS subscriptions, their renewal, and technical ticket submission to the publisher. You have a single point of contact for the entire Proxmox relationship.

Question 9

What is VSHIFT Cloud?

Accepted Answer

VSHIFT Cloud is a platform providing on-demand Proxmox environments, hosted and managed by VSHIFT. It lets you launch a POC in minutes without hardware — ideal for validating a target architecture or testing migration scenarios before touching your production infrastructure.

Question 10

How does first contact with VSHIFT work?

Accepted Answer

You contact us via the form or by email. We get back to you within 24h for a first 30 to 45 minute technical discussion — free and without commitment — to understand your context, constraints and objectives. Following that discussion, we propose a tailored engagement scope.

Your questions about migration.