Proxmox Virtual Environment (VE) 9.0 Beta marks a significant evolution of the open-source virtualization platform.
Here is a detailed comparison between Proxmox VE 8.3 and Proxmox VE 9.0 (Beta) across core areas like OS base, virtualization tools, storage, networking, and major feature changes. This will help you understand what’s new, improved, deprecated, or removed in VE 9.0 compared to 8.3.
| Category | Proxmox VE 8.3 | Proxmox VE 9.0 Beta |
|---|---|---|
| Release Base | Debian 12 “Bookworm” | Debian 13 “Trixie” |
| Kernel Version | Linux 6.5.x or optional 6.8.x | Linux 6.14.8 |
| QEMU | QEMU 8.1.2 | QEMU 10.0.2 |
| LXC | LXC 5.0.x (LTS) | LXC 6.0.4 |
| ZFS Version | OpenZFS 2.2.2 | OpenZFS 2.3.3 – includes RAID-Z expansion |
| Ceph Version | Ceph Reef 18.2.x | Ceph Squid 19.2 (default, replacing Reef) |
| GUI Enhancements | Responsive UI with task logging and summaries | Refined SDN interface, better migration snapshots, more visual SDN |
| SDN Capabilities | Basic SDN (zones, VLANs, VXLANs) | Advanced SDN fabrics (spine-leaf routing, routed topologies) |
| Storage Snapshots | Snapshots supported only on file/ZFS-based volumes | Snapshots for thick-provisioned LVM storage |
| RAID-Z Pool Expansion | Not available | Available with ZFS 2.3 |
| Network Interface Handling | Manual reconfiguration often needed after NIC renaming | Installer tries to map renamed NICs; better detection logic |
| Default MTU Handling for vNICs | Defaults to 1500 unless manually set | Inherits MTU from bridge if unset (behavior change) |
| Firewall Improvements | Basic cluster-wide firewall with zones | Improved GUI warnings and detection for broken rules/interfaces |
| VM Privilege Model | VM.Monitor role required for console or agent control | VM.Monitor deprecated – now handled via Sys.Audit + scoped roles |
| Cluster Management | Standard cluster join, sync, HA | Same core features + better SDN-aware interconnectivity |
| Storage Migration | Available with limitations in live disk move | Improved disk migration (faster, less VM impact) |
| GlusterFS Support | Fully supported (deprecated notice issued) | Removed (must migrate to another backend before upgrade) |
| Migration Checklist Tool | pve8to9 (new for upgrading) | Enhanced pve8to9 for permission and storage validation |
Key Improvements in Proxmox VE 9.0 Over 8.3
Base System
- Debian 13 brings security and compatibility updates for modern hardware (PCIe 5.0, DDR5, newer Xeons and EPYCs).
- Kernel 6.14 supports newer devices, better memory management, and future-proofing.
ZFS and Storage
- ZFS 2.3 introduces RAID-Z expansion, a long-awaited enterprise feature.
- Thick LVM snapshot support makes it more viable for SAN setups (Fibre Channel, iSCSI).
- Faster and more reliable live storage migrations.
Ceph Storage
- Ceph Squid 19.2 is now default, offering:
- Better memory efficiency
- Lower latency
- Optimized CRUSH tuning
Networking & SDN
- Fabric-level SDN lets you design real enterprise topologies (e.g. leaf-spine).
- Routed layer-3 network capabilities simplify complex cluster setups.
- MTU inheritance helps reduce misconfigurations with virtual NICs.
Permissions Model
- Simplified and more secure RBAC model:
VM.Monitorremoved- All monitoring and control roles are scoped and auditable
- Helps prevent privilege overreach in multi-tenant setups
Deprecated & Removed
- GlusterFS: Dropped due to poor upstream support
VM.Monitor: Deprecated in favor of modern, secure permission scopes
Upgrade Considerations
| Check Before Upgrading | Why |
|---|---|
Run pve8to9 | Identifies permission issues, storage changes, Gluster use |
| Review network config | MTU and NIC name handling may change |
| Backup all critical VMs | Beta versions may have regression bugs |
| Review deprecated features | GlusterFS and old role models no longer work |
Summary
| Area | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Performance | Improved due to kernel/QEMU updates and ZFS 2.3 |
| Networking | Much more powerful with SDN fabrics and routed topologies |
| Storage | Better snapshot/migration support, RAID-Z expansion |
| Compatibility | Future-proof with newer base system and packages |
| Migration Complexity | Moderate – especially with changes to NIC names and privileges |
| Recommended For | Enterprises, MSPs, advanced labs, Ceph users |
| Not Ideal For | Production use (while still in beta), setups dependent on GlusterFS |
Proxmox VE 9.0 Beta is a bold step forward in infrastructure-grade virtualization. It modernizes key components like storage and networking while keeping the core Proxmox values: simplicity, transparency, and open-source power.
While it’s not yet production-ready, early adopters will appreciate the performance gains, better manageability, and future-proofing—especially in clustered or software-defined setups.