HosterCore: The Next Generation Virtualization Solution
HosterCore was born from the collaboration between two experts: Yaroslav Koiza of GatewayIT and Lionel DARNIS of IdeoConsult. This meeting made it possible to create an innovative virtualization solution that meets the needs of the most demanding professional environments.
A high-performance alternative to Proxmox
HosterCore is a virtual machine management framework specializing in server virtualization. Designed to be both powerful and accessible, HosterCore offers a complete solution suitable for system administrators of all levels of expertise.
Technical Overview of HosterCore's Pillars
For more details, see our full technical specifications.
Superior performance
HosterCore offers optimized performance compared to Proxmox. While Proxmox, based on Debian Linux, has a slightly higher overhead than bare-metal hypervisors like ESXi, HosterCore uses either FreeBSD and bhyve, or Linux/KVM/QEMU to provide:
- ✓ Instant deployments: a new VM can be deployed in less than a second
- ✓ Optimized resource management thanks to the KVM/QEMU architecture
- ✓ Superior I/O performance with native ZFS integration
Redesigned high availability
High availability (HA) management with HosterCore is more flexible and finer-grained than that offered by Proxmox:
- ✓ Automated HA failover via the REST API, avoiding complex network configurations
- ✓ Integrated ZFS replication based on OpenZFS send/receive features for continuous asynchronous replication between two or more hosts
- ✓ Planned Hyper-Converged configuration using HAST and OpenZFS (sync vs. async replication)
Unlike Proxmox, which requires a cluster to use HA, HosterCore offers a more flexible and less restrictive approach.
Transparent and economical licensing model
HosterCore takes a different approach to Proxmox and VMware ESXi regarding licensing:
- ✓ Open-source solution with no hidden license fees
- ✓ No premium features locked behind expensive subscriptions
- ✓ Clear economic model without the high costs associated with VMware licenses
- ✓ All features available to all users
A clear and precise monthly or annual payment provides full use, integrated monitoring, and technical support for the solution.
The power of ZFS for robust backups
HosterCore fully exploits the capabilities of ZFS, offering a backup system that is fast, robust, and proven:
- ✓ Native ZFS snapshots for instant backups with no performance impact
- ✓ Data integrity guaranteed with automatic verification and repair
- ✓ Copy-on-Write technology preserving data in case of system crash
- ✓ Automation of backups via Bash scripts and cron for continuous protection
Advanced support for NVIDIA GPUs
HosterCore particularly excels in managing NVIDIA A-series graphics cards for professional environments:
- ✓ GPU partitioning allowing a single graphics card to be shared among multiple VMs
- ✓ GPU passthrough support for maximum performance in Windows VMs
- ✓ Compatibility with NVIDIA vGPU drivers for optimal graphics virtualization
- ✓ GPU resource sharing via time-sharing technology to maximize resource utilization
This feature is particularly useful for intensive workloads such as 3D rendering, AI, or scientific applications requiring GPU computing power.
Key features
- ✓ PF firewall operating individually with each VM or Jail
- ✓ Native NAT support
- ✓ Encryption of storage datasets to secure your data
- ✓ Cloud images similar to docker pull for rapid deployment
- ✓ CloudInit integration for automatic VM configuration
- ✓ REST API for easy management and integration with third-party systems
- ✓ PCI/GPU passthrough support for native performance
Extended OS compatibility
HosterCore supports a wide range of operating systems:
| OS | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Debian 11/12 | 🟢Ready | VM image downloadable directly |
| AlmaLinux/RockyLinux 8/9 | 🟢Ready | VM image downloadable directly |
| Ubuntu 20.04/22.04/24.04 | 🟢Ready | VM image downloadable directly |
| RHEL 8/9 | 🟡Compatible | Image to be built manually |
| Windows 10/11/Server | 🟡Compatible | Image to be built manually |
Conclusion
HosterCore is an advanced server virtualization solution, integrating Linux, KVM/QEMU, ZFS technologies, and GPU partitioning into an optimized architecture. Its superior performance to Proxmox, flexible high availability management, and transparent licensing model make it a relevant alternative for various virtualization environments, from test labs to enterprise infrastructures requiring high-performance graphics capabilities.
Customer references are available in the financial and healthcare sectors to attest to the reliability of the solution in critical environments.