top of page
server-parts.eu

server-parts.eu Blog

Best Refurbished Servers & Storage for Proxmox VE: Affordable, High-Performance On-Premise Infrastructure

  • Writer: server-parts.eu server-parts.eu
    server-parts.eu server-parts.eu
  • Apr 18
  • 3 min read

Proxmox Virtual Environment (VE) is a powerful open-source virtualization platform, but it needs the right hardware to run effectively. If you're looking to deploy Proxmox, especially for businesses in the EU, refurbished servers and storage can be a smart, affordable choice.


Best Server & Storage for Proxmox VE

✔️ No Upfront Payment Required - Test First, Pay Later!


This article will guide you through why refurbished hardware is ideal for Proxmox, highlight specific server models from Dell, HPE, and Lenovo, and discuss storage options like ZFS, Ceph, and NVMe.


Enterprise-grade refurbished servers from Dell, HPE, and Lenovo configured for Proxmox Virtual Environment (VE), featuring support for KVM virtualization, LXC containers, ZFS storage, Ceph clusters, NVMe SSDs, enterprise SAS drives, ECC RAM, and 10/25GbE networking. Ideal for cost-effective, high-performance on-premise infrastructure deployments across the EU. Fully compatible with Proxmox hardware requirements and perfect for startups, MSPs, system integrators, and IT professionals building scalable virtualization environments using open-source technologies. server-parts.eu


💡 Why Choose Refurbished Servers for Proxmox?


Refurbished servers offer enterprise-grade performance at a lower cost, making them perfect for Proxmox users who want to save money without sacrificing quality. They’re:


  • ✅ Fully tested and certified

  • ⏱️ Ready-to-ship, reducing lead times

  • 🛠️ Customizable for ZFS, Ceph, or NVMe

  • 🚛 Shipped from EU-based suppliers with local support

  • 💶 Priced 40–80% lower than brand-new hardware


This makes them ideal for startups, SMBs, MSPs, and system integrators offering Proxmox-based solutions across the EU.



⚙️ Introduction to Proxmox VE and Server Needs


Proxmox VE is an open-source virtualization platform based on Debian Linux. It supports both KVM (for virtual machines) and LXC (for containers), and offers features like:


  • Live migration

  • High availability

  • Integrated backup

  • Storage integration with ZFS, Ceph, NFS, and more


It’s free to use under the GNU AGPLv3 license — but requires robust hardware to perform reliably in production.



🔧 Minimum Hardware Requirements


  • CPU: 64-bit Intel or AMD with VT-x/AMD-V

  • RAM: 2 GB minimum (16 GB+ recommended for production)

  • Storage: Fast SSDs preferred, non-RAID setups for ZFS

  • Networking: 1 GbE minimum, 10/25 GbE for Ceph clusters



🔁 Why Proxmox and Refurbished Servers Are a Perfect Match


Proxmox is built for flexibility and performance — and refurbished servers deliver that without the premium price tag. Benefits include:


  • 🔄 Fast deployment from EU warehouses

  • 🔩 Flexible configs for storage and compute

  • 📈 Scalability with modular upgrades

  • 🧾 Warranty coverage and support


Example: Servermall and PCSP offer Proxmox-ready refurbished servers with long warranties and pay-after-testing options, trusted by EU-based MSPs.



💸 Proxmox VE: New vs Refurbished Server Pricing

Server

New (Approx.)

Refurbished (Approx.)

Dell PowerEdge R750

€10,000+

€4,000–€6,000

HPE ProLiant DL380 Gen11

€9,000+

€3,500–€5,500

Lenovo SR650 V2

€8,000+

€3,000–€4,500

Refurbished servers are typically 40–80% cheaper, with no trade-offs in performance or reliability.



🖥️ Top Refurbished Server Models for Proxmox


Dell PowerEdge 15th Gen (Latest: 16th Gen)

  • R750: 2x Xeon Scalable (3rd Gen), up to 3TB RAM, NVMe/SAS bays

  • R650: Compact 1U, up to 1.5TB RAM, great for dense compute

  • T650: Tower form factor, same performance as R650 for edge locations



HPE ProLiant Gen11 (Latest: Gen12)

  • DL380 Gen11: 2x Xeon Scalable, up to 3TB RAM, NVMe/SAS support

  • DL325 Gen11: 1U AMD EPYC up to 128 cores, PCIe Gen5, 3TB RAM

  • ML350 Gen11: Tower, great for SMBs, supports virtualization and storage roles



Lenovo ThinkSystem V2 (Latest: V3)

  • SR650 V2: 2x Xeon Scalable (3rd Gen), up to 3TB RAM, flexible bays

  • SR630 V2: 1U compute node, high-density VM environments


These servers are perfect for Proxmox thanks to their high RAM capacity, PCIe/NVMe support, and virtualization-ready CPUs.



💾 Storage Options for Proxmox


Proxmox supports a range of storage configurations. Refurbished servers can be designed for:


🔹 ZFS

  • Requires mirrored SSDs or HDDs

  • Works best without RAID controllers

  • Example: Dell R750 with 2x 480 GB SSD in ZFS mirror



🔸 Ceph

  • Needs high memory (128 GB+), 10/25 GbE NICs, SSD/HDD combo

  • Example: HPE DL380 Gen11 with 4x 1.92 TB SSD + 4x 8 TB HDD



🔹 NVMe

  • For high-I/O virtual workloads

  • Servers with U.2 or PCIe Gen4/Gen5 slots

  • Example: Lenovo SR650 V2 with U.2 NVMe SSDs



🔧 Why Choose server-parts.eu for Your Proxmox Servers?


We specialize in Proxmox-ready refurbished servers for the EU market:


  • 🔍 Tested and Certified: All hardware is stress-tested before shipping

  • 🛡️ Warranty: Up to 5-year warranties and ongoing support

  • 🚚 Fast EU Delivery: Ships from Vilnius or other EU hubs

  • 🧩 Custom Configs: ZFS, Ceph, NVMe setups tailored to your project

  • 💼 Partner-Friendly: No upfront payment, great for MSPs & integrators



✅ Refurbished Servers for Your Proxmox: Conclusion


Proxmox VE is a flexible, open-source platform — and refurbished enterprise servers are the perfect match. Storage options like ZFS, Ceph, and NVMe can be implemented using reliable, certified hardware shipped fast within the EU.


Whether you're a Proxmox user or a provider, we're here to help you build powerful, affordable on-premise infrastructure.



Best Server & Storage for Proxmox VE

✔️ No Upfront Payment Required - Test First, Pay Later!

Comments

bottom of page