XCP-ng is an advanced open-source virtualization platform that is gaining increasing popularity across various IT environments. It originates from the XenServer project, which, after Citrix closed its source code, evolved into independent open-source software. XCP-ng combines high performance, flexibility, and the absence of licensing fees, making it an attractive choice for companies with diverse needs. In this article, we’ll explore the practical applications of this platform.

Server virtualization

One of the primary uses of XCP-ng is server virtualization. It enables multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single physical machine, significantly reducing the costs of hardware acquisition and maintenance. This allows organizations to:

• Consolidate resources, reducing the number of physical servers
• Optimize computational power usage
• Simplify IT infrastructure management

XCP-ng is well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses as well as large data centers.

Development and testing environments (Dev/Test)

Development and testing teams require flexible solutions for quickly creating and deleting virtual machines. XCP-ng offers:

• Rapid deployment of new testing environments
• The ability to create snapshots of virtual machines for easy rollback to previous states
• Automation of DevOps processes in collaboration with tools like Ansible and Terraform

Thanks to its free licensing model, XCP-ng enables the creation of multiple instances without incurring additional costs.

Private clouds and data centers

XCP-ng, combined with Xen Orchestra, forms a robust foundation for building private clouds and managing data centers. It allows for:

• Remote management of virtual machines via a web browser
• Real-time resource monitoring
• Live migration of virtual machines between hosts without service interruptions

Companies using private clouds gain greater control over their data and infrastructure.

Disaster recovery and backup

A critical aspect of IT security is the ability to quickly restore environments after a failure. XCP-ng supports backup and disaster recovery solutions, enabling:

• Automated creation of virtual machine backups
• Data replication to other locations
• Rapid system recovery after failures

Integration with tools like Xen Orchestra and Bacula simplifies backup management.

Edge Computing

XCP-ng is also effective in edge computing scenarios, where data processing occurs closer to the source (e.g., in factories or branch offices). The advantages of using XCP-ng in this area include:

• Compact size and efficiency, enabling installation on smaller servers
• Low deployment costs due to its open-source model
• Centralized management of multiple locations from a single console

Integration with monitoring tools

Infrastructure monitoring is a key element of IT management. XCP-ng integrates seamlessly with tools like Zabbix, Prometheus, and Grafana, enabling:

• Detailed monitoring of virtual machine performance
• Load trend analysis
• Automatic alerts for performance issues

Summary

XCP-ng is a versatile virtualization platform suitable for a wide range of scenarios—from small testing environments to large data centers. Its lack of licensing fees, high performance, and open-source nature make it an excellent alternative to commercial solutions like VMware or Hyper-V. Implementing XCP-ng can help optimize costs and provide full control over your IT infrastructure.