Proxmox is an open-source virtualization management platform that allows users to manage virtual machines (VMs), Linux containers (LXC), and software-defined storage solutions. It integrates two virtualization technologies: KVM (full virtualization) and LXC (container-based virtualization), making it versatile for various use cases.

Proxmox can run on commodity hardware, but recommended system requirements are:

CPU: 64-bit processor with virtualization support (Intel VT/AMD-V)
Memory: Minimum of 2GB of RAM (but 8GB or more is recommended for production use)
Storage: Local disk, SSD, or shared storage (ZFS, Ceph, NFS, etc.)
Network: 1 Gbps or higher for clustering and storage connectivity

Yes, you can run Windows operating systems as virtual machines using KVM. Proxmox supports Windows XP, 7, 8, 10, and server versions like Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2022.

Yes, Proxmox allows the creation of clusters. A cluster is a group of physical servers (nodes) that are managed as one system. Clustering allows for live migration of VMs between nodes, centralized management, and high availability.

Proxmox supports a wide range of storage types, including:

Local Storage (such as LVM, ZFS)
Networked Storage (such as NFS, iSCSI, Ceph, GlusterFS)
Shared Storage for clustering and high availability
Integration with Ceph for distributed storage.

Yes, Proxmox supports High Availability (HA). When configured in a cluster, Proxmox can automatically restart virtual machines on other nodes in the event of node failure. HA ensures service continuity in a production environment.