VMmanager is a platform for running KVM virtual machines: you install it on a Linux server, connect physical nodes to it, and create, clone, snapshot and monitor virtual machines from a browser. It is built by ISPsystem and aimed at two audiences — hosting providers selling VPS, and companies running their own infrastructure.
VMmanager is shareware — there is a trial period, and a licence from the vendor is needed for continued use. Licensing counts physical processor cores; hyper-threading is not counted.
VMmanager at a glance
| Licence | Shareware (conditionally free), licensed per physical CPU core |
|---|---|
| Editions | Hosting — for service providers selling VPS; Infrastructure — for corporate and government use |
| Platform system | AlmaLinux 8, 9.5, 9.6 or 10.1; Astra Linux 1.7.3 for the Infrastructure edition |
| Platform hardware | From 2 cores and 4 GB RAM with a 150 GB root partition; up to 32 cores and 64 GB for large installations |
| Cluster nodes | Physical servers only — from 4 cores, 8 GB RAM, x86_64 with SSE4.2 |
| Storage | SSD only for physical servers |
What it does
- KVM virtualisation managed from a web interface, with virtual machines provisioned in seconds.
- Multi-tenant architecture — several customers on one installation, isolated from each other.
- LXC and LXD containers alongside full virtual machines.
- Self-service portal so customers manage their own machines without contacting you.
- Billing integration for hosting providers.
- Operating system templates: AlmaLinux, Rocky, Oracle Linux, Windows and others.
- Virtual networks and a REST API for automation.
- High availability clustering, NAS management and dynamic load balancing — in the Infrastructure edition.
Requirements worth knowing before you plan
The vendor is specific, and these conditions catch people out:
- The operating system must be a clean minimal install — no third-party repositories, no extra services.
- Cluster nodes cannot be virtual machines. They must be physical servers.
- The platform and a cluster node cannot live on the same server — the vendor states technical support is not provided for that configuration.
- Clusters cannot mix Red Hat based and Debian based nodes.
- A static IPv4 address is required, with specific ports open and the firewall configured in a particular way.
Installation in outline
- Click the Download button at the top of this page and unpack the archive.
- Prepare a clean minimal AlmaLinux server for the platform itself — this machine only manages, it does not run virtual machines.
- Run the installation as root. The platform is container-based and needs outbound access to the vendor’s repositories during setup.
- Add physical servers as cluster nodes. Each needs a couple of small packages present beforehand.
- Create your first virtual machine from a template and check networking before building anything larger.
Where it fits, and where it does not
Good fit: a hosting company selling virtual servers, or an organisation building its own virtualisation cluster with high availability and a self-service portal for internal teams.
Poor fit: a single server with a few virtual machines — VirtualBox on a desktop or a free bare-metal hypervisor will do that with far less setup. Also a poor fit if your nodes are virtual, since the platform requires physical hardware for them.
VMmanager vs. alternatives
| Tool | How it compares |
|---|---|
| Proxmox VE | Free and open source, KVM and containers, clustering and high availability included; no built-in multi-tenant billing |
| XCP-ng | Free open-source hypervisor with its own management tools |
| vSphere Hypervisor | Free edition exists for non-production use, with strict limits |
| OpenNebula, OpenStack | Open-source cloud platforms; far more capable and far more work to run |
FAQ
Is VMmanager free?
It is shareware — there is a trial, and continued use requires a licence. Licensing counts physical cores.
Can I run the management platform on a virtual machine?
Yes, the platform itself can be virtual. The cluster nodes that actually run your virtual machines must be physical servers.
Which Linux does it need?
AlmaLinux 8, 9.5, 9.6 or 10.1, installed as a clean minimal system. The Infrastructure edition also supports Astra Linux.
Can I mix different Linux distributions in one cluster?
No. Red Hat based and Debian based nodes cannot be combined in the same cluster.
Does it support Windows guests?
Yes, Windows is among the available templates.
What is a free alternative?
Proxmox VE is free and open source with clustering and high availability; XCP-ng is another open-source option.
