Artec migrates from VMware to Proxmox VE, boosting performance by 40%

Artec Srl, an Italian precision manufacturer of pneumatic cylinders, struggled with high costs and lagging performance on a rigid VMware stack. By implementing a lean, hyper-converged Proxmox VE solution, the team unlocked superior speed and stability while keeping maintenance off the production line.

At Artec, continuous improvement depends on fast, predictable systems for production planning and quality control. The company sought to modernize its infrastructure to simplify operations, enable seamless scaling, and free up the IT team for higher-value work.

The previous VMware environment hindered progress: licensing costs strained budgets, and performance lagged at critical moments. Because the stack felt rigid, changes were slow, creating friction during production scheduling and increasing risk during maintenance windows. Artec needed a solution that combined enterprise stability with management simplicity.

Why openness and value won

Proxmox VE offered the perfect combination of performance, openness and value. Its integrated architecture and centralized interface matched Artec's preferred working methods. The open-source model aligned with the company’s desire for transparency and control, while eliminating lock-in and restrictive licensing.

As Artec's CEO, Claudio Gallerani, notes: “The open-source model gave us transparency and control, and the active community provided valuable support.” Proxmox VE also enabled a hyper-converged approach with native Ceph storage, allowing storage and computing resources to scale together.

A smooth transition

The implementation partner, MegaByte Sistemi, guided a structured migration to keep business disruption to a minimum. First, they assessed the existing landscape, and then designed a 3-node Proxmox VE cluster tailored to Artec’s availability and performance targets. The migration steps were scheduled during periods of low activity to minimize risk. After the switchover, the cluster was tuned and validated to ensure consistency and stability. The roll-out concluded with an enablement phase, which included hands-on training to enable Artec’s IT staff to operate the Proxmox VE web interface with confidence.

Built to run, ready to grow

The environment centers on a 3-node cluster using native Ceph for fault-tolerant storage.

• Hardware: Enterprise-grade dual-processor servers with redundant power.
• Storage: All-flash NVMe for low latency and consistent throughput.
• Networking: 100 GbE direct connections for Ceph replication, 25 GbE for cluster traffic, and 10 GbE for user data.

The environment has been shaped by a few best practices. Redundancy in storage and networking has been a key design consideration since the beginning. The team uses the native Ceph integration of Proxmox VE to ensure seamless scalability, and adheres to a regular update schedule. Routine Proxmox VE and Ceph updates can be implemented without any downtime, thereby ensuring that systems remain secure and in line with production schedules.

Metrics that matter: faster, simpler, cheaper

The gains were immediate:

• 40% Performance Boost: Processing times improved significantly across key workloads.
• Zero Production Impact: IT maintenance no longer interrupts manufacturing.
• Cost Efficiency: Eliminating VMware fees freed up budget for innovation.

Playbook for success: design, validate, enable

Artec’s project offers three key takeaways:

1. Design for availability early: Redundant networking and storage are essential.
2. Validate with metrics: Post-migration benchmarks quantified the gains.
3. Invest in people: Training was vital to making the benefits sustainable.

While these lessons are widely applicable, it was Artec’s disciplined execution that made them a reality. By combining clear architecture with consistent processes, the company achieved speed, stability and simplicity without creating an additional operational burden.

Roadmap for the future

With a proven reference design and a team comfortable operating it, Artec can scale up with ease. Adding nodes, expanding storage pools, or on-boarding new workloads can be done with confidence and without having to rethink the stack. Artec's transition from a costly, inflexible VMware setup to a streamlined Proxmox VE cluster provided the business with the most essential features: Speed, stability and simplicity. The company now processes critical tasks at least 40 percent faster, performs maintenance without impacting production, and operates with lower overheads. “We now have a reliable, efficient and future-ready solution that fits our strategy,” concludes Gallerani. By aligning technology with business needs, Artec has turned a performance bottleneck into a platform for continuous improvement.

Claudio Gallerani
CEO

About Artec

Artec is an Italian manufacturer specializing in pneumatic cylinders for industrial automation. Founded in 1982 in Cento, Ferrara, the company combines more than 40 years of sector expertise with continuous investment in technology, design, and production. Artec is known for delivering reliable, functional solutions tailored to a wide range of industrial automation needs.

About Proxmox partner: MegaByte Sistemi Informatici

MegaByte Sistemi Informatici S.r.l. is an Italy-based IT solutions provider and Proxmox partner located in Cento, Ferrara. The company supports customers with virtualization and infrastructure projects, helping them build reliable, high-performance, and cost-efficient IT environments with Proxmox VE.