@seanpdx
Hi Sean
Welcome to the NethServer Community!
I’m a network consultant and have about 25-30 SME clients (and some friends Home Server) running NethServer as main server, offering AD, File, Mail, NextCloud, Zabbix Monitoring and a lot more.
NethServer is fantastic and has one of the best forum and members I’ve ever seen in Open Source!
Almost all my NethServers run virtualized in Proxmox, providing me Snapshots, Live Backups (Besides NethServers own Backups!) and fast Migration, if more than 2 Proxmox are running. Proxmox is just as free as NethServer, it’s up to you if you want to use a subscription or not. Supporting the community with a subscription is always a good thing!
Note: I do not use NethServer as firewall. All my clients / friends use OPNsense as a firewall, if you’re familiar with PFsense, try it’s fork. Both have very similiar features, I find OPNsenses approach better: No paid “enterprise” versions with more features, completly free to use. No subscriptions, but paid support if you want or need it! I’ve never needed this, it has always worked.
OPNsense has also full HA capability, any combination of physical or virtual - and yes, OPNsense runs very well and sleek in Proxmox too. Most of my clients use their box, supporting that community this way. The SoHo modell is basically a PCengines box with Flash and Software loaded.
Updates are very regular (once a month) and is a simple click in the WebGUI. Only every second one requires a reboot.
NethServer very rarely requires a reboot!
Nevertheless, NethServer has a fully loaded firewall built-in, if anyone uses it. I do have a NethServer set up as a firewall, for testing purposes!
See here for some ideas:
https://wiki.nethserver.org/doku.php?id=userguide:nethserver_and_proxmox
That said: NethServer or this community has never let me down!
You’re welcome to ask if you have any questions!
My 2 cents
Andy