Google Cloud VM Manager vs OpenVox
Google Cloud VM Manager
cloud.google.com
OpenVox
docs.openvoxproject.orgSide by side
| Figure | Google Cloud VM Manager | OpenVox |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Configuration Management Tools | 8.7 (#4) | 7.7 (#14) |
| Spec score · IT Automation Software | 8.7 (#13) | 7.7 (#44) |
| Integrations | VM Manager works with the Google Cloud console, Google Cloud CLI, direct OS Config API calls, and Terraform resources. | OpenVox Server exposes HTTP APIs, including catalog, certificate authority, status, and metrics endpoints. |
| Purpose | VM Manager manages operating systems for large Windows and Linux VM fleets running on Compute Engine. | OpenVox is a community-maintained implementation of Puppet, a configuration management system that manages system state through a declarative language. |
| Support | Google Cloud support packages include options such as 24/7 coverage, phone support and access to a technical support manager; VM Manager questions can also be posted to Stack Overflow. | The documentation directs users to community help and a list of commercial support partners. |
Plans
Google Cloud VM Manager
- Free tierFree
- Usage-based VM ManagerFree
- VM ManagerFree
In their own words
Google Cloud VM Manager
Google Cloud VM Manager manages operating systems across Windows and Linux VM fleets running on Compute Engine. Its tools cover patch management, OS inventory and OS policies. Patch jobs apply updates on demand or on a schedule, report compliance, and can use selected approvals and pre- or post-patching scripts. OS inventory collects hostnames, OS and kernel versions, installed packages, available updates, Windows applications and OS vulnerabilities. OS policies centralize software configuration deployment, maintenance and reporting. Teams can use the Google Cloud console, Google Cloud CLI or OS Config API; Terraform can extend scope across projects. The service supports projects inside VPC Service Controls perimeters, but patch jobs operate on VMs in one project at a time. A free tier covers 100 VMs per Cloud Billing account per month, and limited-functionality mode is available at no cost for unlimited VMs. After the free tier, the listed charge is $0.003 per hour per VM with an active OS Config agent.
OpenVox
OpenVox is a community-maintained implementation of Puppet for declarative configuration management: it describes system state and applies it through agents managed by a server or in standalone mode. In standalone use, `puppet apply` compiles and applies a catalog locally. Existing Puppet Open Source manifests, modules, Hiera data, and tooling work unchanged. It is self-hosted and lists support for Enterprise Linux, Amazon Linux, Fedora, SLES, Debian, Ubuntu, macOS, and Windows. Agent/server communication uses HTTPS with mutual TLS; agents must first obtain a signed certificate from a local Puppet certificate authority or an external CA. OpenVox Server exposes HTTP APIs for catalogs, certificate authority, status, and metrics. OpenVoxDB stores reports, inventory, and exported resources, while OpenBolt automates infrastructure over SSH and WinRM without agents. Documented packages include agent, server, database, termini, and orchestration components. The software is free and community-maintained. Documentation points users to community help and commercial support partners.