Google Cloud VM Manager vs OPSI
Google Cloud VM Manager
cloud.google.com
OPSI
opsi.orgSide by side
| Figure | Google Cloud VM Manager | OPSI |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | €0.42/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 5 |
| Spec score · Patch Management Software | 8.8 (#4) | 9.0 (#2) |
| Spec score · IT Automation Software | 8.7 (#13) | 9.0 (#7) |
| Company founding | Gartner Peer Insights lists Google as founded in 1998 and headquartered in Mountain View, California. | uib says the Umwelt-Informatikbüro was founded in 1995 and later incorporated as UIB GmbH. |
| Documentation depth | The documentation includes overview, setup, operating-system details, patch guides, policy guides, troubleshooting, API reference links, Terraform guides, quotas, and release-note links. | The English 4.3 manual covers supported systems, quick start, server, clients, interfaces, products, modules, opsi-script, troubleshooting and contribution. |
| 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. | uib offers phone and email support through support contracts, as well as training, workshops, and webinars. |
| What it does | VM Manager is a Google Cloud suite for managing Windows and Linux operating systems across large Compute Engine VM fleets. | OPSI is a client-management system for Windows, Linux and macOS devices, using a Linux server for deployment, inventory and patching. |
Plans
Google Cloud VM Manager
- Free tierFree
- Usage-based VM ManagerFree
- VM ManagerFree
OPSI
- BasicFree
- CommunityFree
- Professional€4.99 a year
- Enterprise€8.99 a year
- Enterprise Cloud€11.99 a year
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.
OPSI
OPSI is an open-source client management system for software distribution, operating-system installation, inventory, patch management, and configuration. It can deploy Windows updates, MSI packages, setup programs, and system packages without interactive installation steps. It also automates installations of Windows client and server systems and common Linux distributions, including unattended and image-based setups.
Regular inventory collects hardware and software details, including hardware information from devices without an operating system. Administration can be centralized across multiple sites, each with its own depot servers, configurations, and software packages. Directory integrations support Active Directory, Samba 4, and OpenLDAP; single sign-on extensions support Microsoft Entra ID and Keycloak through SAML 2.0. OPSI-WebGUI runs in a modern browser without client-side installation. Community is free with unlimited devices and one worker process. Basic is free for up to 30 devices and one setup per user. Professional costs €499 a year and requires a minimum purchase of 100 devices; Enterprise costs €899 a year with the same minimum. Enterprise Cloud costs €1,199 a year, starting at 100 devices.