Hive Fabric vs Ravada VDI
Hive Fabric
hiveio.comRavada VDI
ravada.upc.eduSide by side
| Figure | Hive Fabric | Ravada VDI |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Software | 8.2 (#8) | 7.4 (#17) |
| Deployment | The software installs from a single ISO, and the maker says a cluster can be operational in less than an hour. | Ravada works on Linux distributions, with packages supported for Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora servers, and it can also be installed with Docker. |
| Hypervisor | The platform is built on the open-source KVM hypervisor. | The maker says the backend currently supports KVM and is designed to allow future hypervisors to be added. |
| Support | HiveIO lists technical support by email and says it can assist with technical evaluations or formal proofs of concept. | The project directs users to documentation, GitHub issues, a Google group, and a public Telegram group, and says its developers are unpaid volunteers rather than a personal support hotline. |
Plans
Hive Fabric
- Hive Fabric Community EditionFree
- Hive Fabric CorePriced on request
- Hive Fabric EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
Hive Fabric
Hive Fabric is a virtualization platform for Windows and Linux desktop and server workloads, designed for deployments from edge sites to multiple enterprise locations. Built on the open-source KVM hypervisor, it combines hyperconverged and RAM-based storage with support for network and cloud storage. A browser portal provides access to desktops, servers, and physical systems over RDP or an integrated HTML5 client. Administrators can manage multiple sites and clusters from one web interface, and desktop pools can span hosts without shared storage, with live migration between them. Access can use MFA through RADIUS or token-based two-factor authentication. Data Protection replicates VMs, User Volumes, and Templates to selected cloud or on-premises storage on daily, weekly, or monthly schedules. Hive Sense checks phone-home data hourly and may initiate support engagement when it detects anomalies. Installation uses a single ISO. Community Edition costs nothing and provides a perpetual license for one physical host and unlimited VMs; activation requires ClusterID registration.
Ravada VDI
Ravada VDI is a free, open-source broker that lets users connect to virtual desktops. Its web frontend provides machine access and settings for users, while administrators manage virtual-machine pools and templates. The backend currently supports KVM and is designed for additional hypervisors later. Users need a web browser and a remote viewer supporting SPICE. Ravada runs on Linux distributions, with server packages supported for Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora, and Docker installation is also documented. SPICE viewer client guidance covers Linux and Windows, with macOS setup pages. SQL and LDAP authentication are supported, and the production guide includes SPICE-TLS configuration. The project identifies GPU support and identity integration. Ravada is licensed under AGPL and intended for sysadmins deploying on-premise virtual desktops; basic GNU/Linux administration knowledge is advised. Help is directed to documentation, GitHub issues, a Google group, and a public Telegram group rather than a personal support hotline.