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This page covers a common setup. Proxmox VE runs virtual machines. A container manager such as Komodo, Dockge or Portainer runs inside a VM and manages Docker containers and Compose projects.

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What these tools do well

  • Proxmox VE is an open-source virtualization platform. It runs full virtual machines and containers, with storage, networking and backup features for them. If you need a hypervisor, it is a standard choice.
  • Dockge is a manager for Compose stacks with a simple web editor.
  • Portainer gives a web interface for Docker environments and teams.
  • Komodo builds and deploys containers, Compose stacks and Swarm services across servers, with an API and a CLI.
These tools give you control and flexibility. You decide how every part fits together.

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What kombify adds

kombify defines identity, access policy, routing, backup and updates for the whole homelab and applies them from one definition. It does not replace a hypervisor or a container manager.
  • On Proxmox, kombify uses your installation as a substrate. Techstack creates a guest VM, and the StackKit runs inside the guest. See Run kombify on Proxmox VE. This path is in development and has no verified lifecycle run at the current release.
  • Komodo is an optional application platform in StackKits, selected explicitly. Its adapter is beta, and full lifecycle acceptance is pending. See Komodo.
  • Portainer is not part of the kombify catalog, and Dockge is experimental only. You can run either next to a kombify host. They would manage containers that kombify does not own.

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Limits of kombify today

  • kombify is before 1.0 and releases often.
  • Compatibility is still being verified. See OS compatibility for the current rows.
  • It does not create or manage hypervisor storage, disks or RAID.
  • Bringing an existing Compose project under the homelab’s sign-in, routing and backup is not implemented, so such a project stays outside kombify’s definition.

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What kombify does today

  • Passkey sign-in through Pocket ID, no default passwords.
  • An explicit access policy per service.
  • Restore into an isolated staging copy.
  • Updates that take a snapshot first.
  • Plan, apply and verify from one definition.
  • A local MCP server on every install.

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Use them together

A reasonable setup is Proxmox VE on the hardware and a kombify-defined guest VM for the services you want defined and repeatable. Keep other VMs and containers on Proxmox with the tool you prefer. If you want a manager with a web interface for Docker, run Portainer or Komodo as you do today. kombify does not require you to give them up. Choose a Proxmox-only setup with a container manager if you want full manual control and are comfortable assembling sign-in, backup and updates yourself. Last reviewed: 2026-11-10