Lesson 01: "Step by step: Installation and configuration of Proxmox in a small server room"

We’re excited to start a series of practical guides on our website to bring you closer to topics related to server administration, virtualization, and IT security. We’ll soon be publishing articles and lessons that will help you manage IT infrastructure efficiently — whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user.

Proxmox VE is an incredibly powerful, open-source virtualization solution, ideal for small server rooms. It provides KVM virtualization, LXC containers, high availability management, and backups. In this article, I'll guide you through the installation and configuration of Proxmox VE, so you can start managing your server environment more effectively.

System Requirements

First, ensure that your hardware meets Proxmox's minimum requirements:

Processor: x86_64 with Intel VT/AMD-V support (for virtualization)
RAM: Minimum 2 GB, recommended 4 GB or more
Disk: Minimum 32 GB, SSD recommended
Network: Gigabit network card

1. Downloading the Proxmox VE Image
First, download the latest Proxmox VE ISO image from the official site: https://www.proxmox.com/en/downloads.

2. Preparing a Bootable USB
To install Proxmox, you’ll need a bootable USB drive:

1. Use a tool like Rufus (Windows) or dd (Linux).
2. Set up the bootable USB drive by selecting the Proxmox ISO image. For example, in Linux, to create a bootable USB, use the following command:

sudo dd if=/path/to/proxmox.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress

Be sure to specify the correct device (e.g., /dev/sdX) to avoid overwriting data.

3. Installing Proxmox VE

1. Plug the USB drive into your server and reboot, booting from the USB.
2. When it starts, select “Install Proxmox VE.”
3. Accept the license agreement.
4. Choose the disk on which Proxmox will be installed and continue.
5. Set up the time zone and network settings. A static IP address is recommended for better control.
6. Once installation is complete, remove the USB drive and restart the server.

4. First Login to the Web Interface
After Proxmox boots up, log into the web interface using your browser:
https://[SERVER_IP]:8006
Log in with the credentials set during installation.

5. Configuring Basic Settings
a) Updating Repositories
By default, Proxmox VE has the subscription repository enabled. If you don’t have a subscription, disable it:

1. Log in to the server via SSH.
2. Edit the pve-enterprise.list file:

nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pve-enterprise.list

1. Comment out its contents by adding # at the beginning of the line. Then, add the community repository: echo "deb http://download.proxmox.com/debian/pve $(lsb_release -sc) pve-no-subscription" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pve-no-subscription.list b) Updating the System Run an update to download the latest packages and patches:

apt update && apt full-upgrade

6. Creating Your First Virtual Machine

1. Go to Data Center > [Server Name] > Create VM.
2. Name your virtual machine.
3. Choose an installation image (ISO) from local storage.
4. Configure the CPU, RAM, and hard drive according to your requirements.
5. When finished, click “Finish” to create the machine.

7. Managing Resources and Networking
a) Configuring a Network Bridge
Proxmox creates a default bridge (vmbr0) that can be used to connect virtual machines to an external network:

1. Go to Data Center > [Server Name] > Network.

2. Configure the bridge and assign it an IP address if you want the VMs to have internet access.
   b) Creating VLANs
   To segment your network, you can use VLANs:

3. In the Network tab, click Create > Linux VLAN.

4. Configure the VLAN by assigning the appropriate ID.

8. Setting Up Backups
To protect your data, it’s a good idea to set up automatic backups:

1. Go to Data Center > Backup.

2. Choose the destination storage for the backups and set a schedule. You can configure backups for each VM, which makes recovery easier in case of failure.

9. Monitoring Resources
Proxmox VE includes built-in tools for monitoring CPU, RAM, and disk usage. These are available in each resource’s Summary tab, allowing you to analyze performance and manage resources effectively.

10. Securing Access to Proxmox
It’s recommended to configure a firewall and two-factor authentication:

1. Go to Data Center > Firewall and enable the firewall for the server and VMs.
2. Set up two-factor authentication in User Management for enhanced security. If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out! You can leave a comment below or send us a message — we’re happy to help and will do our best to answer your questions.

Additional Tips

Commands: The sudoand nanocommands used for creating a bootable USB and configuring the repository are standard, but be sure the paths (e.g., /dev/sdX when creating a USB) match the actual devices in your system.

Repository Configuration: The guide includes a command to add the Proxmox community repository, which should be correct. However, ensure that the $db_release variable aligns with the Proxmox version you’re using.

Network and Backup Configuration: Instructions on configuring a network bridge and backups follow best practices, but make sure they’re adapted to your network’s specifics and the required backup frequency.

If you have questions or need additional help, feel free to contact us! You can leave a comment below or send a message - we will be happy to help and try to dispel any doubts.