If your company uses virtual machines and you are guilty of related management tasks, you may want to be able to do so in a convenient GUI environment as well. Thanks to the Proxmox virtual environment, it’s possible. This specific platform is based on QEMU/KVM and LXC and provides an easy-to-use graphical Internet interface that allows you to manage those virtual machines from an unmarried access point, from anywhere you have access to your on-premises network.
Before you start installing Proxmox VE, keep in mind that the tool is open source, but it’s free. Once installed, you will want to purchase a license to use the platform. Proxmox VE license levels range from around $100 per year (for The Community version) to approximately $942 per year (for the Premium version). For more pricing information, see the Proxmox VE version matrix.
After reviewing and still interested in putting Proxmox VE into service, let’s make this happen.
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There are two tactics to install Proxmox: on a Debian (or Ubuntu) device that is already running or in bare metal. I’ll explain any of the methods. If you install it on bare metal, you want to download the latest ISO symbol from the Proxmox download page, record the symbol on a USB drive, and start from the drive.
I will first install in a running Debian Buster (server) example. Unfortunately, you can’t install Proxmox VE on Ubuntu Server, so it’s Debian or nothing.
Before performing any of the first steps, you will want to transfer the root user with the command:
You can now upload the Proxmox VE repository by running the command:
Once this is complete, load the Proxmox GPG key with the command:
Grant the replay permission key (if necessary) with the command:
Then, eligible with the command:
Run a distribution with the command:
Finally, Proxmox VE and Postfix with the command:
During this installation, you will be prompted to configure Postfix, configuring from:
No configuration
Website
Internet with Smarthost
Satellite system
Local only
This setting will determine how email alerts are sent. If you see alerts on your local device, you can choose Local Only. If you are using a third-party email host, choose Website. However, if your email server is the same device that hosts Proxmox, choose Internet with Smarthost (Figure A).
Figure A
Server configuration for Proxmox VE.
In the next window, you will be prompted to enter your full domain (Figure B).
Figure B
Configure your entire domain for Proxmox.
Once the installation is complete, you can point an Internet browser to https: // DIRECCIÓN_SERVIDOR: 8006 (where DIRECCIÓN_SERVIDOR is the IP address or server domain) to access the Proxmox Internet graphical interface.
Let’s see how it is installed on bare metal, which is the maximum route used. Once the ISO is downloaded and recorded on your USB stick, start the machine.
On the first screen, install Proxmox VE and tap Input on your keyboard (Figure C).
Figure C
Select the correct installation procedure type from the Proxmox home screen.
The following window asks you to conform to the EULA. Click I Agree to continue. In the window that appears, you want to choose the target hard disk for installation, from the list of target drives, and then click Next (Figure D).
Figure D
Select the target hard drive for Proxmox.
With the hard drive decided, your country/time zone/keyboard layout and click Next. You will then be prompted to enter and determine a new password for the administrator user and upload an email to receive alerts. Do this and click Next (Figure E).
Figure E
Configure the administrator password and email for Proxmox alerts.
Finally, you want to configure the FQDN of the server, as well as the IP address, network mask, gateway, and DNS server (Figure F).
Figure F
Proxmox configuration.
Click Next, and then, when invited, click Install.
The installation procedure will only take between two and five minutes, depending on your network connection and the speed of your hardware. Once complete, click Reget Started to finish. Once the device restarts, point your server to https: // DIRECCIÓN_SERVIDOR: 8006 (where DIRECCIÓN_SERVIDOR is the primary domain or IP of the hosting server) and log in with the root username and password that you created for installation. It will be located on the Proxmox home page, where you can start running with this resilient platform (Figure G).
Figure G
The main Proxmox window is able to start managing your virtual machines.
And that’s all it takes to install the Proxmox VE platform.
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Jack Wallen is an award for TechRepublic and Linux.com. He is an avid promoter of open source and voice of the Android expert. To learn more about Jack Wallen, visit his online page jackwallen.com.