10 {pve} is based on Debian. This is why the install disk images (ISO files)
11 provided by Proxmox include a complete Debian system (Debian 10 "buster" for
12 {pve} version 6.x) as well as all necessary {pve} packages.
14 The installer will guide through the setup, allowing you to partition the local
15 disk(s), apply basic system configurations (e.g. timezone, language, network)
16 and install all required packages. This process should not take more than a few
17 minutes. Installing with the provided ISO is the recommended method for new and
20 Alternatively, {pve} can be installed on top of an existing Debian system. This
21 option is only recommended for advanced users because detailed knowledge about
26 include::pve-system-requirements.adoc[]
31 Using the {pve} Installer
32 -------------------------
34 Download the installer ISO at {website}en/downloads. It includes the following:
36 * Complete operating system (Debian Linux, 64-bit)
38 * The {pve} installer, which partitions the local disk(s) with ext4,
39 ext3, xfs or ZFS and installs the operating system.
41 * {pve} kernel (Linux) with KVM and LXC support
43 * Complete toolset for administering virtual machines, containers and
44 all necessary resources
46 * Web-based management interface
48 NOTE: All existing data on the server will be removed during the installation
51 Please insert the installation media (e.g. USB flash drive, CD-ROM) and boot
54 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-grub-menu.png"]
56 After choosing the correct entry (e.g. Boot from USB) the {pve} menu will be
57 displayed and one of the following options can be selected:
61 Starts the normal installation.
63 TIP: It's possible to use the installation wizard with a keyboard only. Buttons
64 can be clicked by pressing the `ALT` key combined with the underlined character
65 from the respective button. For example, `ALT + N` to press a `Next` button.
67 Install {pve} (Debug mode)::
69 Starts the installation in debug mode. A console will be opened at several
70 installation steps. This helps to debug the situation if something goes wrong.
71 To exit a debug console, press `CTRL-D`. This options is primarily for
72 developers and not intended for general use.
76 With this option you can boot an existing installation. It searches all attached
77 hard disks. If it finds an existing installation, it boots directly into that
78 disk using the Linux kernel from the ISO. This can be useful if there are
79 problems with the boot block (grub) or the BIOS is unable to read the boot block
84 Runs `memtest86+`. This is useful to check if the memory is functional and free
87 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-select-target-disk.png"]
89 After selecting *Install {pve}* and accepting the EULA, the prompt to select the
90 target hard disk(s) will appear. The `Options` button opens the dialog to select
91 the target file system.
93 The default file system is `ext4`. The Logical Volume Manager (LVM) is used when
94 `ext3`, `ext4` or `xfs` ist selected. Additional options to restrict LVM space
95 can be set (see <<advanced_lvm_options,below>>).
97 {pve} can be installed on ZFS. As ZFS offers several software RAID levels, this
98 is an option for systems that don't have a hardware RAID controller. The target
99 disks must be selected in the `Options` dialog. More ZFS specific settings can
100 be changed under `Advanced Options` (see <<advanced_zfs_options,below>>).
102 WARNING: ZFS on top of any hardware RAID is not supported and can result in data
105 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-select-location.png", float="left"]
107 The next page asks for basic configuration options like the location, the time
108 zone, and keyboard layout. The location is used to select a download server
109 close by to speed up updates. The installer usually auto-detects these settings.
110 They only need to be changed in the rare case that auto detection fails or a
111 different keyboard layout should be used.
113 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-set-password.png"]
115 Next the password of the superuser (root) and an email address needs to be
116 specified. The password must consist of at least 5 characters. It's highly
117 recommended to use a stronger password. Some guidelines are:
119 - Use a minimum password length of 12 to 14 characters.
121 - Include lowercase and uppercase alphabetic characters, numbers, and symbols.
123 - Avoid character repetition, keyboard patterns, common dictionary words,
124 letter or number sequences, usernames, relative or pet names, romantic links
125 (current or past), and biographical information (for example ID numbers,
126 ancestors' names or dates).
128 The email address is used to send notifications to the system administrator.
131 - Information about available package updates.
133 - Error messages from periodic CRON jobs.
135 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-setup-network.png"]
137 The last step is the network configuration. Please note that during installation
138 you can either use an IPv4 or IPv6 address, but not both. To configure a dual
139 stack node, add additional IP addresses after the installation.
141 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-installation.png", float="left"]
143 The next step shows a summary of the previously selected options. Re-check every
144 setting and use the `Previous` button if a setting needs to be changed. To
145 accept, press `Install`. The installation starts to format disks and copies
146 packages to the target. Please wait until this step has finished; then remove
147 the installation medium and restart your system.
149 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-install-summary.png"]
151 If the installation failed check out specific errors on the second TTY
152 (`CTRL + ALT + F2'), ensure that the systems meets the
153 xref:install_minimal_requirements[minimum requirements]. If the installation
154 is still not working look at the xref:getting_help[how to get help chapter].
156 Further configuration is done via the Proxmox web interface. Point your browser
157 to the IP address given during installation (https://youripaddress:8006).
159 NOTE: Default login is "root" (realm 'PAM') and the root password is defined
160 during the installation process.
162 [[advanced_lvm_options]]
163 Advanced LVM Configuration Options
164 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
166 The installer creates a Volume Group (VG) called `pve`, and additional Logical
167 Volumes (LVs) called `root`, `data`, and `swap`. To control the size of these
172 Defines the total hard disk size to be used. This way you can reserve free space
173 on the hard disk for further partitioning (for example for an additional PV and
174 VG on the same hard disk that can be used for LVM storage).
178 Defines the size of the `swap` volume. The default is the size of the
179 installed memory, minimum 4 GB and maximum 8 GB. The resulting value cannot
180 be greater than `hdsize/8`.
182 NOTE: If set to `0`, no `swap` volume will be created.
186 Defines the maximum size of the `root` volume, which stores the operation
187 system. The maximum limit of the `root` volume size is `hdsize/4`.
191 Defines the maximum size of the `data` volume. The actual size of the `data`
194 `datasize = hdsize - rootsize - swapsize - minfree`
196 Where `datasize` cannot be bigger than `maxvz`.
198 NOTE: In case of LVM thin, the `data` pool will only be created if `datasize` is
201 NOTE: If set to `0`, no `data` volume will be created and the storage
202 configuration will be adapted accordingly.
206 Defines the amount of free space left in the LVM volume group `pve`. With more
207 than 128GB storage available the default is 16GB, else `hdsize/8` will be used.
209 NOTE: LVM requires free space in the VG for snapshot creation (not required for
212 [[advanced_zfs_options]]
213 Advanced ZFS Configuration Options
214 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
215 The installer creates the ZFS pool `rpool`. No swap space is created but you can
216 reserve some unpartitioned space on the install disks for swap. You can also
217 create a swap zvol after the installation, altough this can lead to problems.
218 (see <<zfs_swap,ZFS swap notes>>).
222 Defines the `ashift` value for the created pool. The `ashift` needs to be set at
223 least to the sector-size of the underlying disks (2 to the power of `ashift` is
224 the sector-size), or any disk which might be put in the pool (for example the
225 replacement of a defective disk).
229 Defines whether compression is enabled for `rpool`.
233 Defines which checksumming algorithm should be used for `rpool`.
237 Defines the `copies` parameter for `rpool`. Check the `zfs(8)` manpage for the
238 semantics, and why this does not replace redundancy on disk-level.
242 Defines the total hard disk size to be used. This is useful to save free space
243 on the hard disk(s) for further partitioning (for exmaple to create a
244 swap-partition). `hdsize` is only honored for bootable disks, that is only the
245 first disk or mirror for RAID0, RAID1 or RAID10, and all disks in RAID-Z[123].
251 ZFS works best with a lot of memory. If you intend to use ZFS make sure to have
252 enough RAM available for it. A good calculation is 4GB plus 1GB RAM for each TB
255 ZFS can use a dedicated drive as write cache, called the ZFS Intent Log (ZIL).
256 Use a fast drive (SSD) for it. It can be added after installation with the
260 # zpool add <pool-name> log </dev/path_to_fast_ssd>
265 link:/wiki/Install_from_USB_Stick[Install from USB Stick]
266 ---------------------------------------------------------
268 link:/wiki/Install_Proxmox_VE_on_Debian_Buster[Install Proxmox VE on Debian Buster]
269 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
275 include::pve-usbstick.adoc[]
277 Install {pve} on Debian
278 -----------------------
280 {pve} ships as a set of Debian packages and can be installed on to of a standard
282 xref:sysadmin_package_repositories[After configuring the repositories] you need
283 to run the following commands:
287 # apt-get install proxmox-ve
290 Installing on top of an existing Debian installation looks easy, but it presumes
291 that the base system has been installed correctly and that you know how you want
292 to configure and use the local storage. You also need to configure the network
295 In general, this is not trivial, especially when LVM or ZFS is used.
297 A detailed step by step how-to can be found on the
298 {webwiki-url}Install_Proxmox_VE_on_Debian_Stretch[wiki].
308 * List of all official tutorials on our
309 http://www.youtube.com/proxmoxve[{pve} YouTube Channel]
311 * Tutorials in Spanish language on
312 http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUULBIhA5QDBdNf1pcTZ5UXhek63Fij8z[ITexperts.es
319 * link:/wiki/System_Requirements[System Requirements]
321 * link:/wiki/Package_Repositories[Package Repositories]
323 * link:/wiki/Host_System_Administration[Host System Administration]
325 * link:/wiki/Network_Configuration[Network Configuration]
327 * link:/wiki/Installation:_Tips_and_Tricks[Installation: Tips and Tricks]