1 [[chapter_installation]]
11 {pve} is based on Debian. This is why the install disk images (ISO files)
12 provided by Proxmox include a complete Debian system (Debian 10 Buster for
13 {pve} version 6.x) as well as all necessary {pve} packages.
15 The installer will guide through the setup, allowing you to partition the local
16 disk(s), apply basic system configurations (for example, timezone, language,
17 network) and install all required packages. This process should not take more
18 than a few minutes. Installing with the provided ISO is the recommended method
19 for new and existing users.
21 Alternatively, {pve} can be installed on top of an existing Debian system. This
22 option is only recommended for advanced users because detailed knowledge about
27 include::pve-system-requirements.adoc[]
32 [[installation_installer]]
33 Using the {pve} Installer
34 -------------------------
36 Download the installer ISO at {website}en/downloads. It includes the following:
38 * Complete operating system (Debian Linux, 64-bit)
40 * The {pve} installer, which partitions the local disk(s) with ext4, ext3, xfs
41 or ZFS and installs the operating system.
43 * {pve} Linux kernel with KVM and LXC support
45 * Complete toolset for administering virtual machines, containers, the host
46 system, clusters and all necessary resources
48 * Web-based management interface
50 NOTE: All existing data on the server will be removed during the installation
53 Please insert the installation media (e.g. USB flash drive, CD-ROM) and boot
56 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-grub-menu.png"]
58 After choosing the correct entry (e.g. Boot from USB) the {pve} menu will be
59 displayed and one of the following options can be selected:
63 Starts the normal installation.
65 TIP: It's possible to use the installation wizard with a keyboard only. Buttons
66 can be clicked by pressing the `ALT` key combined with the underlined character
67 from the respective button. For example, `ALT + N` to press a `Next` button.
69 Install {pve} (Debug mode)::
71 Starts the installation in debug mode. A console will be opened at several
72 installation steps. This helps to debug the situation if something goes wrong.
73 To exit a debug console, press `CTRL-D`. This option can be used to boot a live
74 system with all basic tools available. You can use it, for example, to
75 xref:chapter_zfs[repair a degraded ZFS 'rpool'] or fix the
76 xref:sysboot[bootloader] for an existing {pve} setup.
80 With this option you can boot an existing installation. It searches all attached
81 hard disks. If it finds an existing installation, it boots directly into that
82 disk using the Linux kernel from the ISO. This can be useful if there are
83 problems with the boot block (grub) or the BIOS is unable to read the boot block
88 Runs `memtest86+`. This is useful to check if the memory is functional and free
91 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-select-target-disk.png"]
93 After selecting *Install {pve}* and accepting the EULA, the prompt to select the
94 target hard disk(s) will appear. The `Options` button opens the dialog to select
95 the target file system.
97 The default file system is `ext4`. The Logical Volume Manager (LVM) is used when
98 `ext3`, `ext4` or `xfs` ist selected. Additional options to restrict LVM space
99 can be set (see <<advanced_lvm_options,below>>).
101 {pve} can be installed on ZFS. As ZFS offers several software RAID levels, this
102 is an option for systems that don't have a hardware RAID controller. The target
103 disks must be selected in the `Options` dialog. More ZFS specific settings can
104 be changed under `Advanced Options` (see <<advanced_zfs_options,below>>).
106 WARNING: ZFS on top of any hardware RAID is not supported and can result in data
109 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-select-location.png", float="left"]
111 The next page asks for basic configuration options like the location, the time
112 zone, and keyboard layout. The location is used to select a download server
113 close by to speed up updates. The installer usually auto-detects these settings.
114 They only need to be changed in the rare case that auto detection fails or a
115 different keyboard layout should be used.
117 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-set-password.png"]
119 Next the password of the superuser (root) and an email address needs to be
120 specified. The password must consist of at least 5 characters. It's highly
121 recommended to use a stronger password. Some guidelines are:
123 - Use a minimum password length of 12 to 14 characters.
125 - Include lowercase and uppercase alphabetic characters, numbers, and symbols.
127 - Avoid character repetition, keyboard patterns, common dictionary words,
128 letter or number sequences, usernames, relative or pet names, romantic links
129 (current or past), and biographical information (for example ID numbers,
130 ancestors' names or dates).
132 The email address is used to send notifications to the system administrator.
135 - Information about available package updates.
137 - Error messages from periodic CRON jobs.
139 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-setup-network.png"]
141 The last step is the network configuration. Please note that during installation
142 you can either use an IPv4 or IPv6 address, but not both. To configure a dual
143 stack node, add additional IP addresses after the installation.
145 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-installation.png", float="left"]
147 The next step shows a summary of the previously selected options. Re-check every
148 setting and use the `Previous` button if a setting needs to be changed. To
149 accept, press `Install`. The installation starts to format disks and copies
150 packages to the target. Please wait until this step has finished; then remove
151 the installation medium and restart your system.
153 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-install-summary.png"]
155 If the installation failed check out specific errors on the second TTY
156 (`CTRL + ALT + F2'), ensure that the systems meets the
157 xref:install_minimal_requirements[minimum requirements]. If the installation
158 is still not working look at the xref:getting_help[how to get help chapter].
160 Further configuration is done via the Proxmox web interface. Point your browser
161 to the IP address given during installation (https://youripaddress:8006).
163 NOTE: Default login is "root" (realm 'PAM') and the root password is defined
164 during the installation process.
166 [[advanced_lvm_options]]
167 Advanced LVM Configuration Options
168 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
170 The installer creates a Volume Group (VG) called `pve`, and additional Logical
171 Volumes (LVs) called `root`, `data`, and `swap`. To control the size of these
176 Defines the total hard disk size to be used. This way you can reserve free space
177 on the hard disk for further partitioning (for example for an additional PV and
178 VG on the same hard disk that can be used for LVM storage).
182 Defines the size of the `swap` volume. The default is the size of the installed
183 memory, minimum 4 GB and maximum 8 GB. The resulting value cannot be greater
186 NOTE: If set to `0`, no `swap` volume will be created.
190 Defines the maximum size of the `root` volume, which stores the operation
191 system. The maximum limit of the `root` volume size is `hdsize/4`.
195 Defines the maximum size of the `data` volume. The actual size of the `data`
198 `datasize = hdsize - rootsize - swapsize - minfree`
200 Where `datasize` cannot be bigger than `maxvz`.
202 NOTE: In case of LVM thin, the `data` pool will only be created if `datasize` is
205 NOTE: If set to `0`, no `data` volume will be created and the storage
206 configuration will be adapted accordingly.
210 Defines the amount of free space left in the LVM volume group `pve`. With more
211 than 128GB storage available the default is 16GB, else `hdsize/8` will be used.
213 NOTE: LVM requires free space in the VG for snapshot creation (not required for
216 [[advanced_zfs_options]]
217 Advanced ZFS Configuration Options
218 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
219 The installer creates the ZFS pool `rpool`. No swap space is created but you can
220 reserve some unpartitioned space on the install disks for swap. You can also
221 create a swap zvol after the installation, altough this can lead to problems.
222 (see <<zfs_swap,ZFS swap notes>>).
226 Defines the `ashift` value for the created pool. The `ashift` needs to be set at
227 least to the sector-size of the underlying disks (2 to the power of `ashift` is
228 the sector-size), or any disk which might be put in the pool (for example the
229 replacement of a defective disk).
233 Defines whether compression is enabled for `rpool`.
237 Defines which checksumming algorithm should be used for `rpool`.
241 Defines the `copies` parameter for `rpool`. Check the `zfs(8)` manpage for the
242 semantics, and why this does not replace redundancy on disk-level.
246 Defines the total hard disk size to be used. This is useful to save free space
247 on the hard disk(s) for further partitioning (for exmaple to create a
248 swap-partition). `hdsize` is only honored for bootable disks, that is only the
249 first disk or mirror for RAID0, RAID1 or RAID10, and all disks in RAID-Z[123].
255 ZFS works best with a lot of memory. If you intend to use ZFS make sure to have
256 enough RAM available for it. A good calculation is 4GB plus 1GB RAM for each TB
259 ZFS can use a dedicated drive as write cache, called the ZFS Intent Log (ZIL).
260 Use a fast drive (SSD) for it. It can be added after installation with the
264 # zpool add <pool-name> log </dev/path_to_fast_ssd>
269 link:/wiki/Install_from_USB_Stick[Install from USB Stick]
270 ---------------------------------------------------------
272 link:/wiki/Install_Proxmox_VE_on_Debian_Buster[Install Proxmox VE on Debian Buster]
273 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
279 include::pve-usbstick.adoc[]
281 Install {pve} on Debian
282 -----------------------
284 {pve} ships as a set of Debian packages and can be installed on to of a standard
286 xref:sysadmin_package_repositories[After configuring the repositories] you need
287 to run the following commands:
291 # apt-get install proxmox-ve
294 Installing on top of an existing Debian installation looks easy, but it presumes
295 that the base system has been installed correctly and that you know how you want
296 to configure and use the local storage. You also need to configure the network
299 In general, this is not trivial, especially when LVM or ZFS is used.
301 A detailed step by step how-to can be found on the
302 {webwiki-url}Install_Proxmox_VE_on_Debian_Stretch[wiki].
312 * List of all official tutorials on our
313 http://www.youtube.com/proxmoxve[{pve} YouTube Channel]
315 * Tutorials in Spanish language on
316 http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUULBIhA5QDBdNf1pcTZ5UXhek63Fij8z[ITexperts.es
323 * link:/wiki/System_Requirements[System Requirements]
325 * link:/wiki/Package_Repositories[Package Repositories]
327 * link:/wiki/Host_System_Administration[Host System Administration]
329 * link:/wiki/Network_Configuration[Network Configuration]
331 * link:/wiki/Installation:_Tips_and_Tricks[Installation: Tips and Tricks]