pve-installation.adoc

   1 Installing Proxmox VE
   2 =====================
   3 ifndef::manvolnum[]
   4 :pve-toplevel:
   5 endif::manvolnum[]
   6 ifdef::wiki[]
   7 :title: Installation
   8 endif::wiki[]
   9
  10 {pve} is based on Debian and comes with an installation CD-ROM
  11 which includes a complete Debian system ("stretch" for version 5.x) as
  12 well as all necessary {pve} packages.
  13
  14 The installer just asks you a few questions, then partitions the local
  15 disk(s), installs all required packages, and configures the system
  16 including a basic network setup. You can get a fully functional system
  17 within a few minutes. This is the preferred and recommended
  18 installation method.
  19
  20 Alternatively, {pve} can be installed on top of an existing Debian
  21 system. This option is only recommended for advanced users since
  22 detail knowledge about {pve} is necessary.
  23
  24 ifndef::wiki[]
  25
  26 include::pve-system-requirements.adoc[]
  27
  28 endif::wiki[]
  29
  30
  31 Using the {pve} Installation CD-ROM
  32 -----------------------------------
  33
  34 You can download the ISO from http://www.proxmox.com. It includes the
  35 following:
  36
  37 * Complete operating system (Debian Linux, 64-bit)
  38
  39 * The {pve} installer, which partitions the hard drive(s) with ext4,
  40   ext3, xfs or ZFS and installs the operating system.
  41
  42 * {pve} kernel (Linux) with LXC and KVM support
  43
  44 * Complete toolset for administering virtual machines, containers and
  45   all necessary resources
  46
  47 * Web based management interface for using the toolset
  48
  49 NOTE: By default, the complete server is used and all existing data is
  50 removed.
  51
  52 [thumbnail="pve-grub-menu.png"]
  53
  54 Please insert the installation CD-ROM, then boot from that
  55 drive. Immediately afterwards you can choose the following menu
  56 options:
  57
  58 Install Proxmox VE::
  59
  60 Start normal installation.
  61
  62 Install Proxmox VE (Debug mode)::
  63
  64 Start installation in debug mode. It opens a shell console at several
  65 installation steps, so that you can debug things if something goes
  66 wrong. Please press `CTRL-D` to exit those debug consoles and continue
  67 installation. This option is mostly for developers and not meant for
  68 general use.
  69
  70 Rescue Boot::
  71
  72 This option allows you to boot an existing installation. It searches
  73 all attached hard disks and, if it finds an existing installation,
  74 boots directly into that disk using the existing Linux kernel. This
  75 can be useful if there are problems with the boot block (grub), or the
  76 BIOS is unable to read the boot block from the disk.
  77
  78 Test Memory::
  79
  80 Runs `memtest86+`. This is useful to check if your memory is
  81 functional and error free.
  82
  83 [thumbnail="pve-select-target-disk.png"]
  84
  85 You normally select *Install Proxmox VE* to start the installation.
  86 After that you get prompted to select the target hard disk(s). The
  87 `Options` button lets you select the target file system, which
  88 defaults to `ext4`. The installer uses LVM if you select `ext3`,
  89 `ext4` or `xfs` as file system, and offers additional option to
  90 restrict LVM space (see <<advanced_lvm_options,below>>)
  91
  92 If you have more than one disk, you can also use ZFS as file system.
  93 ZFS supports several software RAID levels, so this is specially useful
  94 if you do not have a hardware RAID controller. The `Options` button
  95 lets you select the ZFS RAID level, and you can choose disks there.
  96
  97 [thumbnail="pve-select-location.png", float="left"]
  98
  99 The next page just ask for basic configuration options like your
 100 location, the time zone and keyboard layout. The location is used to
 101 select a download server near you to speedup updates. The installer is
 102 usually able to auto detect those setting, so you only need to change
 103 them in rare situations when auto detection fails, or when you want to
 104 use some special keyboard layout not commonly used in your country.
 105
 106 [thumbnail="pve-set-password.png"]
 107
 108 You then need to specify an email address and the superuser (root)
 109 password. The password must have at least 5 characters, but we highly
 110 recommend to use stronger passwords - here are some guidelines:
 111
 112 - Use a minimum password length of 12 to 14 characters.
 113
 114 - Include lowercase and uppercase alphabetic characters, numbers and symbols.
 115
 116 - Avoid character repetition, keyboard patterns, dictionary words,
 117   letter or number sequences, usernames, relative or pet names,
 118   romantic links (current or past) and biographical information (e.g.,
 119   ID numbers, ancestors' names or dates).
 120
 121 It is sometimes necessary to send notification to the system
 122 administrator, for example:
 123
 124 - Information about available package updates.
 125
 126 - Error messages from periodic CRON jobs.
 127
 128 All those notification mails will be sent to the specified email
 129 address.
 130
 131 [thumbnail="pve-setup-network.png"]
 132
 133 The last step is the network configuration. Please note that you can
 134 use either IPv4 or IPv6 here, but not both. If you want to configure a
 135 dual stack node, you can easily do that after installation.
 136
 137 [thumbnail="pve-installation.png", float="left"]
 138
 139 If you press `Next` now, installation starts to format disks, and
 140 copies packages to the target. Please wait until that is finished,
 141 then reboot the server.
 142
 143 Further configuration is done via the Proxmox web interface. Just
 144 point your browser to the IP address given during installation
 145 (https://youripaddress:8006).
 146
 147 NOTE: Default login is "root" (realm 'PAM') and the root password is
 148 defined during the installation process.
 149
 150
 151 [[advanced_lvm_options]]
 152 Advanced LVM Configuration Options
 153 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 154
 155 The installer creates a Volume Group (VG) called `pve`, and additional
 156 Logical Volumes (LVs) called `root`, `data` and `swap`. The size of
 157 those volumes can be controlled with:
 158
 159 `hdsize`::
 160
 161 Defines the total HD size to be used. This way you can save free
 162 space on the HD for further partitioning (i.e. for an additional PV
 163 and VG on the same hard disk that can be used for LVM storage).
 164
 165 `swapsize`::
 166
 167 Defines the size of the `swap` volume. The default is the size of the
 168 installed memory, minimum 4 GB and maximum 8 GB. The resulting value cannot
 169 be greater than `hdsize/8`.
 170
 171 `maxroot`::
 172
 173 Defines the maximum size of the `root` volume, which stores the operation
 174 system. The maximum limit of the `root` volume size is `hdsize/4`.
 175
 176 `maxvz`::
 177
 178 Defines the maximum size of the `data` volume. The actual size of the `data`
 179 volume is:
 180 +
 181 `datasize = hdsize - rootsize - swapsize - minfree`
 182 +
 183 Where `datasize` cannot be bigger than `maxvz`.
 184
 185 `minfree`::
 186
 187 Defines the amount of free space left in LVM volume group `pve`.
 188 With more than 128GB storage available the default is 16GB, else `hdsize/8`
 189 will be used.
 190 +
 191 NOTE: LVM requires free space in the VG for snapshot creation (not
 192 required for lvmthin snapshots).
 193
 194
 195 ZFS Performance Tips
 196 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 197
 198 ZFS uses a lot of memory, so it is best to add additional RAM if you
 199 want to use ZFS. A good calculation is 4GB plus 1GB RAM for each TB
 200 RAW disk space.
 201
 202 ZFS also provides the feature to use a fast SSD drive as write cache. The
 203 write cache is called the ZFS Intent Log (ZIL). You can add that after
 204 installation using the following command:
 205
 206  zpool add <pool-name> log </dev/path_to_fast_ssd>
 207
 208
 209 ifdef::wiki[]
 210
 211 link:/wiki/Install_Proxmox_VE_on_Debian_Stretch[Install Proxmox VE on Debian Stretch]
 212 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 213
 214 link:/wiki/Install_from_USB_Stick[Install from USB Stick]
 215 ---------------------------------------------------------
 216
 217 endif::wiki[]
 218
 219 ifndef::wiki[]
 220
 221 Install {pve} on Debian
 222 -----------------------
 223
 224 {pve} ships as a set of Debian packages, so you can install it
 225 on top of a normal Debian installation. After configuring the
 226 repositories, you need to run:
 227
 228 [source,bash]
 229 ----
 230 apt-get update
 231 apt-get install proxmox-ve
 232 ----
 233
 234 Installing on top of an existing Debian installation looks easy, but
 235 it presumes that you have correctly installed the base system, and you
 236 know how you want to configure and use the local storage. Network
 237 configuration is also completely up to you.
 238
 239 In general, this is not trivial, especially when you use LVM or
 240 ZFS.
 241
 242 You can find a detailed step by step howto on the
 243 {webwiki-url}Install_Proxmox_VE_on_Debian_Stretch[wiki].
 244
 245 include::pve-usbstick.adoc[]
 246
 247 endif::wiki[]
 248
 249 ifdef::wiki[]
 250
 251 Video Tutorials
 252 ---------------
 253
 254 * List of all official tutorials on our
 255   http://www.youtube.com/proxmoxve[Proxmox VE YouTube Channel]
 256
 257 * Tutorials in Spanish language on
 258   http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUULBIhA5QDBdNf1pcTZ5UXhek63Fij8z[ITexperts.es
 259   YouTube Play List]
 260
 261
 262 See Also
 263 --------
 264
 265 * link:/wiki/System_Requirements[System Requirements]
 266
 267 * link:/wiki/Package_Repositories[Package Repositories]
 268
 269 * link:/wiki/Host_System_Administration[Host System Administration]
 270
 271 * link:/wiki/Network_Configuration[Network Configuration]
 272
 273 * link:/wiki/Installation:_Tips_and_Tricks[Installation: Tips and Tricks]
 274
 275 endif::wiki[]