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 {website}. 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="screenshot/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 TIP: It is possible to only use the keyboard to progress through the
  63 installation wizard. Buttons can be pressed by pressing down the `ALT`
  64 key, combined with the underlined character from the respective Button.
  65 For example, `ALT + N` to press a `Next` button.
  66
  67 Install Proxmox VE (Debug mode)::
  68
  69 Start installation in debug mode. It opens a shell console at several
  70 installation steps, so that you can debug things if something goes
  71 wrong. Please press `CTRL-D` to exit those debug consoles and continue
  72 installation. This option is mostly for developers and not meant for
  73 general use.
  74
  75 Rescue Boot::
  76
  77 This option allows you to boot an existing installation. It searches
  78 all attached hard disks and, if it finds an existing installation,
  79 boots directly into that disk using the existing Linux kernel. This
  80 can be useful if there are problems with the boot block (grub), or the
  81 BIOS is unable to read the boot block from the disk.
  82
  83 Test Memory::
  84
  85 Runs `memtest86+`. This is useful to check if your memory is
  86 functional and error free.
  87
  88 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-select-target-disk.png"]
  89
  90 You normally select *Install Proxmox VE* to start the installation.
  91 After that you get prompted to select the target hard disk(s). The
  92 `Options` button lets you select the target file system, which
  93 defaults to `ext4`. The installer uses LVM if you select `ext3`,
  94 `ext4` or `xfs` as file system, and offers additional option to
  95 restrict LVM space (see <<advanced_lvm_options,below>>)
  96
  97 If you have more than one disk, you can also use ZFS as file system.
  98 ZFS supports several software RAID levels, so this is specially useful
  99 if you do not have a hardware RAID controller. The `Options` button
 100 lets you select the ZFS RAID level, and you can choose disks there.
 101
 102 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-select-location.png", float="left"]
 103
 104 The next page just ask for basic configuration options like your
 105 location, the time zone and keyboard layout. The location is used to
 106 select a download server near you to speedup updates. The installer is
 107 usually able to auto detect those setting, so you only need to change
 108 them in rare situations when auto detection fails, or when you want to
 109 use some special keyboard layout not commonly used in your country.
 110
 111 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-set-password.png"]
 112
 113 You then need to specify an email address and the superuser (root)
 114 password. The password must have at least 5 characters, but we highly
 115 recommend to use stronger passwords - here are some guidelines:
 116
 117 - Use a minimum password length of 12 to 14 characters.
 118
 119 - Include lowercase and uppercase alphabetic characters, numbers and symbols.
 120
 121 - Avoid character repetition, keyboard patterns, dictionary words,
 122   letter or number sequences, usernames, relative or pet names,
 123   romantic links (current or past) and biographical information (e.g.,
 124   ID numbers, ancestors' names or dates).
 125
 126 It is sometimes necessary to send notification to the system
 127 administrator, for example:
 128
 129 - Information about available package updates.
 130
 131 - Error messages from periodic CRON jobs.
 132
 133 All those notification mails will be sent to the specified email
 134 address.
 135
 136 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-setup-network.png"]
 137
 138 The last step is the network configuration. Please note that you can
 139 use either IPv4 or IPv6 here, but not both. If you want to configure a
 140 dual stack node, you can easily do that after installation.
 141
 142 [thumbnail="screenshot/pve-installation.png", float="left"]
 143
 144 If you press `Next` now, installation starts to format disks, and
 145 copies packages to the target. Please wait until that is finished,
 146 then reboot the server.
 147
 148 Further configuration is done via the Proxmox web interface. Just
 149 point your browser to the IP address given during installation
 150 (https://youripaddress:8006).
 151
 152 NOTE: Default login is "root" (realm 'PAM') and the root password is
 153 defined during the installation process.
 154
 155
 156 [[advanced_lvm_options]]
 157 Advanced LVM Configuration Options
 158 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 159
 160 The installer creates a Volume Group (VG) called `pve`, and additional
 161 Logical Volumes (LVs) called `root`, `data` and `swap`. The size of
 162 those volumes can be controlled with:
 163
 164 `hdsize`::
 165
 166 Defines the total HD size to be used. This way you can save free
 167 space on the HD for further partitioning (i.e. for an additional PV
 168 and VG on the same hard disk that can be used for LVM storage).
 169
 170 `swapsize`::
 171
 172 Defines the size of the `swap` volume. The default is the size of the
 173 installed memory, minimum 4 GB and maximum 8 GB. The resulting value cannot
 174 be greater than `hdsize/8`.
 175 +
 176 NOTE: If set to `0`, no `swap` volume will be created.
 177
 178 `maxroot`::
 179
 180 Defines the maximum size of the `root` volume, which stores the operation
 181 system. The maximum limit of the `root` volume size is `hdsize/4`.
 182
 183 `maxvz`::
 184
 185 Defines the maximum size of the `data` volume. The actual size of the `data`
 186 volume is:
 187 +
 188 `datasize = hdsize - rootsize - swapsize - minfree`
 189 +
 190 Where `datasize` cannot be bigger than `maxvz`.
 191 +
 192 NOTE: In case of LVM thin, the `data` pool will only be created if `datasize`
 193 is bigger than 4GB.
 194 +
 195 NOTE: If set to `0`, no `data` volume will be created and the storage
 196 configuration will be adapted accordingly.
 197
 198 `minfree`::
 199
 200 Defines the amount of free space left in LVM volume group `pve`.
 201 With more than 128GB storage available the default is 16GB, else `hdsize/8`
 202 will be used.
 203 +
 204 NOTE: LVM requires free space in the VG for snapshot creation (not
 205 required for lvmthin snapshots).
 206
 207
 208 ZFS Performance Tips
 209 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 210
 211 ZFS uses a lot of memory, so it is best to add additional RAM if you
 212 want to use ZFS. A good calculation is 4GB plus 1GB RAM for each TB
 213 RAW disk space.
 214
 215 ZFS also provides the feature to use a fast SSD drive as write cache. The
 216 write cache is called the ZFS Intent Log (ZIL). You can add that after
 217 installation using the following command:
 218
 219  zpool add <pool-name> log </dev/path_to_fast_ssd>
 220
 221
 222 ifdef::wiki[]
 223
 224 link:/wiki/Install_Proxmox_VE_on_Debian_Stretch[Install Proxmox VE on Debian Stretch]
 225 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 226
 227 link:/wiki/Install_from_USB_Stick[Install from USB Stick]
 228 ---------------------------------------------------------
 229
 230 endif::wiki[]
 231
 232 ifndef::wiki[]
 233
 234 Install {pve} on Debian
 235 -----------------------
 236
 237 {pve} ships as a set of Debian packages, so you can install it
 238 on top of a normal Debian installation. After configuring the
 239 repositories, you need to run:
 240
 241 [source,bash]
 242 ----
 243 apt-get update
 244 apt-get install proxmox-ve
 245 ----
 246
 247 Installing on top of an existing Debian installation looks easy, but
 248 it presumes that you have correctly installed the base system, and you
 249 know how you want to configure and use the local storage. Network
 250 configuration is also completely up to you.
 251
 252 In general, this is not trivial, especially when you use LVM or
 253 ZFS.
 254
 255 You can find a detailed step by step howto on the
 256 {webwiki-url}Install_Proxmox_VE_on_Debian_Stretch[wiki].
 257
 258 include::pve-usbstick.adoc[]
 259
 260 endif::wiki[]
 261
 262 ifdef::wiki[]
 263
 264 Video Tutorials
 265 ---------------
 266
 267 * List of all official tutorials on our
 268   http://www.youtube.com/proxmoxve[Proxmox VE YouTube Channel]
 269
 270 * Tutorials in Spanish language on
 271   http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUULBIhA5QDBdNf1pcTZ5UXhek63Fij8z[ITexperts.es
 272   YouTube Play List]
 273
 274
 275 See Also
 276 --------
 277
 278 * link:/wiki/System_Requirements[System Requirements]
 279
 280 * link:/wiki/Package_Repositories[Package Repositories]
 281
 282 * link:/wiki/Host_System_Administration[Host System Administration]
 283
 284 * link:/wiki/Network_Configuration[Network Configuration]
 285
 286 * link:/wiki/Installation:_Tips_and_Tricks[Installation: Tips and Tricks]
 287
 288 endif::wiki[]