local storage. Network configuration is also completely up to you.
In general, this is not trivial, especially when you use LVM or
-ZFS. This is why we provide an installation CDROM for {pve}. That
+ZFS. This is why we provide an installation CD-ROM for {pve}. That
installer just ask you a few questions, then partitions the local
disk(s), installs all required packages, and configures the system
including a basic network setup. You can get a fully functional system
NOTE: By default, the complete server is used and all existing data is
removed.
+Using the {pve} Installation CD-ROM
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Please insert the installation CD-ROM, then boot from that
+drive. Immediately afterwards you can choose the following menu
+options:
+
+Install Proxmox VE::
+
+Start normal installation.
+
+Install Proxmox VE (Debug mode)::
+
+Start installation in debug mode. It opens a shell console at several
+installation steps, so that you can debug things if something goes
+wrong. Please press `CTRL-D` to exit those debug consoles and continue
+installation. This option is mostly for developers and not meant for
+general use.
+
+Rescue Boot::
+
+This option allows you to boot an existing installation. It searches
+all attached hard disks, and if it finds an existing installation,
+boots directly into that disk using the existing Linux kernel. This
+can be useful if there are problems with the boot block (grub), or the
+BIOS is unable to read the boot block from the disk.
+
+Test Memory::
+
+Runs 'memtest86+'. This is useful to check if your memory if
+functional and error free.
+
+You normally select *Install Proxmox VE* to start the installation.
+After that you get prompted to select the target hard disk(s). The
+`Options` button aside lets you select the target file system, and
+defaults to `ext4`. The installer uses LVM if you select 'ext3',
+'ext4' or 'xfs' as file system, and offers additional option to
+restrict LVM space (see <<advanced_lvm_options,below>>)
+
+If you have more than one disk, you can also use ZFS as file system.
+ZFS supports several software RAID levels, so this is specially useful
+if you do not have a hardware RAID controller. The `Options` button
+lets you select the ZFS RAID level, and you can choose disks there.
+
+The next pages just asks for basic configuration options like time
+zone and keyboard layout. You also need to specify your email address
+and select a superuser password.
+
+The last step is the network configuration. Please note that you can
+use either IPv4 or IPv6 here, but not both. If you want to configure a
+dual stack node, you can easily do that after installation.
+
+If you press `Next` now, installation starts to format disks, and
+copies packages to the target. Please wait until that is finished,
+then reboot the server.
+
Further configuration is done via the Proxmox web interface. Just
point your browser to the IP address given during installation
-(https://youripaddress:8006). Proxmox VE is tested for IE9, Firefox 10
-and higher, Google Chrome (latest).
+(https://youripaddress:8006). {pve} is tested for IE9, Firefox 10
+and higher, and Google Chrome.
+
+
+[[advanced_lvm_options]]
+Advanced LVM configuration options
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+The installer creates a Volume Group (VG) called `pve`, and additional
+Logical Volumes (LVs) called `root`, `data` and `swap`. The size of
+those volumes can be controlled with:
+
+`hdsize`::
+
+Defines the total HD size to be used. This way you can save free
+space on the HD for further partitioning (i.e. for an additional PV
+and VG on the same hard disk that can be used for LVM storage).
+
+`swapsize`::
+
+To define the size of the `swap` volume. Default is the same size as
+installed RAM, with 4GB minimum and `hdsize/8` as maximum.
+
+`maxroot`::
+
+The `root` volume size. The `root` volume stores the whole operation
+system.
+
+`maxvz`::
+
+Define the size of the `data` volume, which is mounted at
+'/var/lib/vz'.
+
+`minfree`::
+
+To define the amount of free space left in LVM volume group `pve`.
+16GB is the default if storage available > 128GB, `hdsize/8` otherwise.
++
+NOTE: LVM requires free space in the VG for snapshot creation (not
+required for lvmthin snapshots).
+
+
+ZFS Performance Tips
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+ZFS uses a lot of memory, so it is best to add additional 8-16GB RAM
+if you want to use ZFS.
+
+ZFS also provides the feature to use a fast SSD drive as write cache. The
+write cache is called the ZFS Intent Log (ZIL). You can add that after
+installation using the following command:
+
+ zpool add <pool-name> log </dev/path_to_fast_ssd>
+
+
+System Software Updates
+-----------------------
+
+We provide regular package updates on all repositories. You can
+install those update using the GUI, or you can directly run the CLI
+command 'apt-get':
+
+ apt-get update
+ apt-get dist-upgrade
+
+NOTE: The 'apt' package management system is extremely flexible and
+provides countless of feature - see `man apt-get` or <<Hertzog13>> for
+additional information.
+
+You should do such updates at regular intervals, or when we release
+versions with security related fixes. Major system upgrades are
+announced at the https://forum.proxmox.com/[Forum]. Those announcement
+also contain detailed upgrade instructions.
+
+TIP: We recommend to run regular upgrades, because it is important to
+get the latest security updates.
Network Configuration
projects / pve-docs.git / blobdiff