The document discusses Proxmox, an open-source management system for KVM and LXC virtualization technologies, emphasizing its features such as a rich HTML-based UI, easy installation on Debian, and various storage options. It outlines the differences between KVM and LXC, including use cases and management tools. The talk is intended to highlight Proxmox's capabilities and its suitability for personal and homelab environments.

1. ProxmoxVE
Open Source LXC and
KVM Managment
Sometimes you just want a nice UI
Linux Fest Northwest 2018
Richard Clark – Crafty Penguins

2. Who am I ?
● Richard Clark
● SRE Consultant with Crafty Penguins, a division of
KerkhoffTechnologies in Chilliwack, BC Canada
● Software Developer (C, Java, Python, etc.)
● System Administrator
● rick@seerickcode.com, richard@craftypenguins.net
● @seerickcode

3. PROXMOX

4. What is a Hypervisor
A Hypervisor is software, firmware, or hardware that creates and runs
multiple isolated virtual `guest` machines on a single `host` machine.

5. KVM - “Kernel-basedVirtual Machine”
● FullVirtualization for Linux/x86
– Built into linux kernel
– Emulated Hardware (Network,Video, Disk, etc.)
● Paravirtualized drivers
– Windows, Linux, *BSD, OS X, …..
● Manage with command line tools, “virsh”, or various overlay tools (virt-
manager)..

6. LXC – Linux Containers
● Operating-system-level virtualization
● Low level system that uses cgroups and isolated namespaces
● Linux based guests only
● Guests share the same kernel
● Manage with `lxc` command line
virtsh, or various 3rd
party overlays
● Make it better with :
– Docker! Docker! Docker!
– LXD

7. KVM or LXC - Different use case
● KVM
– Need to run a non-linux OS
– Need to use different or custom Linux kernel
– Need a virtual video card (Desktop GUI OS)
– Slower, but paravirtualized drivers help (network/storage)
● LXC
– Fast
– Isolation - Other than the kernel, all the underlying setup works almost like a separate
system. Separate repos, upgrades, network config, lower attack surface (install only
what you need)
– Only Linux, and only the same kernel
– No video card emulation *

8. KVM or LXC ?

9. KVM & LXC ?
● Different backing storage
● Different bootstrap methods
● Different networking configuration
● Different console access
● Different configuration for resources
● Different monitoring
● Different management (stop, start, resize, backup, move, rm)
● ..... different tools

12. Why am I giving this talk ?

13. ProxmoxVirtual Environment
● 10Years this year !
● Management system for KVM and LXC technologies
● Similar toVMWare’sVSphere, XenCenter, etc.
● Open Source (Enterprise _support_ subscription model)
● Rich UI available over HTTPS
● Manage KVM and LXC in same UI
● Virtual Console
● Clustering Solutions

14. Proxmox Feature Set #1
● Rich HTML based UI for KVM and LXC management
● No proprietary
management tools
needed
● Use LXC when
possible for fastest
isolation
● Use KVM with full
virtual emulation is
needed or non-Linux

15. Proxmox Feature Set #2
● Open Source
● Based off of Debian (currently 9.x)
– It’s Just Linux - (networking, monitoring, management, tools, etc.)
● Simple repository add and apt-get install
● It is not a ‘Light’ community edition
– Backups, Firewall, Lots of storage options, Clustering, Live Migration
● Great for Personal / HomeLab
– Run various operating systems for training/experimentation
● Starts free, as in beer, with all the features.

16. Proxmox Feature Set #3
● Lots of backing store file system support
– Network ( LVM Group (iSCSI), iSCSI target/direct, NFS, Ceph RDB, GlusterFS)
– Local
● LVM Group over any block device tech (FC, DRDB, etc.)
● Directory (storage on existing filesystem)
● ZFS
● Clustering for HA
– Multi-Master
– Live Migration to move your ‘important’VMs to other hardware.
● Snapshots
● CLI and RESTfull API
● … much, much, more, and growing every release

17. Installing Proxmox
● Download the installer ISO from
https://www.proxmox.com/en/downloads
● Install on top of already existing Debian Stretch
– All outlined at https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Install_Proxmox_VE_on_Debian_Stretch
– Essentially :
● Add the Repository
echo "deb http://download.proxmox.com/debian/pve stretch pve­no­
subscription" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pve­install­repo.list
● Install the GPG Public Key
wget http://download.proxmox.com/debian/proxmox­ve­release­5.x.gpg ­O
/etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/proxmox­ve­release­5.x.gpg

18. Installing Proxmox.. part 2
● Setup the a bridged network
– apt­get install bridge­utils
– Set a fixed static IP on a bridge (/etc/network/interfaces)
auto vmbr0
iface vmbr0 inet static
address 10.1.1.101/24
bridge_ports none
bridge_stp off
bridge_fd 0
– Add the IP and hostname to /etc/hosts
10.1.1.101 proxmox1.example.com proxmox1 pvelocalhost
– Reboot to take effect
● Update repository and install
– apt­get update && apt­get dist­upgrade
apt­get install proxmox­ve postfix open­iscsi

20. Demo ?

21. Demo 1
● Setup Network
● Install Proxmox on Debian
● Reboot and cross fingers
● Log in / Explain layout
● Add cluster storage
● AddTemplate for LXC Container
● Deploy container
● Add ISO for KVM Container
● Deploy KVM

22. Demo 2
● DeployWindows KVM /VirtIO Drivers
● Backups
● Firewall ?
● CLI usage
● ?

23. ProxmoxVE
Richard Clark – Crafty Penguins
@seerickcode
richard@craftypenguins.net
Questions ?