Riggen_HomeLab_PlanForIT_7 - itnett/FTD02H-N GitHub Wiki

Based on the continuation from the Proxmox Administration Guide, here are the following steps you should take:

Continuing Steps for Your Proxmox Lab Setup

  1. Configure Users and Permissions:

    • Navigate to Datacenter -> Permissions -> Users to create additional users or groups with specific roles.
    • Assign roles to users based on their responsibilities (e.g., PVEAdmin, PVEDatastoreAdmin, NoAccess).
    • Set up permissions for different users and groups at the cluster, node, or VM level, ensuring only authorized users have the necessary access.

  2. Set Up Additional Storage Types:

    • Besides ZFS pools, consider configuring other storage types if needed:
      • Go to Datacenter -> Storage and add other storage backends such as NFS, iSCSI, Ceph, or SMB.
      • Configure and test each storage backend to ensure it integrates correctly with your Proxmox environment.

  3. Create VM and Container Templates:

    • Create templates for frequently used VM types (e.g., Windows Server, Ubuntu Server) to speed up future deployments:
      • Install the desired OS on a VM, configure it, and shut it down.
      • Convert the VM to a template by right-clicking the VM and selecting Convert to Template.
    • For containers, create base templates from popular container OS images (e.g., Debian, CentOS, Alpine).

  4. Enable and Configure Backups:

    • Go to Datacenter -> Backup and create backup jobs for your VMs and containers.
    • Define backup storage, schedule, compression type, and retention policies. Aim for daily incremental backups and weekly full backups, if storage allows.
    • Test the backup and restore process to ensure it works as expected.

  5. Configure High Availability (HA) (If Using Multiple Nodes):

    • If planning a cluster with multiple nodes, navigate to Datacenter -> HA to enable High Availability.
    • Assign critical VMs or containers to an HA group to ensure they automatically migrate to another node in the event of a failure.
    • Test the HA failover functionality to verify that it works correctly.

  6. Network Security and Firewall Configuration:

    • Configure Proxmox’s built-in firewall at the Datacenter -> Firewall level.
    • Set up rules to control traffic at the datacenter, node, or VM level.
    • Define default policies and create specific rules for incoming and outgoing traffic to protect your environment.

  7. Monitor System Health and Performance:

    • Set up monitoring tools like Grafana or Prometheus to visualize performance metrics (CPU, RAM, disk usage, network traffic).
    • Regularly check Datacenter -> Syslog and Node -> Syslog for logs to detect any anomalies or errors early.

  8. Update Proxmox and Packages Regularly:

    • Keep Proxmox VE up to date with the latest stable patches and updates.
    • Use the apt-get update && apt-get upgrade commands to ensure all packages are current.
    • Subscribe to the stable Proxmox repository to receive updates and avoid using the enterprise repository unless you have a subscription.

  9. Plan for Disaster Recovery:

    • Establish a disaster recovery plan, including creating regular snapshots of VMs and containers.
    • Store snapshots and backups in different locations (e.g., offsite storage, cloud).
    • Practice recovering from snapshots and backups periodically to ensure your plan is effective.

  10. Document the Configuration and Settings:

    • Keep detailed documentation of all configurations, including IP addressing, storage setup, user roles, firewall rules, etc.
    • Use tools like Confluence, Wiki, or even a simple text document to track all settings, changes, and procedures.

Final Review and Testing:

  • Once all steps are completed, perform a final review of all configurations.
  • Test the functionality of the network setup, storage pools, user permissions, backups, and security rules.
  • Make adjustments as needed to optimize performance and security.

By following these steps, you will have a well-configured, secure, and flexible Proxmox environment ready for further learning and experimentation.