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Mastering Proxmox
Mastering Proxmox

Mastering Proxmox: Master Proxmox VE to effectively implement server virtualization technology within your network

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Mastering Proxmox

Chapter 2. Proxmox Under the Hood

In the previous chapter, we have seen how a Proxmox GUI looks like and set up a basic cluster, which we are going to use for hands-on learning of Proxmox. In this chapter, we will look at how configuration files hold a Proxmox virtualization platform together, files to be used for advanced configuration, and how to troubleshoot a Proxmox platform. Proxmox is built on Debian Linux, which is very stable with a large active community. So, it inherited the heavy dependency on configuration or the .conf files as we Linux users lovingly like to call them. The Proxmox GUI provides you with the ability to manage a cluster, but does not provide direct access to any configuration files. Any direct changes by an advanced user have to be done through CLI. Commonly used scenarios such as adding special arguments in configuration files are also done through CLI. In this chapter, we will look at the following topics:

  • The Proxmox directory structure
  • Configuration...

The Proxmox cluster directory structure

Proxmox is a cluster-based hypervisor. It is meant to be used with several server nodes. By using multiple nodes in a cluster, we provide redundancy or High Availability to the platform while increasing uptime. A production virtual environment may have several dozens to several hundreds of nodes in a cluster. As an administrator, it may not be a realistic scenario to change configuration files in the cluster one node at a time. Depending on the number of nodes in a cluster, it may take several hours just to change one small argument in a configuration file of all the nodes. An administrator would have to go from node to node to apply these changes. To alleviate wastage of precious time, Proxmox implemented the clustered filesystem to keep all the configuration files, or any other common files shared by all the nodes in the cluster, in a synchronous state. Its official name is Proxmox Cluster file system or pmxcfs, which is a database-driven filesystem...

Dissecting the configuration files

We now know where all the important files that hold a Proxmox cluster together are placed. We will now go inside some of these files for better understanding of what they do and the command arguments they use. You can use any Linux editor to view/edit these configuration files. In this book, we will use #nano to view and edit.

During the learning process, it will be a good idea to make a backup of the configuration files before editing them. In case something goes wrong, you will be able to replace it with the original working configuration file. Simply copy a configuration file using the following command:

# cp /etc/pve/<config_file> /home/<any_folder>

We can also use the SCP command to back up files to another node:

# scp /etc/pve/<config_file> <user>@<ip_or_hostname>:/<folder>

The cluster configuration file

The following code is what our cluster.conf file currently looks like from the cluster we created earlier in Chapter...

User configuration files

The user.cfg file holds all user and group information in the cluster and is located under /etc/pve/. It follows the following format to store all user information:

  • For user information, the format is as follows:
    <type>:<user>@realm:enable:expiry:f_name:l_name:email:comment
  • For group information, the format is as follows:
    <type>:<group_name>:user@realm:comment

Based on this format, the following is what our user.cfg file looks like right now. Depending on user information you have entered, the file content may vary:

user:root@pam:1:0:::[email protected]::
user:pmxuser@pve:1:0:ABC:XYZ:[email protected]:A User:

group:test:wahmed@pve:This is Test Group:

Note that the file user.cfg does not hold any user password. This information is stored under /etc/pve/priv/shadow.cfg.

The password configuration file

The password configuration file is located under /etc/pve/priv/shadow.cfg and stores all the passwords for users in the cluster. The format is rather...

Member nodes

Located under /etc/pve/.members, the member node file shows all the member nodes that are a part of the Proxmox cluster. It is a great way to see the cluster status, when the Proxmox GUI becomes inaccessible for any reason. The following is the .members file in our basic cluster:

{
  "nodename": "pmxvm01",
  "version": 9,
  "cluster": { "name": "pmx-cluster", "version": 2, "nodes": 2, "quorate": 1 },
  "nodelist": {
    "pmxvm01": { "id": 1, "online": 1, "ip": "192.168.145.1"},
    "pmxvm02": { "id": 2, "online": 1, "ip": "192.168.145.2"}
  }
}

The .members file

The content of a .members file is as follows:

"nodename": "pmxvm01"

The previous code section shows the current node where the .members file is being accessed.

"version": 9

The .members file has its...

The virtual machine list file

Located under /etc/pve/.vmlist, the virtual machine list file stores a list of all the virtual machines within the Proxmox cluster. The .vmlist file uses the following format to store the list:

"<vmid>": { "node": "<nodename>", "type": "<vm_type>", "version": <int> }

We have two virtual machines and one template in our basic cluster. The following is the information stored in the .vmlist file:

{
  "version": 24,
  "ids": {
  "121": { "node": "pmxvm01", "type": "openvz", "version": 20 },
  "101": { "node": "pmxvm01", "type": "qemu", "version": 11 },
  "201": { "node": "pmxvm01", "type": "qemu", "version": 22 }}
}

Please note that a VM with ID 201 is a KVM template in our cluster. But...

The Proxmox cluster directory structure


Proxmox is a cluster-based hypervisor. It is meant to be used with several server nodes. By using multiple nodes in a cluster, we provide redundancy or High Availability to the platform while increasing uptime. A production virtual environment may have several dozens to several hundreds of nodes in a cluster. As an administrator, it may not be a realistic scenario to change configuration files in the cluster one node at a time. Depending on the number of nodes in a cluster, it may take several hours just to change one small argument in a configuration file of all the nodes. An administrator would have to go from node to node to apply these changes. To alleviate wastage of precious time, Proxmox implemented the clustered filesystem to keep all the configuration files, or any other common files shared by all the nodes in the cluster, in a synchronous state. Its official name is Proxmox Cluster file system or pmxcfs, which is a database-driven filesystem...

Dissecting the configuration files


We now know where all the important files that hold a Proxmox cluster together are placed. We will now go inside some of these files for better understanding of what they do and the command arguments they use. You can use any Linux editor to view/edit these configuration files. In this book, we will use #nano to view and edit.

During the learning process, it will be a good idea to make a backup of the configuration files before editing them. In case something goes wrong, you will be able to replace it with the original working configuration file. Simply copy a configuration file using the following command:

# cp /etc/pve/<config_file> /home/<any_folder>

We can also use the SCP command to back up files to another node:

# scp /etc/pve/<config_file> <user>@<ip_or_hostname>:/<folder>

The cluster configuration file

The following code is what our cluster.conf file currently looks like from the cluster we created earlier in Chapter...

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Description

This is not an instructional guide, but a practical, scenario-based book which guides you through everything you need to know in a practical manner by letting you build your own cluster. By the end of the book, you will have a fully functional Proxmox cluster setup at your disposal and have the knowledge to replicate virtualization solutions .If you already know what the word virtualization means and you are ready to stand out from the crowd equipped with the unique ability to design and implement a rock-solid virtualized network environment using Proxmox, then you have just picked up the only book you will need. Linux system administration experience together with knowledge of networking and virtualization concepts is assumed. This book is also useful if you are already using Proxmox and simply want to master its advanced features.

What you will learn

  • Provide big business virtualization technology at small business prices by using Proxmox
  • Configure virtual machines beyond the basic default setup
  • Set up virtual environments of any size
  • Set up scalable, distributed shared storage systems using Ceph
  • Analyze realworld virtual environment scenarios and formulate Proxmoxbased solutions
  • Monitor resources and virtual machines to maintain performance and uptime
  • Troubleshoot a virtual environment based on reallife scenarios
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Length: 310 pages
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Language : English
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Table of Contents

11 Chapters
1. Dive into the Virtual World with Proxmox Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Proxmox Under the Hood Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Shared Storages with Proxmox Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. A Virtual Machine for a Virtual World Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Network of Virtual Networks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Proxmox HA – Zero Downtime Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. High Availability Storage for High Availability Cluster Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Proxmox Production Level Setup Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Proxmox Troubleshooting Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
10. Putting It All Together Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

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(18 Ratings)
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Malcolm J Warwick Apr 03, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
very well written and easy to understand
Amazon Verified review Amazon
matthew williams Jan 14, 2016
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I got a review copy of this book an a electronic version from Packt Publishing's staff, which I thank for the opportunity they gave me.I've used Proxmox heavily in the past and this book does a great job of helping guide users through setting up Proxmox for production use.One of the hidden gems of this book is chapter 7 which derives into the usage of Ceph for high availability storage. Whether you use Proxmox or not the chapter on high availability storage is well worth the cost aloneIf you are in the need for a high powered virtual machine cluster and don't wasn't to get tied into the high price that can go with other solutions then Proxmox is really one of the best solutions or there and Mastering Proxmox will help you to get the most out of Proxmox
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Ruusento Sep 18, 2014
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I got a review copy of this book from Packt Publishing's staff, which I thank for the opportunity they gave me.What can I say about this book?It is a nice and quite complete book/sysadmin manual with various configuration examples, sample hardware BOMs, and with many tips and tricks for troubleshooting and setting up clusters of any dimension. Takes care of covering quite every aspect and feature of the latest 3.x branch of PVE, including eventual infographics on how to set up every particular feature. Highly recommended for every Proxmox sysadmin and enthusiast, which might prefer a manual instead of looking for threads and eventual guides into the PVE forums.
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Karl Jan 30, 2015
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Excellent book, which goes into great detail on building a high availability Proxmox cluster.There is a special section on troubleshooting which was also excellent. I purchased the book to help me with my understanding of the inner workings of the network functions. It explains each aspect of the system in a thorough and concise manner.
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Grayson Kent Feb 11, 2016
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Amazing book. I wish all guides were this thorough and well-thought out. One of the few books I read digitally and liked enough to buy to have around. My only criticism is that I felt the Ceph stuff should be put into its own book.
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