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Proxmox Bare Metal Setup Guide with Trunk Interface and Management VLAN

Prerequisites

  1. Hardware Requirements:
    • A server that meets Proxmox VE minimum hardware requirements.
    • Two or more network interfaces (preferred, but one NIC can work with VLAN tagging).
  2. Software Requirements:
    • Download the latest Proxmox VE ISO from the Proxmox website.
    • Create a bootable USB using tools like Rufus or Balena Etcher.
  3. Network Configuration Details:
    • Trunk interface capable of handling multiple VLANs.
    • Management VLAN ID (e.g., VLAN 10).
    • IP address for the Proxmox management interface.

Step 1: Install Proxmox VE

  1. Boot from Proxmox ISO:

    • Insert the bootable USB into the server and boot into the Proxmox installer.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to install Proxmox VE on the desired disk.

  2. Configure the Basics:

    • Set a hostname for your Proxmox server (e.g., proxmox.example.com).
    • Configure the initial network settings. For now, use a static IP for the management VLAN or assign one temporarily.

  3. Reboot:

    • Once the installation is complete, reboot the server. Access the Proxmox web GUI using the IP address configured earlier.

Step 2: Configure Networking for VLANs

  1. Login to Proxmox Shell:

    • Access the shell directly or via SSH after initial setup.

  2. Edit the Network Configuration File:

    • Open the network configuration file:

      nano /etc/network/interfaces

    • Configure the physical network interface as a trunk port and add the management VLAN interface. Replace enp0s31f6 with your actual network interface name (check with ip link).

      Example configuration:

      auto lo iface lo inet loopback auto enp0s31f6 iface enp0s31f6 inet manual auto vmbr0 iface vmbr0 inet static address 192.168.10.2/24 gateway 192.168.10.1 bridge-ports enp0s31f6 bridge-stp off bridge-fd 0 vlan-raw-device enp0s31f6

    • Add the management VLAN configuration (VLAN ID 10 in this example):

      auto vmbr0.10 iface vmbr0.10 inet static address 192.168.10.2/24 vlan-raw-device vmbr0

  3. Apply the Configuration:

    • Restart networking:

      systemctl restart networking

    • Ensure the Proxmox web GUI is accessible via the management VLAN’s IP.

Step 3: Configure Proxmox for VMs Using VLANs

  1. Create a Bridge for Each VLAN (Optional):

    • If you want VMs to communicate over specific VLANs, create additional bridges for those VLANs in the /etc/network/interfaces file. Example:
      auto vmbr10 iface vmbr10 inet manual bridge-ports enp0s31f6.10 bridge-stp off bridge-fd 0

  2. Assign VLANs in VM Settings:

    • When creating or editing a VM, go to the Network section and:
      • Select the appropriate bridge (e.g., vmbr10 for VLAN 10).
      • Configure the VLAN tag directly in the VM’s network interface settings if using a trunk bridge (e.g., vmbr0).

Step 4: Verify Configuration

  1. Test Connectivity:

    • Verify that Proxmox is reachable via the management VLAN.
    • Ping from a device on the same VLAN to confirm connectivity.

  2. Test VLAN Trunking:

    • Deploy a test VM and assign it to a specific VLAN. Ensure the VM gets an IP address from the correct VLAN and can communicate with other devices.

  3. Validate Trunking:

    • Use tcpdump or similar tools to verify tagged packets on the trunk interface:
      tcpdump -i enp0s31f6 vlan

Final Notes

  • Firewall: Ensure your Proxmox firewall rules allow access to the web GUI and SSH on the management VLAN.
  • VLAN-Specific Switch Configuration: On your network switch, configure the server’s switch port as a trunk and allow the necessary VLANs.
  • Backup: Always back up the interfaces file before making changes.
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