Prepare Installation Media: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:54, 21 February 2020

Download the installer ISO image from: https://www.proxmox.com/en/downloads/proxmox-virtual-environment/iso

The Proxmox VE installation media is a hybrid ISO image. It works in two ways:

An ISO image file ready to burn to a CD or DVD.
A raw sector (IMG) image file ready to copy to a USB flash drive (USB stick).

Using a USB flash drive to install Proxmox VE is the recommended way because it is the faster option.

Prepare a USB Flash Drive as Installation Medium

The flash drive needs to have at least 1 GB of storage available.

Do not use UNetbootin. It does not work with the Proxmox VE installation image.

Make sure that the USB flash drive is not mounted and does not contain any important data.

Instructions for GNU/Linux

On Unix-like operating system use the dd command to copy the ISO image to the USB flash drive. First find the correct device name of the USB flash drive (see below). Then run the dd command.

# dd bs=1M conv=fdatasync if=./proxmox-ve_*.iso of=/dev/XYZ

Be sure to replace /dev/XYZ with the correct device name and adapt the input filename (if) path.

Be very careful, and do not overwrite the wrong disk!

Find the Correct USB Device Name

There are two ways to find out the name of the USB flash drive. The first one is to compare the last lines of the dmesg command output before and after plugging in the flash drive. The second way is to compare the output of the lsblk command. Open a terminal and run:

# lsblk

Then plug in your USB flash drive and run the command again:

# lsblk

A new device will appear. This is the one you want to use. To be on the extra safe side check if the reported size matches your USB flash drive.

Instructions for macOS

Open the terminal (query Terminal in Spotlight).

Convert the .iso file to .dmg format using the convert option of hdiutil, for example:

# hdiutil convert proxmox-ve_*.iso -format UDRW -o proxmox-ve_*.dmg

macOS tends to automatically add .dmg to the output file name.

To get the current list of devices run the command:

# diskutil list

Now insert the USB flash drive and run this command again to determine which device node has been assigned to it. (e.g., /dev/diskX).

# diskutil list
# diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX

replace X with the disk number from the last command.

# sudo dd if=proxmox-ve_*.dmg bs=1M of=/dev/rdiskX

rdiskX, instead of diskX, in the last command is intended. It will increase the write speed.

Instructions for Windows

Using Etcher

Etcher works out of the box. Download Etcher from https://etcher.io. It will guide you through the process of selecting the ISO and your USB flash drive.

Using Rufus

Rufus is a more lightweight alternative, but you need to use the DD mode to make it work. Download Rufus from https://rufus.ie/. Either install it or use the portable version. Select the destination drive and the Proxmox VE ISO file.

Once you Start you have to click No on the dialog asking to download a different version of GRUB. In the next dialog select the DD mode.

Boot your Server from the USB Flash Drive

Connect the USB flash drive to your server and make sure that booting from USB is enabled (check your servers firmware settings). Then follow the steps in the installation wizard.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 <!--PVE_IMPORT_START_MARKER-->
 <!-- Do not edit - this is autogenerated content -->
-{{#pvedocs:pve-usbstick-plain.html}}
+{{#pvedocs:pve-installation-media-plain.html}}
 [[Category:Reference Documentation]]
 <pvehide>
-The Proxmox VE installation media is a hybrid ISO image, working in two ways:
+Download the installer ISO image from: https://www.proxmox.com/en/downloads/category/iso-images-pve
-An ISO image file ready to burn on CD
+The Proxmox VE installation media is a hybrid ISO image. It works in two ways:
-A raw sector (IMG) image file ready to directly copy to flash media
+An ISO image file ready to burn to a CD or DVD.
-  (USB Stick)
+A raw sector (IMG) image file ready to copy to a USB flash drive (USB stick).
-Using USB sticks is faster and more environmental friendly and
+Using a USB flash drive to install Proxmox VE is the recommended way because it is
-therefore the recommended way to install Proxmox VE.
+the faster option.
-Prepare a USB flash drive as install medium
+Prepare a USB Flash Drive as Installation Medium
-In order to boot the installation media, copy the ISO image to a USB
+The flash drive needs to have at least 1 GB of storage available.
-media.
+Do not use UNetbootin. It does not work with the Proxmox VE installation image.
-First download the ISO image from
+Make sure that the USB flash drive is not mounted and does not
-https://www.proxmox.com/en/downloads/category/iso-images-pve
-You need at least a 1 GB USB media.
-Using UNetbootin or Rufus does not work.
-Make sure that the USB media is not mounted and does not
 contain any important data.
 Instructions for GNU/Linux
-You can simply use dd on UNIX like systems. First download the ISO
+On Unix-like operating system use the dd command to copy the ISO image to the
-image, then plug in the USB stick. You need to find out what device
+USB flash drive. First find the correct device name of the USB flash drive (see
-name gets assigned to the USB stick (see below). Then run:
+below). Then run the dd command.
-dd if=proxmox-ve_*.iso of=/dev/XYZ bs=1M
+# dd bs=1M conv=fdatasync if=./proxmox-ve_*.iso of=/dev/XYZ
-Be sure to replace /dev/XYZ with the correct device name.
+Be sure to replace /dev/XYZ with the correct device name and adapt the
-Be very careful, and do not overwrite the hard disk!
+input filename (if) path.
-Find Correct USB Device Name
+Be very careful, and do not overwrite the wrong disk!
-You can compare the last lines of dmesg command before and after the
+Find the Correct USB Device Name
-insertion, or use the lsblk command. Open a terminal and run:
+There are two ways to find out the name of the USB flash drive. The first one is
- lsblk
+to compare the last lines of the dmesg command output before and after
-Then plug in your USB media and run the command again:
+plugging in the flash drive. The second way is to compare the output of the
- lsblk
+lsblk command. Open a terminal and run:
-A new device will appear, and this is the USB device you want to use.
+# lsblk
-Instructions for OSX
+Then plug in your USB flash drive and run the command again:
+# lsblk
+A new device will appear. This is the one you want to use. To be on the extra
+safe side check if the reported size matches your USB flash drive.
+Instructions for macOS
 Open the terminal (query Terminal in Spotlight).
 Convert the .iso file to .img using the convert option of hdiutil for example.
-hdiutil convert -format UDRW -o proxmox-ve_*.dmg proxmox-ve_*.iso
+# hdiutil convert -format UDRW -o proxmox-ve_*.dmg proxmox-ve_*.iso
-OS X tends to put the .dmg ending on the output file automatically.
+macOS tends to automatically add .dmg to the output file name.
-To get the current list of devices run the command again:
+To get the current list of devices run the command:
-diskutil list
+# diskutil list
-Now insert your USB flash media and run this command again to
+Now insert the USB flash drive and run this command again to determine which
-determine the device node assigned to your flash media
+device node has been assigned to it. (e.g., /dev/diskX).
-(e.g. /dev/diskX).
+# diskutil list
-diskutil list
+# diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX
-diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX
 replace X with the disk number from the last command.
-sudo dd if=proxmox-ve_*.dmg of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1m
+# sudo dd if=proxmox-ve_*.dmg of=/dev/rdiskX bs=1m
-rdiskX, instead of diskX, in the last command is intended,
+rdiskX, instead of diskX, in the last command is intended. It will
-this will increase write speed
+increase the write speed.
 Instructions for Windows
-Download Etcher from https://etcher.io , select the ISO and your USB Drive.
+Download Rufus from https://rufus.ie/. Either install it or use the portable
-If this doesn&#8217;t work, alternatively use the OSForensics USB
+version. Select the destination drive and the Proxmox VE ISO file.
-installer from http://www.osforensics.com/portability.html
+Once you click Start a dialog asking to download a different version of GRUB
-Boot your server from USB media
+will show up. Click No. In the next dialog select the DD mode.
-Connect your USB media to your server and make sure that the server
+An alternative to Rufus is Etcher. Download Etcher from https://etcher.io. It
-boots from USB (see server BIOS). Then follow the installation wizard.
+will guide you through the process of selecting the ISO and your USB Drive.
+Boot your Server from the USB Flash Drive
+Connect the USB flash drive to your server and make sure that booting from USB
+is enabled (check your servers firmware settings). Then follow the steps in the
+installation wizard.
 </pvehide>
 <!--PVE_IMPORT_END_MARKER-->