Prepare Installation Media: Difference between revisions

From Proxmox VE
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)
Line 4: Line 4:
[[Category:Reference Documentation]]
[[Category:Reference Documentation]]
<pvehide>
<pvehide>
Download the installer ISO image from: https://www.proxmox.com/en/downloads/category/iso-images-pve
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:
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.
An ISO image file ready to burn to a CD or DVD.
Line 37: Line 37:
Convert the .iso file to .dmg format using the convert option of hdiutil,
Convert the .iso file to .dmg format using the convert option of hdiutil,
for example:
for example:
# hdiutil convert -format UDRW -o proxmox-ve_*.dmg proxmox-ve_*.iso
# hdiutil convert proxmox-ve_*.iso -format UDRW -o proxmox-ve_*.dmg
macOS tends to automatically add .dmg to the output file name.
macOS tends to automatically add .dmg to the output file name.
To get the current list of devices run the command:
To get the current list of devices run the command:
Line 52: Line 52:
Using Etcher
Using Etcher
Etcher works out of the box. Download Etcher from https://etcher.io. It will
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 Drive.
guide you through the process of selecting the ISO and your USB flash drive.
Using Rufus
Using Rufus
Rufus is a more lightweight alternative, but you need to use the DD mode to
Rufus is a more lightweight alternative, but you need to use the DD mode to

Latest revision as of 14:11, 23 November 2023

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.

Note Do not use UNetbootin. It does not work with the Proxmox VE installation image.
Important 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
Note Be sure to replace /dev/XYZ with the correct device name and adapt the input filename (if) path.
Caution 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
Tip 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
Note replace X with the disk number from the last command.
# sudo dd if=proxmox-ve_*.dmg bs=1M of=/dev/rdiskX
Note 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.

Important 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.