# Proxmox
###### guide-by-example

![logo](https://i.imgur.com/vFZQ8og.png)

# Purpose

Type 1 hypervisor hosting virtual machines, running straight on metal,
managed through web GUI.

Proxmox uses qemu as a virtual machines emulator, with KVM kernel module.

Written in perl, javascript for webGUI and C for filesystem.

![gui-pic](https://i.imgur.com/rO5oo0Y.png)

# Installation

Download iso, ventoy usb, boot it, click through.

# Basic settings

* post install scripts, main one includes option to disable subscription nagscreen<br>
  [https://tteck.github.io/Proxmox/](https://tteck.github.io/Proxmox/)
* one way to go for single disk storage:
    * lvremove /dev/pve/data
    * lvresize -l +100%FREE /dev/pve/root
    * resize2fs /dev/mapper/pve-root
    * afterwards Datacenter > Storage > local > Edit > Content<br>
      enable everything
    * remove LVM-thin remnant

### New Virtual Machine notes

* [qemu-guest-agent](https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Qemu-guest-agent)
  - install, on archlinux its a static service, so no enabling<br>
  to test if it works, ssh into hypervisor and `qm anget 100 ping`



### Interface

* Right top corner > user name
  * Auto-refresh=60
  * Settings, turn off everything - statistics,
    recent only, welcome message, visual effects

### NTP time sync

* Host > Manage > System > Time & date > Edit NTP Settings
  * Use Network Time Protocol (enable NTP client) 
  * Start and stop with host
  * `pool.ntp.org`
  * Host > Manage > Services > search for ntpd > Start

### Hostname and domain

* ssh in
* `esxcli system hostname set --host esxi-2023`
* if domain on network<br>
  `esxcli system hostname set --domain example.local`

### Network

Should just work, but if there is more complex setup,
like if a VM serves as a firewall...<br>
Be sure you ssh in and try to `ping google.com` to see if network and DNS work.

To check and set the default gateway

* `esxcfg-route` 
* `esxcfg-route 10.65.26.25`

To [change DNS server](https://blog.techygeekshome.info/2021/04/vmware-esxi-esxcli-commands-to-update-host-dns-servers/)

* `esxcli network ip dns server list`
* `esxcli network ip dns server add --server=8.8.8.8`
* `esxcli network ip dns server remove --server=1.1.1.1`
* `esxcli network ip dns server list`

To disable ipv6

* `esxcli network ip set --ipv6-enabled=false`

# Logs

[Documentation](https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/com.vmware.vsphere.monitoring.doc/GUID-832A2618-6B11-4A28-9672-93296DA931D0.html)

Host > Monitor > Logs

The one worth knowing about

* shell.log - History of shell commands when SSH in
* syslog.log - General info of what's happening on the system.
* vmkernel.log - Activities of esxi and VMs

Will update with some actual use, when I use logs.

Logs from systems in VMs are in >Virtual Machines > Name-of-VM > Monitor > Logs

![logs-pic](https://i.imgur.com/fEz3Igv.png)

# Backups using ghettoVCB

* [github](https://github.com/lamw/ghettoVCB)
* [documentation](https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VI-VMware-ESX-3-5-Documents/ghettoVCB-sh-Free-alternative-for-backing-up-VM-s-for-ESX-i-3-5/ta-p/2773570)

The script makes snapshot of a VM, copies the "old" vmdk and other files
to a backup location, then deletes the snapshot.<br>
This approach, where backup in time is full backup takes up a lot of space.
Some form of deduplication might be a solution.

VMs that have any existing snapshot wont get backed up.

Files that are backed up:

* vmdk - virtual disk file, every virtual disk has a separate file.
  In webgui datastore browser only one vmdk file is seen per disk,
  but on filesystem theres `blabla.vmdk` and `blablka-flat.vmdk`.
  The `flat` one is where the data actually are, the other one is a descriptor
  file.
* nvram - bios settings of a VM
* vmx - virtual machine settings, can be edited

### Backup storage locations

* Local disk datastore
* NFS share<br>
  For nfs share on trueNAS scale
  * Maproot User -> root
  * Maproot Group -> nogroup

Note the exact path from webgui of your datastore for backups.<br>
Looks like this `/vmfs/volumes/6187f7e1-c584077c-d7f6-3c4937073090`

### Install

* [Download](https://github.com/lamw/ghettoVCB/archive/refs/heads/master.zip)
  the repo files on a pc from which you would upload them on to esxi
* create a directory on a datastore where the script and configs will reside<br>
  `/vmfs/volumes/6187f7e1-c584077c-d7f6-3c4937073090/ghetto_script`
* upload the files, should be 6, can skip `build` directory and `readme.md`
* ssh in to esxi
* cd in to the datastore ghetto directory
* make all the shell files executable<br>
  `chmod +x ./*.sh`

### Config and preparation

Gotta know basics how to edit files with ancient `vi`

* cd in to the datastore ghetto directory
  `cp ./ghettoVCB.conf ./ghetto_1.conf`<br>
* Only edit this file, for starter setting where to copy backups<br>
  `vi ./ghetto_1.conf`<br>
  `VM_BACKUP_VOLUME=/vmfs/volumes/6187f7e1-c584077c-d7f6-3c4937073090/Backups`
* Create a file that will contain list of VMs to backup<br>
  `touch ./vms_to_backup_list`<br>
  `vi ./vms_to_backup_list`<br>
  ```
  OPNsense
  Arch-Docker-Host
  ```
* Create a shell script that starts ghetto script using this config for listed VMs<br>
  `touch ./ghetto_run.sh`<br>
  `vi ./ghetto_run.sh`<br>
  ```
  #!/bin/sh

  GHETTO_DIR=/vmfs/volumes/6187f7e1-c584077c-d7f6-3c4937073090/ghetto_script

  $GHETTO_DIR/ghettoVCB.sh \
      -g $GHETTO_DIR/ghetto_1.conf \
      -f $GHETTO_DIR/vms_to_backup_list \
      &> /dev/null
  ```
  Make the script executable<br>
  `chmod +x ./ghetto_run.sh`
* for my use case where TrueNAS VM cant be snapshoted while running because
  of a passthrough pcie HBA card there needs to be another config
* Make new config copy<br>
  `cp ./ghetto_1.conf ./ghetto_2.conf`
* Edit the config, setting it to shut down VMs before backup.<br>
  `vi ./ghetto_2.conf`<br>
  `POWER_VM_DOWN_BEFORE_BACKUP=1`
* edit the run script, add another execution for specific VM using ghetto_2.conf<br>
  `vi ./ghetto_run.sh`<br>
  ```
  #!/bin/sh

  GHETTO_DIR=/vmfs/volumes/6187f7e1-c584077c-d7f6-3c4937073090/ghetto_script

  $GHETTO_DIR/ghettoVCB.sh \
      -g $GHETTO_DIR/ghetto_1.conf \
      -f $GHETTO_DIR/vms_to_backup_list \
      &> /dev/null

  $GHETTO_DIR/ghettoVCB.sh \
      -g $GHETTO_DIR/ghetto_2.conf \
      -m TrueNAS_scale \
      &> /dev/null
  ```

To one time manually execute:

* `./ghetto_run.sh`

### Scheduled runs

See "Cronjob FAQ" in
[documentation](https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VI-VMware-ESX-3-5-Documents/ghettoVCB-sh-Free-alternative-for-backing-up-VM-s-for-ESX-i-3-5/ta-p/2773570#Cronjob-FAQ:)

To execute it periodicly cron is used. But theres an issue of cronjob being lost
on esxi restart, which require few extra steps to solve.

* Make backup of roots crontab<br>
  `cp /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ghetto_script/root_cron.backup`
* Edit roots crontab to execute the run script at 4:00<br>
  add the following line at the end in [cron format](https://crontab.guru/)<br>
  `vi /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root`
  ```
  0    4    *   *   *   /vmfs/volumes/6187f7e1-c584077c-d7f6-3c4937073090/ghetto_script/ghetto_run.sh
  ```
  To save read only file in vi use `:wq!`
* restart cron service<br>
  `kill $(cat /var/run/crond.pid)`<br>
  `crond`

To make the cronjob permanent 

* Make backup of local.sh file<br>
  `cp /etc/rc.local.d/local.sh /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ghetto_script/local.sh.backup`
* Edit `etc/rc.local.d/local.sh` file, adding the following lines at the end,
  but before the `exit 0` line.
  Replace the part in quotes in the echo line with your cronjob line.<br>
  `vi /etc/rc.local.d/local.sh`<br>
  ```
  /bin/kill $(cat /var/run/crond.pid) > /dev/null 2>&1
  /bin/echo "0    4    *   *   *   /vmfs/volumes/6187f7e1-c584077c-d7f6-3c4937073090/ghetto_script/ghetto_run.sh" >> /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root
  /bin/crond
  ```
  ESXi host must have disabled secure boot for local.sh to execute.
* Run esxi config backup for change to be saved<br>
  `/sbin/auto-backup.sh`
* Restart host, check if the cronjob is still there and if cron is running,
  and check if the date is correct<br>
  `vi /var/spool/cron/crontabs/root`<br>
  `ps | grep crond | grep -v grep`<br>
  `date`

Logs about backups are in `/tmp`

### Restore from backup

[Documentation](https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VI-VMware-ESX-3-5-Documents/Ghetto-Tech-Preview-ghettoVCB-restore-sh-Restoring-VM-s-backed/ta-p/2792996)

* In webgui create a full path where to restore the VM
* The restore-config-template-file is in the ghetto_script directory on datastore<br>
  named `ghettoVCB-restore_vm_restore_configuration_template`
  Make copy of it<br>
  `cp ./ghettoVCB-restore_vm_restore_configuration_template ./vms_to_restore_list`<br>
* Edit this file, adding new line, in which separated by `;` are:
    * path to the backup, the directory has date in name
    * path where to restore this backup
    * disk type - 1=thick | 2=2gbsparse | 3=thin | 4=eagerzeroedthick<br>
    * optional - new name of the VM<br>
  `vi ./vms_to_restore_list`
  ```
  "/vmfs/volumes/6187f7e1-c584077c-d7f6-3c4937073090/Backups/OPNsense/OPNsense-2023-04-16_04-00-00;/vmfs/volumes/6378107d-b71bee00-873d-b42e99f40944/OPNsense_restored;3;OPNsense-restored"
  ```
* Execute the restore script with the config given as a parameter.<br>
  `./ghettoVCB-restore.sh -c ./vms_to_restore_list`
* Register the restored VM.<br>
  If it's in the same location as the original was, it should just go through.
  If the location is different, then esxi asks if it was moved or copied.
  * Copied - You are planning to use both VMs at the same time,
    selecting this option generates new UUID for the VM, new MAC address,
    maybe some other hardware identifiers as well.
  * Moved - All old settings are kept, for restoring backups this is usually
    the correct choice.

# Switching from Thick to Thin disks

Kinda issue is that vmdk are actually two files.<br>
Small plain `.vmdk` that holds some info, and the `flat.vmdk` with actual
gigabytes of data of the disk. In webgui this fact is hidden.

* have backups
* down the VM
* unregister the VM
* ssh in
* navigate to where its vmdk files are in datastore<br>
  `cd /vmfs/volumes/6187f7e1-c584077c-d7f6-3c4937073090/linux/`
* execute command that converts the vmdk
  `vmkfstools -i "./linux.vmdk" -d thin "./linux-thin.vmdk"`
* zeropunch the image file, so that unused blocks are properly zeroed.<br>
  `vmkfstools --punchzero "./linux-thin.vmdk"`
* remove or move both original files<br>
  `rm linux.vmdk`<br>
  `rm linux-flat.vmdk`
* In webgui navigate to the datastore.
  Use `move` command to rename thin version to the original name.<br>
  This changes the values in `linux.vmdk` to point to correct `flat.vmdk`
* register the VM back to esxi gui.

# Disk space reclamation

If you run VMs with thin disks, the idea is that it uses only as much space
as is needed. But if you copy 50GB file to a VM, then deletes it, it's not always
seamless that the VMDK shrinks by 50GB too.

Correctly functioning reclamation can save time and space for backups.

* Modern windows should just work, did just one test with win10.
* linux machines need fstrim run that marks blocks as empty.
* Unix machine, like opnsense based on FreeBSD needed to be started from ISO,
  so that partition is not mounted and executed<br> 
  `fsck_ufs -Ey /dev/da0p3`<br>
  afterwards it needed one more run of vmkfstools --punchzero "./OPNsense.vmdk"<br>
  And it still uses roughly twice as much space as it should.

# links

* https://www.altaro.com/vmware/ghettovcb-back-
up-vms/
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySMitWnNxp4
* https://forums.unraid.net/topic/30507-guide-scheduled-backup-your-esxi-vms-to-unraid-with-ghettovcb/
* https://blog.kingj.net/2016/07/03/how-to/backing-up-vmware-esxi-vms-with-ghettovcb/
* https://sudonull.com/post/95754-Backing-up-ESXi-virtual-machines-with-ghettoVCB-scripts#esxi-3