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# 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