An effective open-source platform for managing containers and virtual machines (VMs) is Proxmox Virtual Environment (VE). You could ultimately need to expand the storage on your Proxmox server, whether you're operating a production system or a home lab. This could be done to increase your storage capacity, store backups, or support more virtual machines.
Whether you want to add a network-attached storage (NAS) device, an SSD, or a physical disk to your Proxmox server, we'll show you how to do so in this article. We'll go over how to install the disk physically and make it accessible in Proxmox.
Step 1: Install the disk physically
Installing a physical drive is the initial step if you're adding one to your server. Here's how:
Power Down Your Server: To safely install the new disk, turn off your Proxmox server.
Put the disk in place: Connect the new drive to an open SATA or NVMe slot after opening your server case. After securing the disk, attach the required data and power cords.
Turn on the server: Turn on your server after the disk has been installed.
Step 2: Confirm that the disk has been detected
You must make sure Proxmox detects the disk after installing it.
Open the Web Interface for Proxmox: Open the Proxmox web interface and log in.
Examine the shell's disk:
After adding the disk, click on the node (server).
Access your Proxmox server via SSH or by selecting the "Shell" option.
For a list of all disks, run the following bash command:
lsblk
Look for the new disk in the output. It will typically appear as /dev/sdX (e.g., /dev/sdb) or /dev/nvmeXn1 for NVMe drives.
Step 3: Partition and Format the Disk
Before you can use the disk, you need to partition and format it.
Create a Partition:
Use fdisk or gdisk to create a partition on the new disk. For example:
fdisk /dev/sdb
Follow the prompts to create a new partition. Typically, you'll want to create a single partition using the entire disk.
Save and exit the partition tool.
Format the Partition:
Format the partition with a filesystem. For Proxmox, ext4 is a common choice:
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdb1
If you're using the disk for ZFS, you can skip formatting and add it directly to a ZFS pool.
Step 4: Add the Disk to Proxmox
Now that the disk is ready, you can add it to Proxmox as storage.
Go to Datacenter Storage:
In the Proxmox web interface, select your node, then go to "Datacenter" > "Storage."
Add the Disk as Storage:
Click "Add" and choose the type of storage you want to create (e.g., "Directory," "LVM," or "ZFS").
For a simple setup, select "Directory" and provide the following details:
ID: A unique name for the storage (e.g., new-disk).
Directory: The mount point for the disk (e.g., /mnt/new-disk).
Content: Choose what the storage will be used for (e.g., "Disk Image," "ISO," "Container").
Click "Add" to save the configuration.
Mount the Disk:
If you haven't already mounted the disk, do so now:
mkdir /mnt/new-disk
mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/new-disk
To make the mount persistent across reboots, add it to /etc/fstab:
echo '/dev/sdb1 /mnt/new-disk ext4 defaults 0 0' >> /etc/fstab
Step 5: Verify the Storage
Once the disk is added, verify that it's working correctly.
Check Storage in Proxmox:
Go to "Datacenter" > "Storage" and ensure the new storage is listed and active.
Test the Storage:
Create a new VM or container and select the new storage as the disk location to ensure it's functioning properly.
Optional: Add the Disk to an Existing ZFS Pool
If you're using ZFS, you can add the new disk to an existing pool for expanded storage.
Add the Disk to the Pool:
Run the following command to add the disk to your ZFS pool:
zpool add <pool-name> /dev/sdb1
Verify the Pool:
Check the status of your ZFS pool to ensure the disk was added successfully:
zpool status
In conclusion
The process of adding a disk to Proxmox is simple and can greatly increase your storage capacity. Proxmox gives you the ability to effectively manage your storage, whether you're installing a hard drive, an SSD, or network storage. You can make sure that your new disk is installed, formatted, and integrated into your Proxmox environment correctly by following this method.
In the coming days, further articles on the subjects listed below will be published.
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