Hi all,
I'm getting ready to install Proxmox for the first time. This will be for my in-home network (also used for my work-from-home business). I've been reviewing the installation process for my server, and I just want to ensure that what I'm planning is the best way to do things. I want to keep things simple, but I also want to do it right the first time.
First, the server is a recently purchased Dell R730XD (https://www.ebay.com/itm/126039524117). I plan on using this server for the following:
1. Replace my current router (a TP-Link one) with either pfSense or OPNSense.
2. IDS / IPS (still investigating the open source options for this - any recommendations?)
3. DNS (PiHole), mainly for its ad-blocking capabilities, but also for allowing me to add my own things.
4. VPN (possibly), Haven't decided on Wireguard or OpenVPN.
5. SQL Express (installed in an Ubuntu container). Databases are small.
6. Home Assistant VM.
7. NAS? I'm not sure if I need dedicated software for this, or if I can just use the storage pools in ProxMox and/or the H730 Raid controller of the server. The main use is for me to not store work stuff on my laptop (not very intensive at all). The secondary use is for the backup of computers (3 laptops, plus whatever can be backed up from all of the containers / VMs above). The third use is for Media Server storage. If I do use NAS software, I'll use TrueNAS. It seems like ProxMox will handle what I want to do.
8. Media Server - Plex or JellyFin.
What I'm planning on:
1. Install two 1TB SSDs (Samsung 870EVO) in the two drive bays on the back of the server. Put into a Raid 1 configuration. Install ProxMox on these, and use for ProxMox and the containers / VMs that are running on ProxMox.
2. Install six 8TB HDDs (Seagate IronWolf) into six of the front drive bays, in a Raid 5 configuration. This would be for the NAS. This would give me ~40TB.
3. Install three 6TB HDDs (Seagate IronWolf) into three of the front drive bays, in a Raid 0 configuration. This would give me ~18TB and would be used for backing up the six HDDs. I'll expand this as my used space increases.
Questions that I have:
1. I've read throughout these forums to replace the H730 raid controller with something else. However, every YouTube video that I've watched installing ProxMox on an R730XD uses the H730 controller card. Furthermore, the H730 supports all 14 drives that are available on this configuration, however, the H330 only supports 8, so I would need two of these.
a. So, do I need to replace the H730 with the H330 card?
2. Do the two SSDs need to be on a separate controller card for ProxMox?
3. The server has 4 RJ45 ports - 2@1Gbs, and 2@10Gbs. I plan to pass three of these ports into the router - the two 1Gbs ports will be for my Wan connections (I have a DSL ISP for backup to my Starlink (soon to be fiber) and one of the 10Gbs ports will be going to the rest of my Lan.
a. Can I pass just three of the ports to either pfSense or OPNSense or do I have to pass all four via the entire card?
b. If I have to pass the entire card, will I need an additional NIC card for the server for ProxMox itself?
4. With planning to use IPS / IDS,
a. Should the Lan connection from the router go instead to the container running this software, and the output of that goes to the Lan via the third port above?
b. Can the virtual ethernet connectors be connected in this manner?
c. Or will I need yet another NIC card?
5. This server has two USB 3 ports. My Home Assistant (HA) VM will need 2 USB ports, but it doesn't need USB 3.
a. Would it be better to just install a USB card and pass that through to the HA VM?
b. Can individual ports be passed through to a VM or container, or does the entire card get passed through?
c. I'm considering adding a USB 3 port to enable connecting my 5-bay docking station for additional backup that can then be disconnected and locked up somewhere safe off-site.
6. Do I need to use TrueNas for what I'm planning, or will the server's H730 and/or ProxMox let me handle things?
7. I've seen that the installation requires specifying a FQDN. Should I use the <servername>.<domainname>.local format, or just <servername>.local? I'm leaning towards <servername>.myhome.local.
8. Based on what I've outlined, are there any other suggestions for how things should be done?
Thanks!
Wayne
I'm getting ready to install Proxmox for the first time. This will be for my in-home network (also used for my work-from-home business). I've been reviewing the installation process for my server, and I just want to ensure that what I'm planning is the best way to do things. I want to keep things simple, but I also want to do it right the first time.
First, the server is a recently purchased Dell R730XD (https://www.ebay.com/itm/126039524117). I plan on using this server for the following:
1. Replace my current router (a TP-Link one) with either pfSense or OPNSense.
2. IDS / IPS (still investigating the open source options for this - any recommendations?)
3. DNS (PiHole), mainly for its ad-blocking capabilities, but also for allowing me to add my own things.
4. VPN (possibly), Haven't decided on Wireguard or OpenVPN.
5. SQL Express (installed in an Ubuntu container). Databases are small.
6. Home Assistant VM.
7. NAS? I'm not sure if I need dedicated software for this, or if I can just use the storage pools in ProxMox and/or the H730 Raid controller of the server. The main use is for me to not store work stuff on my laptop (not very intensive at all). The secondary use is for the backup of computers (3 laptops, plus whatever can be backed up from all of the containers / VMs above). The third use is for Media Server storage. If I do use NAS software, I'll use TrueNAS. It seems like ProxMox will handle what I want to do.
8. Media Server - Plex or JellyFin.
What I'm planning on:
1. Install two 1TB SSDs (Samsung 870EVO) in the two drive bays on the back of the server. Put into a Raid 1 configuration. Install ProxMox on these, and use for ProxMox and the containers / VMs that are running on ProxMox.
2. Install six 8TB HDDs (Seagate IronWolf) into six of the front drive bays, in a Raid 5 configuration. This would be for the NAS. This would give me ~40TB.
3. Install three 6TB HDDs (Seagate IronWolf) into three of the front drive bays, in a Raid 0 configuration. This would give me ~18TB and would be used for backing up the six HDDs. I'll expand this as my used space increases.
Questions that I have:
1. I've read throughout these forums to replace the H730 raid controller with something else. However, every YouTube video that I've watched installing ProxMox on an R730XD uses the H730 controller card. Furthermore, the H730 supports all 14 drives that are available on this configuration, however, the H330 only supports 8, so I would need two of these.
a. So, do I need to replace the H730 with the H330 card?
2. Do the two SSDs need to be on a separate controller card for ProxMox?
3. The server has 4 RJ45 ports - 2@1Gbs, and 2@10Gbs. I plan to pass three of these ports into the router - the two 1Gbs ports will be for my Wan connections (I have a DSL ISP for backup to my Starlink (soon to be fiber) and one of the 10Gbs ports will be going to the rest of my Lan.
a. Can I pass just three of the ports to either pfSense or OPNSense or do I have to pass all four via the entire card?
b. If I have to pass the entire card, will I need an additional NIC card for the server for ProxMox itself?
4. With planning to use IPS / IDS,
a. Should the Lan connection from the router go instead to the container running this software, and the output of that goes to the Lan via the third port above?
b. Can the virtual ethernet connectors be connected in this manner?
c. Or will I need yet another NIC card?
5. This server has two USB 3 ports. My Home Assistant (HA) VM will need 2 USB ports, but it doesn't need USB 3.
a. Would it be better to just install a USB card and pass that through to the HA VM?
b. Can individual ports be passed through to a VM or container, or does the entire card get passed through?
c. I'm considering adding a USB 3 port to enable connecting my 5-bay docking station for additional backup that can then be disconnected and locked up somewhere safe off-site.
6. Do I need to use TrueNas for what I'm planning, or will the server's H730 and/or ProxMox let me handle things?
7. I've seen that the installation requires specifying a FQDN. Should I use the <servername>.<domainname>.local format, or just <servername>.local? I'm leaning towards <servername>.myhome.local.
8. Based on what I've outlined, are there any other suggestions for how things should be done?
Thanks!
Wayne