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Proxmox VE Advanced: Cluster, Live Migration & HA

By Lâm Trịnh Chí Tài (Gyn) Infrastructure

1. Create the Cluster

With 2 PVE hosts ready (e.g., 192.168.231.131 and .10), on the main host, go to Datacenter > Cluster > Create Cluster.

[Source 4] Menu Create Cluster in Datacenter

Name the cluster (e.g., Cluster-PVE-Lab) and create it.

[Source 4] Dialog Create Cluster with Name and Network [Source 4] Task viewer Create Cluster Output

Click Join Information to get the join string.

[Source 5] Click Join Information button [Source 5] Copy the Join Information string

On the 2nd host, go to Datacenter > Cluster > Join Cluster.

[Source 6] Menu Join Cluster on 2nd node

Paste the information and enter the password of the 1st node.

[Source 7] Dialog Cluster Join - Paste info and Password [Source 7] Task viewer Join Cluster

Refresh the page to see both nodes.

[Source 8] Both nodes visible in Datacenter [Source 8] Cluster Nodes list view

2. Add Shared Storage (iSCSI)

Prepare the Shared Storage (e.g., TrueNAS iSCSI share).

[Source 9] TrueNAS Sharing Interface

On Proxmox, go to Datacenter > Storage > Add > iSCSI.

[Source 10] Menu Add iSCSI Storage

Enter ID and Portal IP. The Target should auto-appear.

[Source 14] Dialog Add iSCSI Storage configuration

The storage will appear in the list.

[Source 15] Storage list with new iSCSI

3. Create VM (Ubuntu)

Click Create VM.

[Source 17] Create VM Button

Step-by-Step Configuration:

  • General: Node, VM ID, Name. Check 'Add to HA'.
[Source 19] Create VM - General Tab
  • OS: Select ISO Image, Type Linux.
[Source 21] Create VM - OS Tab
  • System: SCSI Controller (VirtIO SCSI single).
[Source 26] Create VM - System Tab
  • Disks: Storage (Shared), Check 'SSD emulation'.
[Source 32] Create VM - Disks Tab
  • CPU: Cores, Type.
[Source 50] Create VM - CPU Tab
  • Memory: Check 'Ballooning Device'.
[Source 53] Create VM - Memory Tab
  • Network: Bridge, Model.
[Source 57] Create VM - Network Tab

Confirm and Finish.

[Source 59] Create VM - Confirm Tab [Source 34] VM Summary View

4. Create Container (LXC)

Click Create CT.

[Source 37] Create CT Button

Step-by-Step Configuration:

  • General: Uncheck 'Unprivileged container', Check 'Add to HA'.
[Source 41] Create CT - General Tab
  • Template: Select Ubuntu template.
[Source 42] Create CT - Template Tab
  • Disks: Disk size (e.g., 32GB).
[Source 46] Create CT - Disks Tab
  • CPU: Cores assignment.
[Source 50] Create CT - CPU Tab
  • Memory: RAM and Swap.
[Source 53] Create CT - Memory Tab
  • Network: DHCP (usually).
[Source 57] Create CT - Network Tab
  • DNS: Host settings.
[Source 58] Create CT - DNS Tab

Confirm and Start.

[Source 59] Create CT - Confirm Tab [Source 59] Task viewer Create CT [Source 60] CT Summary View

5. Live Migration

Migrate VM (Online)

Right click VM > Migrate.

[Source 63] Right click menu VM Migrate

Target node, Mode: Online.

[Source 65] Dialog Migrate VM

Task OK logs.

[Source 66] Task log VM Migration [Source 66] VM icon migrating [Source 66] Ping test continuous during migration

Migrate Container (Restart)

Right click CT > Migrate.

[Source 67] Right click menu CT Migrate

Mode: Restart Mode.

[Source 68] Dialog Migrate CT [Source 68] Task log CT Migration [Source 69] Detailed transfer logs [Source 70] Ping timeout during CT restart [Source 71] Migrate icon [Source 72] Result: Both on 2nd node

6. High Availability (HA)

Datacenter > HA > Affinity Rules > Add.

[Source 74] HA Affinity Rules Menu

Add Resources and Priority.

[Source 76] Dialog Add HA Node Affinity [Source 77] HA Rule created list

Test Failover

Simulate crash on the node hosting VMs.

[Source 80] Node Context Menu [Source 83] Ping test before crash echo b > /proc/sysrq-trigger [Source 85] Console input crash command

Services go unresponsive initially.

[Source 86] Ping timeout [Source 86] Node dead icon red

On surviving node, force quorum: pvecm expected 1.

[Source 87] Console input pvecm expected 1

Proxmox VE: Advance Guideline (Cluster + Live Migration + HA)