Proxmox VE Setup, Windows Server VM Creation, and Active Directory Configuration

1. Installing and Setting Up Proxmox VE

1.1 Download Proxmox VE

1. Download the Proxmox VE ISO:
   • Visit the Proxmox download page.
   • Download the latest Proxmox VE ISO file.

1.2 Create a Bootable USB Drive

1. Prepare a USB Drive:
   • Get a USB drive with at least 2GB of space.
   • Ensure that the USB drive is empty, as this process will erase all data on it.
2. Create a Bootable USB Drive:
   • Download a tool like Rufus or Etcher.
   • Insert the USB drive into your computer.
   • Open Rufus or Etcher.
   • Select the Proxmox VE ISO file you downloaded.
   • Select the USB drive as the destination.
   • Click "Start" or "Flash" to create the bootable USB.

1.3 Install Proxmox VE

1. Boot from the USB Drive:
   • Insert the bootable USB into the machine where you want to install Proxmox.
   • Power on the machine and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, DEL, or ESC during startup).
   • Set the USB drive as the first boot device.
   • Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings.
2. Install Proxmox VE:
   • The machine will boot from the USB drive and start the Proxmox VE installer.
   • Select "Install Proxmox VE" from the menu.
   • Agree to the license agreement.
   • Select the target hard drive where you want to install Proxmox.
   • Configure your country, time zone, and keyboard layout.
   • Set a strong root password and provide an email address for system notifications.
   • Configure the network interface by setting a hostname (e.g., proxmox.local) and assigning a static IP address.
   • Review the settings and begin the installation.
   • Once the installation is complete, remove the USB drive and reboot the machine.

1.4 Access the Proxmox Web Interface

1. Log in to the Web Interface:
   • On a computer connected to the same network, open a web browser.
   • Navigate to https://[your-proxmox-ip]:8006.
   • Ignore the security warning and proceed to the site (this happens because Proxmox uses a self-signed certificate).
   • Log in with the username root and the password you set during installation.

2. Initial Configuration of Proxmox VE

2.1 Update Proxmox VE

1. Update the System:

   • After logging into the Proxmox web interface, access the Shell (you can also SSH into the Proxmox server).

   • Run the following commands to update Proxmox to the latest version:
     

     apt update && apt full-upgrade -y
     
     

Reboot the system if any updates require it:

    ```
    reboot

    ```

2.2 Configure Storage

1. Verify Default Storage:
   • In the Proxmox web interface, go to Datacenter > Node (e.g., rubix-002) > Storage.
   • You should see local and local-lvm as the default storage locations.
     • local: Used for ISO images, container templates, and backups.
     • local-lvm: Used for VM disk images.
2. Add Additional Storage (If Necessary):
   • If you have additional storage devices (e.g., a second hard drive) that you want to use for VM storage:
     • Go to Datacenter > Node > Disks.
     • Click Directory or LVM to create a new storage location.
     • Assign a name, select the disk, and configure it based on your needs.
     • Apply the configuration.

2.3 Upload ISO Files

1. Download Necessary ISO Files:
   • Download the Windows Server ISO from Microsoft’s official website.
   • Download the VirtIO drivers ISO from the Fedora project’s VirtIO drivers page.
2. Upload ISOs to Proxmox:
   • In the Proxmox web interface, navigate to Datacenter > Node > local > Content.
   • Click Upload.
   • Select the ISO files you downloaded (Windows Server and VirtIO).
   • Wait for the upload to complete.

2.4 Network Configuration

1. Verify Network Configuration:
   • In the Proxmox web interface, go to Datacenter > Node > Network.
   • Ensure that the vmbr0 network bridge is correctly configured and connected to your physical network.
     • vmbr0 should be connected to your physical network interface (e.g., eth0).
     • It should have an IP address, which can be static or dynamic depending on your network setup.

2. Set a Static IP (Optional):

   • If you want to set a static IP address for your Proxmox server:

     • Click on vmbr0 and select Edit.
     • Change the IP address field to a static IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.100).

     • Apply the changes and restart the network service:
       

       systemctl restart networking
       
       

3. Creating a Windows Server VM in Proxmox

3.1 Create the VM

1. Start Creating a New VM:
   • In the Proxmox web interface, go to Datacenter > Node > Create VM.
   • In the General tab, give the VM a name (e.g., WinServer-AD).
2. Select the OS:
   • In the OS tab, select the Windows Server ISO you uploaded earlier.
   • Choose Microsoft Windows as the Guest OS type.
3. Configure the Hard Disk:
   • In the Hard Disk tab, set the disk size to at least 60GB.
   • Choose VirtIO SCSI as the bus/device type for better performance.
4. Configure the CPU:
   • In the CPU tab, allocate at least 2 cores to the VM.
5. Allocate Memory:
   • In the Memory tab, allocate at least 4GB of RAM.
6. Network Configuration:
   • In the Network tab, select VirtIO for the network model.
   • Ensure that the VM is connected to the vmbr0 bridge.
7. Review and Finish:
   • Review the VM settings and click Finish to create the VM.

3.2 Install Windows Server

1. Start the VM:
   • Select the VM from the Proxmox interface and click Start.
   • Open the console to view the VM.
2. Begin Windows Installation:
   • The VM should boot from the Windows Server ISO.
   • Follow the prompts to begin the Windows Server installation.
3. Load VirtIO Drivers During Installation:
   • When prompted to select a disk during the Windows installation, you may not see any disks listed. This is because Windows does not have the necessary drivers to recognize the VirtIO SCSI disk.
   • Click Load Driver.
   • Browse to the VirtIO drivers ISO you uploaded earlier.
   • Navigate to the vioscsi directory and select the appropriate driver for your version of Windows (e.g., amd64 for 64-bit).
   • The disk should now appear; select it and proceed with the installation.
4. Complete Windows Installation:
   • Follow the remaining prompts to complete the installation.
   • Set the Administrator password and configure initial settings.

3.3 Post-Installation Configuration

1. Install Remaining VirtIO Drivers:
   • After logging into Windows, you’ll need to install additional VirtIO drivers for network, ballooning, etc.
   • Open This PC > CD Drive (VirtIO) and run the installer.
   • Alternatively, you can manually install drivers through the Device Manager by browsing the VirtIO ISO and selecting the appropriate drivers (e.g., NetKVM for network).
2. Set a Static IP Address (Optional):
   • Open Network and Sharing Center.
   • Click on Change adapter settings.
   • Right-click on the network adapter and select Properties.
   • Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
   • Assign a static IP address to the server.
3. Join the Server to a Domain (Optional):
   • If this server will join an existing domain, go to System Properties and

click on Change settings.

• Join the domain by entering the domain name and providing the necessary credentials.

4. Setting Up Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)

4.1 Install the AD DS Role

1. Open Server Manager:
   • After logging into the Windows Server, open Server Manager.
2. Add Roles and Features:
   • In Server Manager, click Add Roles and Features.
   • Proceed through the wizard and select Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) from the list of roles.
   • Continue through the wizard and confirm the installation.
3. Complete the Installation:
   • Once the AD DS role is installed, you will see a notification in Server Manager to promote this server to a domain controller.

4.2 Promote the Server to a Domain Controller

1. Promote to Domain Controller:
   • Click on the notification in Server Manager to begin the promotion process.
   • Choose to create a new forest and enter your desired domain name (e.g., mydomain.local).
2. Configure Domain Settings:
   • Set the forest and domain functional levels (Windows Server 2016 or later is recommended).
   • Create a Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password.
3. Review and Complete:
   • Review all the settings in the wizard.
   • Complete the promotion process, which will restart the server.

4.3 Post-Promotion Configuration

1. Verify AD DS Installation:
   • After the server restarts, open Active Directory Users and Computers.
   • Ensure that your domain is listed and functioning properly.
2. DNS Configuration:
   • Verify that DNS is correctly configured and working. AD DS typically installs DNS by default, so you should not need to do much configuration here.
   • Ensure that your domain clients are pointing to this DNS server.
3. Join Clients to the Domain:
   • You can now join other computers to the domain by using the domain name and appropriate credentials.

5. Ongoing Maintenance and Expansion

5.1 Backup and Snapshot Configuration

1. Configure Regular Backups:
   • In the Proxmox interface, navigate to Datacenter > Backup.
   • Set up a backup job to regularly back up your VMs to a safe location.
2. Enable Snapshots:
   • Make sure your storage supports snapshots (e.g., ZFS or LVM).
   • Snapshots allow quick rollback to a previous state, which is useful for making changes or updates.

5.2 Monitoring and Performance Optimization

1. Monitor Resource Usage:
   • Use Proxmox’s built-in monitoring tools to keep track of CPU, memory, and storage usage.
   • Adjust resources allocated to VMs as needed to ensure optimal performance.
2. Regular Updates:
   • Keep both Proxmox and Windows Server updated with the latest security patches and features.
   • Regularly check for updates and apply them as necessary.

6. Future Expansion

6.1 Adding More VMs

1. Create Additional VMs:
   • As your needs grow, you can create additional VMs within Proxmox for different purposes (e.g., file servers, web servers).
   • Follow the same steps as outlined above to create and configure new VMs.

6.2 Setting Up a Proxmox Cluster (Optional)

1. Cluster Setup:
   • If you have multiple Proxmox nodes, consider setting up a Proxmox cluster.
   • A cluster allows for high availability and resource balancing across multiple nodes.
   • Follow Proxmox’s official documentation for setting up a cluster environment.

Conclusion

This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to setting up Proxmox VE, creating and configuring a Windows Server VM, and deploying Active Directory. By following these detailed instructions, you’ve established a solid virtual infrastructure capable of supporting a wide range of IT needs. Regular maintenance and monitoring will ensure the environment remains secure, efficient, and ready for future growth.