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Nginx Proxy VM Creation (VM-103)

Brief description: Create VM-103 for Nginx reverse proxy with 1 vCPU, 2GB RAM, and 10GB storage.

VM Specifications

  • VM ID: 103
  • Name: nginx-proxy
  • CPU: 1 vCPU
  • RAM: 2 GiB
  • Disk: 10 GiB (ZFS)
  • OS: Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS
  • Network: vmbr2 (private internal network with port forwarding)
  • Static IP: 192.168.192.20/18
  • Gateway: 192.168.192.5
  • Purpose: Reverse proxy and SSL termination

Prerequisites

  • [ ] Proxmox Web UI accessible
  • [ ] Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO available
  • [ ] ZFS storage pool available
  • [ ] IP address planned

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Create VM in Proxmox

  1. Click Create VM in Proxmox UI

Step 2: General Tab

  • VM ID: 103
  • Name: nginx-proxy

Click Next

Step 3: OS Tab

  • ISO image: ubuntu-24.04-live-server-amd64.iso
  • Type: Linux
  • Version: 6.x - 2.6 Kernel

Click Next

Step 4: System Tab

Accept defaults

Click Next

Step 5: Disks Tab

  • Storage: rpool
  • Disk size (GiB): 10
  • Format: qcow2
  • Cache: Write back

Minimal Storage

Nginx proxy requires minimal storage as it only handles configuration files and certificates. 10GB is sufficient.

Click Next

Step 6: CPU Tab

  • Sockets: 1
  • Cores: 1

Click Next

Step 7: Memory Tab

  • Memory (MiB): 2048

Click Next

Step 8: Network Tab

  • Bridge: vmbr2 (private internal network)
  • Model: VirtIO

Click Next

vmbr2 Configuration with Port Forwarding

This VM uses the internal private network (vmbr2). Port forwarding from vmbr0 (host) will forward ports 80/443 to this VM. See Network Configuration for the iptables rules.

Step 9: Confirm

Review: - Name: nginx-proxy - VM ID: 103 - CPU: 1 core - Memory: 2048 MiB - Disk: 10 GiB

Click Finish

Step 10: Install Ubuntu

  1. Start VM 103
  2. Open Console
  3. Boot from ISO
  4. Follow installation wizard:

Language: English

Keyboard Layout: Your layout

Network Configuration: - Select the network interface (ens18) - Choose Configure network manually - Enter: - IP Address: 192.168.192.20 - Netmask: 255.255.192.0 (/18) - Gateway: 192.168.192.5 - Name servers: 8.8.8.8, 1.1.1.1

Profile: - Server name: nginx-proxy - Username: admin - Password: [strong password]

SSH: Install OpenSSH server

Complete and reboot

Step 11: Post-Installation

After reboot:

# Verify IP
ip addr show

# Verify gateway
ip route show

# Update system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Install essential tools
sudo apt install -y curl vim htop

Step 12: Document IP

Add to inventory: 

nginx-proxy | 103 | vmbr2 | 192.168.192.20 | proxy.example.com | Nginx Port 80/443

Verification

  • [ ] VM 103 created with correct specs
  • [ ] Ubuntu installed
  • [ ] IP address assigned and recorded
  • [ ] System updated
  • [ ] SSH accessible

Special Configuration

Enable IP Forwarding

For proper reverse proxy functionality:

# Edit sysctl
sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf

Uncomment or add: 

net.ipv4.ip_forward=1

Apply: 

sudo sysctl -p

Next Steps