Chapter 1, Installing Proxmox, introduces Proxmox and its features. It also shows the types of hardware needed for a Proxmox node, the required repository, and how to install Proxmox in a few steps. At the end of the chapter, you will have a very basic Proxmox cluster up and running, which can be used throughout the book to practice the knowledge you've acquired.

Chapter 2, Getting to Know the Proxmox GUI, introduces the Proxmox graphical user interface (GUI) through illustrations and guides you through the entire menu system of Proxmox. Explanations of the functions of different categories of menus are also provided. Each menu item of different categories has been presented with visual figures along with a description of their functions.

Chapter 3, Cluster and VM Management, shows you how to create and configure a Proxmox cluster from the ground up. Topics such as virtual machine creation, migration, and cloning are also covered in this chapter. At the end of the chapter, you will be capable enough to manage virtual machines in a Proxmox cluster.

Chapter 4, Network Configurations, shows different network components and how to configure them in Proxmox. In this chapter, you will have a good understanding of how to a create virtual network within a Proxmox cluster and how all the components come together to form a complex network.

Chapter 5, Firewall Configurations, shows how to utilize the Firewall feature of Proxmox. Firewall is a fairly new feature that has enhanced Proxmox significantly. In this chapter, you will learn how to enable and configure a firewall for different entities, such as a data center, node, and VM.

Chapter 6, Storage Configurations, shows different storage plugin options that are available and how to attach them to a Proxmox cluster. Proxmox provides built-in plugins for a major storage type. In this chapter, you will learn how to attach a shared storage with Proxmox and configure it.

Chapter 7, Backup and Restore, shows you how to perform the backup and restore of a virtual machine in a Proxmox cluster. Backup is an important requirement of any network. This chapter shows you how to schedule regular backups, snapshots, and restore data in the event of a disaster.

Chapter 8, Updating and Upgrading Proxmox, shows you the upgrade process to keep a Proxmox node up to date at all times. Keeping a Proxmox node updated is important for an issue-free environment. In this chapter, you will learn the proper procedure to commit updates on a Proxmox node.

Chapter 9, Monitoring Proxmox, shows you the ways in which you can monitor Proxmox and Ceph clusters using the Zabbix and Ceph dashboards. The steps involved in configuring a host or virtual machine that needs to be monitored, are covered along with installation of the Ceph dashboard. At the end of this chapter, you will know how to monitor and configure notifications.

Chapter 10, Advanced Configurations for VMs, shows advanced configuration steps to add features such as sound, PCI passthrough, and more. Advanced configuration extends the ability of a VM beyond just the basics. This chapter shows steps to make this advanced configuration work seamlessly.

Chapter 11, The CLI Command Reference, shows you several lists of the most commonly used commands to manage different aspects of Proxmox, such as a cluster, storage, and so on. This is a reference chapter for quickly finding the most commonly used commands. Commands have been listed in different categories for an easy find.