Proxmox VE, the popular open source virtualization platform, received a significant update on April 24, 2024, with the release of version 8.2. This exciting new release brings a host of features designed to streamline virtual machine management, strengthen security, and improve the overall user experience. Let’s get to the highlights!
Proxmox VE 8.2 New features
The following features are introduced in Proxmox VE 8.2:
Automated and unattended installation
Proxmox VE 8.2 introduces support for automated and unattended installation. With this new version, you can easily change the default ISO using their tool. The resulting automated installer ISO retrieves all the necessary settings from an answer file. This answer file can be provided in three ways:
- Integrated into ISO,
- Placed on a separate USB stick, or
- Accessible via network.
Automated installation is particularly useful in various scenarios such as:
- Deploy infrastructure on a large scale,
- Automate the configuration process, and
- Ensure consistent configurations across multiple systems.
Improved Import Wizard for VMware ESXi Virtual Machines
In Proxmox VE 8.2 they introduced a new import wizard for VMware ESXi virtual machines. To establish the connection to the VMware ESXi host, you can mount the host as new Proxmox storage. Once logged in, you can see all VMware virtual machines (VMs) that can be imported into ESXi Storage.
Modernized firewall implementation
The firewall implementation in Proxmox VE has been modernized in version 8.2. The new implementation is based on nftables and is written in Rust. It is intended to replace the current iptables-based firewall in future versions of Proxmox VE.
The nftables firewall is currently being provided on an experimental basis to gather community feedback. This is a per-host firewall setting and must be manually enabled until its feature set is comparable to the current implementation.
LXC device pass-through in Proxmox VE 8.2
Proxmox VE 8.2 introduces LXC Device Relay, which allows you to configure host device relay for containers directly in the user interface. This feature provides more flexibility and control when working with containers.
Advanced backup job settings
Backup tasks in Proxmox VE now come with new advanced settings. These settings include performance settings and bandwidth limits, allowing you to fine-tune your backup processes to meet your specific needs.
Support for ACME-compliant custom certificate authorities
In version 8.2, Proxmox VE adds support for ACME-compliant custom certificate authorities. You can now use External Account Binding (EAB) for optional authentication to these certificate authorities. This enhancement provides more flexibility and options to secure your Proxmox VE environment.
User interface changes in Proxmox VE 8.2
Proxmox VE 8.2 brings small but impactful changes to the user interface in several areas. In the notes field, the double-click editing option has been disabled. This change allows you to easily select and copy text without accidentally opening the editor. However, you can still enable the old behavior if you want.
On editing screens, the reset button has been repositioned to reduce the risk of accidental clicks. This change aims to improve the user experience and prevent any unintended changes.
Underlying technologies
Proxmox VE 8.2 is based on the latest Debian 12.5, codenamed Bookworm. It combines leading open source technologies for virtual environments, including a modern Linux kernel 6.8, Ceph 18.2, QEMU 8.1, and Open ZFS 2.2. These technologies guarantee a stable and efficient virtualization platform for your infrastructure.
Conclusion
Proxmox VE 8.2 introduces several new features and improvements to improve your virtual environment. Automated, unattended installation streamlines the setup process, while the enhanced import wizard makes it easy to migrate VMware ESXi virtual machines. Modernized firewall implementation and LXC device relay provide more control and flexibility in managing your containers. Additionally, advanced backup job settings and support for ACME-compliant custom certificate authorities improve security and customization options in Proxmox VE. With minor but important changes to the user interface and underlying technologies, Proxmox VE 8.2 provides a reliable and efficient virtualization platform for your infrastructure.
We encourage you to explore new features and provide us with your feedback. Your input helps us refine and improve Proxmox VE, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of your virtual environment.
Ready to dive? Download Proxmox VE 8.2 ISO image that includes the full feature set and can be easily installed on bare metal servers.