proxmox behind nginx proxy manager

Art Scpae

3 min read

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29-09-2024

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In today's virtualized environments, Proxmox has gained considerable popularity as a powerful platform for managing virtual machines and containers. However, securing your Proxmox setup and managing access through a web interface can be challenging. This is where Nginx Proxy Manager comes in handy. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to set up Proxmox behind Nginx Proxy Manager, providing answers to common questions, best practices, and practical examples.

What is Proxmox?

Proxmox Virtual Environment (Proxmox VE) is an open-source platform for virtualization. It allows users to manage virtual machines (VMs) and Linux containers (LXC) using a simple web interface. Proxmox provides features like live migration, high availability, and backups, making it a comprehensive solution for running multiple services.

What is Nginx Proxy Manager?

Nginx Proxy Manager is a user-friendly interface built on top of Nginx, which allows you to manage reverse proxy configurations with ease. It simplifies the process of routing traffic to various applications running on different ports while also providing SSL termination, access control, and other features.

Why Use Nginx Proxy Manager with Proxmox?

Using Nginx Proxy Manager with Proxmox offers several benefits:

1. Enhanced Security: By placing Proxmox behind a reverse proxy, you can better secure your management interface.
2. SSL Termination: With Nginx Proxy Manager, you can easily set up SSL certificates to encrypt traffic between users and Proxmox.
3. Flexible Routing: You can route multiple applications or services running on different ports through a single IP address, enhancing accessibility.
4. User Management: Nginx Proxy Manager allows you to set up user authentication, controlling access to your Proxmox interface.

How to Set Up Proxmox Behind Nginx Proxy Manager

Step 1: Install Proxmox VE

If you haven't already installed Proxmox, you can follow the official installation guide to set it up on your hardware or virtual machine.

Step 2: Install Nginx Proxy Manager

You can run Nginx Proxy Manager using Docker. Here’s a simple way to install it:

docker run -d \
  --name nginx-proxy-manager \
  -p 80:80 \
  -p 443:443 \
  -p 8181:8181 \
  -v /path/to/data:/data \
  -v /path/to/letsencrypt:/etc/letsencrypt \
  jlesage/nginx-proxy-manager

Step 3: Access Nginx Proxy Manager

Once installed, you can access the Nginx Proxy Manager web interface by navigating to http://your-server-ip:8181 in your web browser. The default login credentials are:

• Email: [email protected]
• Password: changeme

Tip: Change the default credentials immediately after logging in.

Step 4: Configure Proxy Host for Proxmox

1. In the Nginx Proxy Manager dashboard, go to the "Proxy Hosts" section.
2. Click the "Add Proxy Host" button.
3. Enter the following information:
   • Domain Names: Specify the domain (or subdomain) you want to use for Proxmox.
   • Scheme: Select http or https depending on your Proxmox configuration.
   • Forward Hostname / IP: Enter the local IP address of your Proxmox server (e.g., 192.168.1.10).
   • Forward Port: Set it to 8006, the default port for the Proxmox web interface.
4. Under the SSL tab, enable SSL and select or create a Let's Encrypt certificate for your domain.
5. Click the "Save" button.

Step 5: Access Proxmox through the Proxy

Now, you should be able to access Proxmox using the domain or subdomain you configured. For example, navigating to https://proxmox.yourdomain.com will bring you to the Proxmox web interface.

Step 6: Additional Configuration

• Access Control: Consider setting up basic HTTP authentication to add an extra layer of security. You can do this through the Nginx Proxy Manager by enabling the "Block Common Exploits" and "Websockets Support" options.
• Firewall Rules: Ensure that your firewall allows traffic on the necessary ports and restricts access to the Proxmox management interface from the public internet.

Best Practices

1. Regular Backups: Always maintain regular backups of your Proxmox environment to prevent data loss.
2. Keep Software Updated: Regularly update both Proxmox and Nginx Proxy Manager to ensure security patches are applied.
3. Monitor Logs: Check the Nginx Proxy Manager logs for any unauthorized access attempts.
4. Use Strong Passwords: Implement strong passwords for both Proxmox and Nginx Proxy Manager.

Conclusion

By placing Proxmox behind Nginx Proxy Manager, you enhance both security and accessibility, making it easier to manage your virtual environment. With the simplicity of Nginx Proxy Manager’s user interface, configuring SSL and routing becomes a straightforward task.

For further reading, you can refer to the official documentation of Proxmox and Nginx Proxy Manager.

By following these steps and best practices, you can enjoy a secure and efficient Proxmox setup. Feel free to share your experiences or any additional tips in the comments below!

Attribution

This article builds upon various insights found on GitHub discussions related to Proxmox and Nginx Proxy Manager. Proper credit is given to contributors who share their knowledge and support the open-source community.