Proxmox VE 8.2 Is Now Available!

Proxmox VE 8.2 with VMware Migration Wizard

We are pleased to announce the release of Proxmox Virtual Environment (VE) 8.2, the latest version of our popular open-source platform for virtualization and container orchestration.

Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH, the developer of enterprise server software, has released Proxmox Virtual Environment 8.2 today. The new version is based on Debian 12.5 (“Bookworm”) and uses a current Linux Kernel 6.8. All integrated open-source technologies have been updated, including QEMU 8.1, LXC 6.0, Ceph 18.2, and ZFS 2.2.

Proxmox Virtual Environment 8.2 brings an import wizard for migrating VMware ESXi guests to Proxmox VE, a new tool for automated ISO installation on physical hosts, the implementation of a backup fleecing feature to decouple VM performance from slow backup storage, as well as several user interface improvements.

New Features and Improvements

This version brings a wealth of improvements and new features, including:

• Import Wizard for VMware ESXi VMs: Proxmox VE now offers an integrated VM importer that leverages the storage plugin system and is seamlessly integrated into the API and web-based user interface. This allows VMs to be imported directly from other hypervisors, including VMware ESXi and vCenter. During the import, most of the original VM configuration settings are mapped to the Proxmox VE configuration model.

• Automated Installation: Proxmox VE now provides the “proxmox-auto-install-assistant” tool, which fully automates the setup process on bare-metal systems. This method allows Proxmox VE to be deployed quickly without requiring manual access to the systems, saving time and reducing the risk of errors. This requires preparing an answer file with the necessary configuration settings, which can then be loaded into the ISO file, onto a USB stick, or via the network. Automated installation is particularly useful for deploying large infrastructures, automating the setup process, and ensuring consistent configurations across multiple systems.

• Fleecing for Backups: When backing up a running VM, a slow backup target can impact the host’s I/O performance. With the fleecing feature, data blocks are temporarily cached in a fleecing image to improve the host’s I/O performance and prevent hangs. This feature is particularly helpful when VMs with high I/O workloads are being backed up to a remote Proxmox Backup Server or another backup storage.

• Firewall Modernization with nftables (Technology Preview): Proxmox VE now offers an optional firewall implementation using nftables instead of iptables. This implementation, written in the Rust programming language, must be manually enabled and is still in technology preview to gather community feedback. Although the new implementation provides nearly the same functionality as the previous one, it enables modernization of the firewall technology.

• Device Passthrough for Containers in GUI: Starting with version 8.1, the graphical user interface (GUI) now also supports configuration for LXC device passthrough, in addition to existing support via the API and CLI.

• Extended Settings for Backups: Backup jobs now offer extended configuration options, including performance parameters and bandwidth limits, to enable finer control.

• Customizable ACME Directory: This version allows the use of custom ACME-enabled Certificate Authorities (CA) with the optional ability to authenticate via External Account Binding (EAB).

• Web Interface Improvements: In the notes field, the double-click editing option has been removed to make it easier to select and copy text without unintentionally opening the editor. The reset button on editing screens has been moved to a new position to reduce accidental clicks.

Availability and Update Recommendation

Proxmox VE 8.2 is available now and can be downloaded from the Proxmox website. Existing users can easily update their systems via the integrated update function.

Whether you are a small business in need of a cost-effective virtualization solution or a large data center looking for flexibility and scalability, Proxmox VE 8.2 provides the tools you need to efficiently manage and scale your infrastructure.

We are happy to assist you with the implementation of your Proxmox project.

You can find the detailed changelog here.

DATAZONE supports you with implementation — contact us for a no-obligation consultation.