Proxmox VE : Build High Availability Cluster with Ceph – Lab

Learn how to design, build, and manage a fully redundant Proxmox VE 8 High Availability Cluster with Ceph storage in this hands-on, lab-based course.This comprehensive training is designed for IT professionals, system administrators, DevOps engineers, and homelab enthusiasts who want to deploy production-grade, fault-tolerant infrastructure using open-source technologies.You'll start from hardware planning and move step-by-step through Proxmox installation, cluster formation, Ceph integration, virtual machine and container deployment, SDN configuration, and disaster recovery strategies.What This Course Covers:Proxmox VE 8 High Availability ClusterUnderstand clustering concepts: quorum, fencing, HA Manager, and failover behaviorSet up a 3-node Proxmox cluster from scratch using real servers and mini PCsConfigure high availability for VMs and LXC containers with automatic recoveryCeph Storage IntegrationDeploy Ceph as a distributed, resilient, and scalable storage backendLearn to install Ceph Monitors, OSDs, Pools, and Managers across multiple nodesUse Ceph RBD for VM storage and assign Ceph-backed volumes to containersDesign dedicated networks for Ceph public and cluster trafficNetworking for HA and SDNConfigure Linux bridges, NIC bonding, VLANs, and multi-interface setupsIntegrate pfSense or OPNsense as firewalls and edge routers for virtual networksBuild Software-Defined Networking (SDN) zones including VLAN, VXLAN, and QINQ for advanced segmentation and multi-tenant environmentsVM and LXC ManagementDeploy and manage virtual machines for Linux and Windows ServerUse LXC containers for lightweight services and microservice architectureClone and template VMs and containers for rapid provisioningAutomate deployment with cloud-init and helper scriptsMonitoring, Troubleshooting, and OptimizationMonitor your cluster and Ceph health with tools like ZabbixOptimize node performance, network throughput, and storage latencyDiagnose issues in Proxmox and Ceph with logs and best-practice workflowsBackup and Disaster RecoveryConfigure and use Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) for complete VM and container backupsIntegrate NAS and external storage for data redundancyRestore full cluster or single-node failures with image and configuration recoveryUse PXE boot and iVentoy for LXC-based recovery serversAutomation and Real-World Use CasesAutomate workflows using n8n and Proxmox scriptingSet up AgentDVR and TrueNAS within the clusterApply the knowledge in a real-world final project: building a portable homelab with Protectli, BeeLink, pfSense, TrueNAS, and DockerWho Should Take This Course:System administrators managing virtualized infrastructure in SMBs, enterprises, or hybrid environmentsDevOps and SREs building automated, highly available platformsHomelab enthusiasts seeking enterprise-grade virtualization toolsProfessionals transitioning from VMware, Hyper-V, or OpenStack to Proxmox and CephIT learners preparing for roles in infrastructure architecture or cloud engineeringWhy This Course Is Unique:Full lifecycle training: from bare metal to clustered production infrastructureCovers high availability, storage redundancy, network segmentation, and automationUses real-world hardware and tested configurationsIncludes optional tools like pfSense, OPNsense, TrueNAS, and Clonezilla for broader applicationTaught by an experienced instructor with over 14 years in Proxmox deploymentBy the end of this course, you’ll be able to confidently deploy, manage, and scale a fully resilient Proxmox VE 8 HA cluster with Ceph storage and advanced network and disaster recovery capabilities.