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Dedicated Server and Virtualization setup newbies advise needed
I wanted to explore Dedicated Server with Virtualization for my work to understand whether I could manage to create 15 to 25 VMs using dedicated servers [2 to 3 dedicated servers]. The host OS will be Ubuntu Linux, Guest OS also Ubuntu Linux. We will have 15 to 25 Guest running with each 16 GB to 24 GB to 32 GB RAM (50% to 75% of the RAM must be dedicated) as all students perform same job at same time. These VMs will be used for 5 or 10 or 15 or 20 or even 30 days (depends on my batch of students, course duration), then deleted and again new one created. While I don't have expertise on VMs [I have certain expertise in Docker/Kubernetes with fault tolerances with application layer level), I hear a lot about KVM on LET.
While doing some study on these area, Proxmox scares me as I lack Infrastructure knowledge, I am more focused on Data Centric applications, I have no interest to look into acquiring infrastructure knowledge deeply. Interestingly I see Virt Manager, that seems fit my interest. I have only working experience in Ubuntu, no debian or redhat experience, I wish not to invest energy and time on debian or redhat stuffs. I may live and perish with Ubuntu for life.
If I hire few dedi servers on daily/hours/monthly plans based on budget needs, each dedi shall have Ubuntu Host with GUI, where Virt manager can be installed, on the same machine I could provision guests Ubuntu VM VMs with xRDP, LXDE. I can have Apache Guacamule on Host Linux, route traffic to internal VMs for GUI. SSH/Public IP is not required to these systems, as these systems are given to students as labs, GUI only through web browser. Each dedi can have 12-15 VMs, given I hire VMs with 256 GB RAM, with a good capable processors + SSDs. I needed KVMs, as my training involves dockers, Kubernetes, each students shall have his/her own KVM with GUI. I can make use of hourly/daily dedicated providers.
Any recommendation, considering virt-manager for managing these VMs or alternative opinions? I prefer virt-manager with GUI for restart, stop, remove, clone VM purpose rather than doing all through command line tools.
Dedi seems economically viable, as at cost of 3 VMs, I could hire a nice dedicated, provision at least 10 VMs.
Comments
Check out Cockpit, you can use cockpit-machines module to do the actions that you want it.
If you already know k8s, you should checkout kubevirt without having to deal with qemu/kvm directly.
Interesting, does it provide nested virtualization? I mean, I need to have docker/k8s on the virtual machine, along with GUI (LXDE on guest). For sure I will check both cockpit and kubevirt. thanks
I would suggest using Virtualizor (If you are ok with paid softwares) Easy to use even if it’s your first time to deal with virtualization.
You can install it based on proxmox and virtualizor will handle everything for you on easy-to-use interface
Why tho? It's pretty much straightforward and easy to use these days. After the initial setup (just like any other OS or install on top of a debian installation) everything can be managed through the web UI, you can easily spin up VMs or LXC containers, also setup a private network, etc..
If you really want a UI or a DE on your hypervisor, you can install any DE like KDE, Cinnamon etc.. with a DM like SDDM greeter, LightDM etc.. on top of proxmox.
@itsTomHarper @tfgp99
I am trying to learn the basics of both tools, If i understand Proxmox must be installed as distribution. I am trying to rent dedis from Hetzner on hourly options. My requirements are simple as good like 1 IP, create about 10-15 VMs inside dedi. Create one image, then clone all. Thats it. cockpit seems to be a project, which can be installed on Ubuntu. someone in other discussion thread, there seems to be module in kubernetes itself for KVM virtualization which I don't want to step into right now until few experiments with proven solutions.