Hyper-Converged Infrastructure Simplified: Hardware Sizing, SDS, SDN and Backup Strategies with Proxmox solutions

This ebook serves as a strategic guide for IT professionals and decision-makers, providing a clear roadmap to plan and design Hyper Converged Infrastructure (HCI) using Proxmox VE with Ceph and Proxmox Backup Server. From hardware sizing and software-defined storage (Ceph) to SDN networking and backup strategies, it breaks down the fundamentals needed to create scalable, resilient and cost-effective IT environments.

With real world examples and a detailed case study of the fictional company "DD Rocket", this book bridges the gap between concepts and actionable strategies, ensuring your infrastructure planning is well-informed and future-ready.

Why This Book Was Created:

This book was created to address the challenges IT professionals and decision makers face in navigating the complexities of Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) & Backup, hardware sizing, software-defined storage (SDS) and networking (SDN).

Drawing on 25+ years of industry experience, the author crafted this resource to simplify these concepts and provide actionable strategies that empower readers to confidently plan and implement scalable, resilient IT systems using Proxmox VE and Proxmox Backup Server.

Through practical insights and hands on examples, this book equips you with the tools to modernize your IT infrastructure—whether you are building a home lab or managing an enterprise environment. Take the next step in transforming your IT systems—download your copy today!

Table of Contents

• About Book
• Introduction
  • Purpose and Scope of the Book
  • Who Should Read This Book?
  • How to Use This Book
• About the Author
• Acknowledgments
• Disclaimer
• Copyright and Permissions

1. DD Rocket
   • Infrastructure Overview
   • Existing Network Overview
   • Networking Details
2. Overview of Proxmox VE and PBS
   • What is Proxmox VE?
   • What is Proxmox PBS?
   • Key Features and Benefits of PVE & PBS
     • Proxmox VE
     • Proxmox PBS
   • Comparison with Other Virtualization Platforms
3. Planning and Best Practices
   • CPU and Core Allocation
   • Memory Planning
   • Storage Configuration
   • Networking
   • High-Performance Mode
   • Provisioning Strategy
   • Scalability Considerations
   • Monitoring and Management
   • Linux Expertise and Team Training
4. Proxmox VE Server & Cluster Planning
   • Hardware and Networking Guidelines
   • DD Rocket Server Resource Requirements
   • HCI Configuration and Idle Resource Requirements
   • Resource Planning for DD Rocket
   • 6-Server HCI Setup Resource Requirements
   • Ceph Storage Requirement Calculation
   • Drive Planning
   • Compute Requirements Per Server for 6-Server Cluster
   • Proxmox Backup Server Planning
   • ZFS RAIDZ2 Configuration for Proxmox Backup Server
   • Finalized Server Configuration
     • PVE Cluster Servers
     • Proxmox Backup Servers (PBS)
     • Network Switches for the Setup
5. Getting Cluster Ready
   • Preparing for Installation
   • Installing Proxmox VE
   • Setting Up Network Bonds and Bridges
   • Applying Proxmox Subscription and Updates
   • Enhancing Proxmox VE with Add-ons and Optimizations
     • Improved Console Performance
     • General Utilities
     • Networking Tools
     • System Monitoring and Performance
     • Hardware and Storage Management
     • Administrative Tools
     • Additional Tools
   • Creating the Proxmox Cluster
   • Setting Up Ceph as Software-Defined Storage (SDS)
6. Building High Availability (HA)
   • Understanding HA Setup with Proxmox VE
     • Dynamic Redistribution
     • Simple Pair HA
     • Dual Pair HA
     • Single Idle Server HA
   • DD Rocket’s HA Setup
7. Setting Up Proxmox Software-Defined Network (SDN)
   • Network Plan Overview
   • Setting Up SDN and VXLANs
   • Configuring Firewall and VPN VMs
     • ISP01 Firewall VM
     • ISP02 Firewall VM
     • VPN Gateway Firewall VM
   • Testing and Deployment
8. Getting the Backup Solution Ready for Data Safety
   • Installing Proxmox Backup Server
   • Configuring the Datastore
   • Setting Up Backup Schedules
   • Creating Maintenance Schedules
9. Monitoring and Performance Optimization
   • Why Monitoring Matters
   • Tools for the Job
   • Setting Up Alerts
   • Performance Tweaks
   • Planning for Growth
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Automation
10. VM Creation, Migration, and Advanced Topics
    • Skimming Technical Details
    • Recommended Topics for IT Professionals
    • Additional Learning Recommendations
    • Aligning Proxmox VE with DD Rocket Strategies
11. Proxmox Documentation and Resources
    • Proxmox VE Documentation
    • Proxmox Backup Server Documentation
    • Proxmox Forum
12. Closing Reflections
    • Supporting Open Source
    • Building Resilience