Pihole and Proxmox are two powerful tools for managing and securing networks. Pihole is a DNS-based ad blocker that blocks ads and trackers at the network level, while Proxmox is a virtualization platform that allows you to create and manage virtual machines. In this blog post, we’ll go over the steps to install Pihole on Proxmox and discuss the benefits of using these two tools together.
Installation of Proxmox
Before we can install Pihole, we need to set up Proxmox on our server. Proxmox is a free and open-source virtualization platform that supports both containers and virtual machines. Here are the steps to install Proxmox on a server:
- Download the Proxmox ISO from the Proxmox website.
- Burn the ISO to a USB drive or DVD.
- Boot the server from the USB drive or DVD.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install Proxmox on the server.
Once Proxmox is installed, we can move on to installing Pihole.
Installation of Pihole
Pihole can be installed on a Proxmox virtual machine. Here are the steps to install Pihole on Proxmox:
- Create a new virtual machine in Proxmox.
- Choose “Linux” as the operating system and “Debian 10 (Buster)” as the version.
- Allocate at least 1GB of RAM and 8GB of disk space to the virtual machine.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation of Debian 10.
- Once Debian 10 is installed, log in to the virtual machine and run the following command to install Pihole:
curl -sSL https://install.pi-hole.net | bash
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation of Pihole.
- Once Pihole is installed, you can access the web interface by navigating to the IP address of the virtual machine in a web browser.
Configuration of Pihole
After installing Pihole, you’ll need to configure it to block ads and trackers on your network. Here are the basic steps to configure Pihole:
- Log in to the Pihole web interface.
- Click on “Settings” and then “DNS”.
- Under “Upstream DNS Servers”, select “Custom DNS” and enter the IP addresses of your preferred DNS servers.
- Click on “Save” to apply the changes.
With Pihole configured, all devices on your network will automatically use it as their DNS server, blocking ads and trackers at the network level.
Benefits of Using Pihole on Proxmox
By using Pihole on Proxmox, you can enjoy a number of benefits:
- Improved network performance: By blocking ads and trackers at the network level, Pihole can speed up your network by reducing the amount of data that needs to be downloaded.
- Enhanced security: By blocking ads and trackers, Pihole can help prevent malicious software from being downloaded through ads or other third-party sources. This can improve the overall security of your network.
- Easy management: Proxmox makes it easy to create and manage virtual machines, including the Pihole virtual machine. This allows you to have greater control over your network and makes it easier to manage Pihole and other virtual machines.
- Cost-effective: By using Proxmox and Pihole together, you can create a powerful and cost-effective network management solution. Proxmox is free and open-source, and Pihole is also free to use.
Pihole and Proxmox are two powerful tools that can help you manage and secure your network. By using Pihole on Proxmox, you can block ads and trackers at the network level, improve network performance, enhance security, and easily manage your network. If you’re looking for a cost-effective network management solution, consider using Pihole on Proxmox.