How to Set Up a Floating VIP for Proxmox Cluster Management with Keepalived

Proxmox doesn’t currently include a native way to share a single management IP across all nodes in a cluster. Instead of manually switching between individual node IPs, or sticking everything behind a proxy, we can use Keepalived to create a floating virtual IP, or VIP, that automatically moves between nodes in the event one goes down. Keepalived is extremely lightweight, reliable, and allows us to continue accessing each node directly if desired.

This guide walks you through configuring Keepalived on a 3-node Proxmox cluster to provide HA access to the management web interface.

What We’ll Achieve

✅ Assign a single management IP (VIP) (e.g., 10.103.0.50) for all Proxmox nodes.
Failover support: If the active node fails, the VIP moves to another node.
No manual intervention needed when nodes go down.
✅ Always access Proxmox at https://10.103.0.50:8006 instead of per-node IPs.

Step 1: Install Keepalived on All Proxmox Nodes

Keepalived is a lightweight daemon that enables VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol) to float an IP across multiple hosts.

Install Keepalived

Run this on each Proxmox node:

apt update && apt install -y keepalived

Step 2: Configure Keepalived on All Nodes

Each node will have slightly different configurations based on priority.

Edit Keepalived Config

On each node, edit:

nano /etc/keepalived/keepalived.conf

Node 1 (10.103.0.51) – MASTER Configuration

vrrp_instance VI_1 {
    state MASTER
    interface vmbr0   # Change this if needed
    virtual_router_id 51
    priority 200  # Highest priority
    advert_int 1
    authentication {
        auth_type PASS
        auth_pass secretpassword
    }
    virtual_ipaddress {
        10.103.0.50/24  # Floating VIP
    }
}

Node 2 (10.103.0.52) – BACKUP Configuration

vrrp_instance VI_1 {
    state BACKUP
    interface vmbr0
    virtual_router_id 51
    priority 150  # Medium priority
    advert_int 1
    authentication {
        auth_type PASS
        auth_pass secretpassword
    }
    virtual_ipaddress {
        10.103.0.50/24
    }
}

Node 3 (10.103.0.53) – BACKUP Configuration

vrrp_instance VI_1 {
    state BACKUP
    interface vmbr0
    virtual_router_id 51
    priority 100  # Lowest priority
    advert_int 1
    authentication {
        auth_type PASS
        auth_pass secretpassword
    }
    virtual_ipaddress {
        10.103.0.50/24
    }
}

📌 Make sure to replace vmbr0 with the correct network interface (ip a to check your interface name).


Step 3: Enable and Start Keepalived

After configuring all nodes, restart Keepalived to apply changes.

Run this on each node:

systemctl enable --now keepalived

Now, check if the VIP is assigned to the MASTER node (10.103.0.51):

ip a | grep 10.103.0.50

Expected Output on MASTER:

inet 10.103.0.50/24 scope global secondary vmbr0

On backup nodes, the VIP won’t appear unless the MASTER fails.


Step 4: Testing Failover

To ensure the VIP fails over properly, stop Keepalived on the MASTER:

systemctl stop keepalived

Now check where the VIP is:

ip a | grep 10.103.0.50

The VIP should now move to Node 2 (10.103.0.52).

Start Keepalived again to restore normal operation:

systemctl start keepalived

Step 5: Access Proxmox Using the Floating VIP

Instead of connecting to each node separately, use the shared VIP: https://10.103.0.50:8006

This VIP will always point to the active node.


Final Thoughts

High availability for the Proxmox web UI.
VIP automatically fails over in case of a node failure.
No need to memorize or manually switch node IPs.

Now your Proxmox cluster has a shared, highly available management IP!

Maximizing IT Team Value: The Importance of Strict Adherence to IT Project Planning Processes

In today’s interconnected world, one of the greatest assets a corporation can possess is a well-oiled, efficient IT team. The IT team is the backbone of every modern organization, overseeing the development and implementation of cutting-edge technology that drives productivity and innovation. However, the real value of an IT team can only be realized if every stakeholder, including employees across all levels, are cognizant of the vital importance of strictly adhering to IT project planning processes.

An IT project is a complicated endeavor, involving numerous moving parts and coordinated efforts across various departments. This complexity necessitates a clear, well-structured plan of action. IT project planning processes guide the development and execution of IT projects, ensuring the optimal allocation of resources, timely deliverables, and smooth operations.

However, when employees circumvent or fail to adhere to these IT project planning processes, they are effectively abusing one of the corporation’s most valuable assets. This non-compliance can manifest in many forms such as inconsistent reporting, haphazard allocation of resources, or failure to adhere to project timelines.

By disregarding IT project planning processes, employees can place undue stress on the IT team. Instead of focusing on innovative solutions or process improvements, the team finds itself troubleshooting unnecessary complications or realigning project components, resulting in time wastage and reduced efficiency.

Moreover, the flouting of these procedures can result in projects falling behind schedule, with an escalating budget and increasing scope. This can have a domino effect on other projects and operations within the organization, further amplifying the negative impacts.

In contrast, when employees strictly adhere to the IT project planning processes, they facilitate a symbiotic relationship with the IT team. This alignment aids in defining clear project objectives, setting realistic deadlines, and allocating appropriate resources. Consequently, the IT team can concentrate on their core competencies – innovating, creating solutions, and improving existing processes.

Furthermore, a strong adherence to these processes fosters transparency, accountability, and predictability. Stakeholders are aware of their roles, deadlines, and the consequences of not meeting these deadlines. This proactive approach helps mitigate potential risks and encourages a culture of continuous improvement.

Therefore, corporations must encourage and enforce strict adherence to IT project planning processes. Training programs should be designed to educate employees about the importance of these processes. There should be robust feedback and evaluation systems to ensure ongoing adherence.

Non-compliance should not be taken lightly. Instead, it should be seen for what it truly is – an abuse of the IT team, one of the corporation’s most valuable assets. By fostering a culture of compliance, corporations can effectively optimize the value they derive from their IT teams, ultimately ensuring a more productive, innovative, and efficient organization.

In conclusion, the IT team, like any other asset, needs to be nurtured, respected, and used appropriately. Proper adherence to IT project planning processes is one of the primary ways of ensuring that this crucial resource is optimally utilized and not abused. It lays the groundwork for a productive, harmonious, and forward-thinking organization ready to tackle the challenges of the digital age.