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Getting Started with ProxMan

Welcome to ProxMan! This guide will help you get started with managing your Proxmox VE servers and Proxmox Backup Server from your mobile device.

What is ProxMan?

ProxMan is a powerful iOS and Android application that allows you to manage your Proxmox Virtual Environment (VE), Proxmox Backup Server (PBS), and Proxmox Datacenter Manager (PDM) infrastructure directly from your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Monitor resources, manage virtual machines, control containers, handle backups, oversee your entire datacenter fleet, access terminals, and use VNC consoles - all on your fingertips.

Key Features

Server Monitoring

  • Real-time Statistics: Track CPU, RAM, disk usage, and network traffic
  • Historical Data: View performance trends with beautiful charts
  • Storage Management: Visualize storage usage across all pools

VM & Container Management

  • Full Lifecycle Control: Create, start, stop, reboot, and migrate VMs and LXC containers
  • Resource Management: Modify CPU, RAM, and disk allocations
  • Snapshot Management: Create, restore, and delete snapshots
  • ISOs & Templates: Manage Template and ISO images
  • Hardware Configuration: Modify VE hardware settings

Backup Server Integration

  • PBS Management: Full Proxmox Backup Server support
  • Job Monitoring: Track backup jobs and task status
  • Datastore Management: Monitor storage usage and capacity
  • Backup Operations: Verify, prune, and restore backups
  • Maintenance Tasks: Run garbage collection and cleanup

Datacenter Management (PDM)

  • Fleet Overview: Manage all PVE clusters and PBS servers from one PDM connection
  • Guest Browser: Start/stop VMs and containers across all remotes
  • Task History: 48-hour task log with filters and search
  • Magic Link: Jump from PDM remotes to native PVE/PBS screens

Premium Features

  • VNC Console: Direct graphical console access to VMs
  • Terminal Access: SSH-like terminal for nodes and containers
  • Push Notifications: Real-time alerts for critical events
  • Advanced Backup Management: Enhanced backup features

Security

  • Biometric App Lock: Optional Face ID / Touch ID / fingerprint on launch
  • Secure Storage: Credentials stored in iOS Keychain or Android Keystore
  • OpenID / Passkey SSO: System browser login with WebAuthn support
  • Multiple Realms: OpenID Connect support for PVE and PBS
  • Encrypted Communications: All data transmitted securely
  • No Third Parties: Direct communication with your servers only

Requirements

  • OS Version: iOS 16.4+ or Android 8.0+
  • Devices: iPhone, iPad or Mac
  • Proxmox VE: Version 7.0 or later (recommended 8.x)
  • Proxmox Backup Server: Version 2.x or 3.x (optional)
  • Proxmox Datacenter Manager: Version 1.0 or later
  • Network: Connectivity to your Proxmox servers
  • Credentials: Valid Proxmox user account with appropriate permissions

Quick Start

1. Download ProxMan

Download ProxMan from the App Store or Google Play.

2. Add Your First Server

1. Open ProxMan

2. Tap "Add Server"

3. Choose server type:

- Proxmox VE (for virtual machines and containers)

- Proxmox Backup Server (for backup management)

- Proxmox Datacenter Manager (for fleet-wide datacenter management)

3. Enter Server Details

For Proxmox VE:

  • Display Name: Friendly name (e.g., "Home Lab")
  • Hostname/IP: Your server address
  • Port: 8006 (default)
  • Username: Your Proxmox username
  • Realm: @pam or @pve or OpenID Connect
  • Password: Your password
  • HTTPS: Enable for secure connection

For Proxmox Backup Server:

  • Display Name: Friendly name (e.g., "Backup Server")
  • Hostname/IP: Your PBS address
  • Port: 8007 (default)
  • Username: Your PBS username
  • Realm: @pbs or OpenID Connect
  • Password: Your password
  • HTTPS: Enable for secure connection

For Proxmox Datacenter Manager:

  • Display Name: Friendly name (e.g., "Production Datacenter")
  • Hostname/IP: Your PDM address
  • Port: 8443 (default)
  • Username: Your PDM username
  • Realm: Your authentication realm
  • Password or API Token
  • HTTPS: Enable for secure connection

4. Save

1. Your server will appear in the main dashboard

5. Start Managing

Once connected, you can:

  • View server status and resource usage
  • Manage VMs and containers
  • Access backups and datastores
  • Configure notifications (Premium)
  • Access terminals and VNC (Premium)

Authentication Methods

ProxMan supports multiple authentication methods:

Traditional Authentication

  • Username and password
  • Support for @pam, @pve, and @pbs realms
  • Optional TOTP (Two-Factor Authentication)

OpenID Connect (OIDC)

  • Modern OAuth2-based authentication
  • Single sign-on (SSO) support
  • Enhanced security with token-based authentication
  • Works with popular identity providers (Keycloak, Azure AD, Google, Okta, Auth0)
  • No password storage in ProxMan
  • See our OpenID Connect Configuration Guide for detailed setup

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

If your Proxmox server has 2FA enabled:

1. Enter your password

2. When prompted, enter your TOTP code

Understanding Realms

Proxmox uses authentication realms to determine how users are authenticated:

  • @pam: Linux system users (PAM authentication)
  • @pve: Proxmox VE internal users
  • @pbs: Proxmox Backup Server users
  • @custom: OpenID Connect realms (e.g., @azuread, @keycloak, @okta)

Example usernames:

  • root@pam - Root user with PAM authentication
  • admin@pve - Admin user in Proxmox VE realm
  • backup@pbs - Backup user in PBS realm
  • user@azuread - User authenticated via Azure AD OpenID Connect
  • john.doe@keycloak - User authenticated via Keycloak

For OpenID Connect realms, the realm name matches what you configured in Proxmox. See OpenID Connect Configuration for setup details.

Premium Features

ProxMan offers premium features through in-app purchase:

What's Included

  • VNC Console Access: Full graphical console for VMs
  • Terminal Access: SSH-like terminal for nodes and containers
  • Push Notifications: Real-time alerts and notifications
  • Advanced Backup Management: Enhanced backup features
  • Priority Support: Faster response times

How to Upgrade

1. Go to Settings → Premium

2. View available plans

3. Tap "Upgrade to Premium"

4. Complete purchase through App Store or Google Play

Multi-Server Management

ProxMan supports managing multiple servers:

1. Add multiple Proxmox VE, PBS, and PDM servers

2. Long-press to enter edit mode and drag to reorder your server list

3. Switch between servers from the main dashboard

4. View all servers in a unified interface

5. Each server maintains its own credentials and settings

Widgets (iOS 14+)

ProxMan includes home screen widgets with PVE, PBS, and PDM support:

  • Server Status Widget: Quick view of server health
  • Resource Usage Widget: CPU, RAM, and storage at a glance
  • VM Status Widget: See running VMs without opening the app

To add widgets:

1. Long-press on your home screen

2. Tap the "+" button

3. Search for "ProxMan"

4. Choose widget size and add to home screen

Tips for Best Experience

Network Configuration

  • Ensure your Proxmox server is accessible from your network
  • For remote access, set up VPN or port forwarding securely
  • Use HTTPS for encrypted connections
  • Configure firewall rules appropriately

User Permissions

  • Create a dedicated user for mobile access
  • Grant only necessary permissions
  • Avoid using root account for daily operations

Performance

  • Use widgets for at-a-glance information
  • Configure notification thresholds appropriately
  • Regularly update the app for best performance

Next Steps

Now that you're set up, explore these guides:

Getting Help

Need assistance?

Welcome to ProxMan! We're excited to help you manage your Proxmox infrastructure more efficiently.

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