How to Upgrade Proxmox VE 7.4 to 8.0

Proxmox VE 8.0, based on Debian 12 Bookworm, is now available and it’s time to upgrade your Proxmox VE 7.4 to the latest version. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

• Upgraded to the latest version of Proxmox VE 7.4 on all nodes.
• At least 5 GB free disk space on the root mount point.
• Valid and tested backup of all VMs and CTs.
• Reliable access to the node. It’s recommended to have access over a host independent channel like iKVM/IPMI or physical access.

Step-by-Step Upgrade Guide

1. Update the configured APT repositories: Make sure that the system is using the latest Proxmox VE 7.4 packages. Run apt update and apt dist-upgrade. The last command should report at least 7.4-15 or newer.
2. Update Debian Base Repositories to Bookworm: Update all Debian and Proxmox VE repository entries to Bookworm. Use the command:
   sed -i 's/bullseye/bookworm/g' /etc/apt/sources.list
3. Add the Proxmox VE 8 Package Repository: Run the command:
   echo "deb https://enterprise.proxmox.com/debian/pve bookworm pve-enterprise" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pve-enterprise.list
4. Update the Ceph Package Repository: If you have a hyper-converged ceph setup, replace any ceph.com repositories with proxmox.com ceph repositories.
5. Refresh Package Index: Update the repositories’ package index with apt update.
6. Upgrade the system to Debian Bookworm and Proxmox VE 8.0: Start the upgrade process with apt dist-upgrade.
7. Check Result & Reboot Into Updated Kernel: If the dist-upgrade command exits successfully, you can re-check the pve7to8 checker script and reboot the system in order to use the new Proxmox VE kernel.

After the upgrade, empty the browser cache and/or force-reload (CTRL + SHIFT + R, or for MacOS ⌘ + Alt + R) the Web UI.

Post Upgrade Maintenance

After upgrading, it’s essential to maintain the security of your website. Here are some resources to guide you:

• How to Add ImunifyAV to WHM/cPanel for Free and Scan for Malware
• Clean and maintain your site
• How to help secure your website
• Top 16 Tips on Website Maintenance and Security (2023)
• A guide into securing your WordPress

Remember, maintaining a secure website is as important as upgrading to the latest version. Stay updated, stay secure!

After 8.0, Do Not Stop There

This post covers the older Proxmox VE 7.4 to 8.0 jump. Once you reach 8.x, bring the host or cluster up through Proxmox VE 8.4 before attempting the Debian 13 / Proxmox VE 9 path.

• Proxmox VE 8.2 to 8.4 catch-up guide
• Proxmox VE 8.4 to 9.1 upgrade guide