Visual Studio Code Server setup on Proxmox (Gemini-generated)

vsc-proxmox.md

Here's a step-by-step plan to configure a Proxmox server on your home network with an LXC container running Visual Studio Code Server, leveraging your existing router's SSH pass-through and DynDNS:

Phase 1: Proxmox Installation and Initial Setup

1. Download Proxmox ISO:

   • Go to the official Proxmox website (www.proxmox.com) and download the latest ISO image.

2. Prepare Bootable Media:

   • Create a bootable USB drive or DVD using a tool like Rufus (Windows), Etcher (cross-platform), or the dd command (Linux/macOS).

3. Install Proxmox VE:

   • Boot your designated server machine from the created bootable media.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions for installation. Key considerations:
     • Hostname: Choose a descriptive name for your Proxmox server (e.g., proxmox.local).
     • IP Address: Crucially, assign a static IP address to your Proxmox server within your home network's IP range. This is essential for consistent access. Choose an address outside your router's DHCP range to avoid conflicts (e.g., if your router assigns IPs from 192.168.1.100-200, choose something like 192.168.1.50).
     • Gateway: Set the gateway to your home router's IP address.
     • DNS Server: Use your router's IP address as the primary DNS server, or use public DNS servers like Google (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1, 1.0.0.1).
     • Time Zone: Select your correct time zone.

4. Access Proxmox Web Interface:

   • After installation, Proxmox will display the URL to access the web interface (usually https://<your_proxmox_ip_address>:8006).
   • Open a web browser on a computer on the same local network and navigate to this URL.
   • Log in using the default username root and the password you set during installation.

5. Update Proxmox:

   • Once logged in, open the Proxmox web interface.
   • Navigate to the node representing your server (e.g., "pve").
   • Go to "Updates" -> "Repositories". Ensure the "pve-no-subscription" repository is enabled (if you don't have a subscription).
   • Click "Refresh" to update the package list.
   • Click "Upgrade" to install available updates. This is important for security and stability.

6. (Optional) Configure Storage:

   • If you have additional drives, you might want to configure them for storing virtual machines and containers. Go to "Datacenter" -> "Storage" to add and manage storage.

Phase 2: Configure Network for LXC Container

1. Understand Bridged Networking: We'll use bridged networking for the LXC container. This allows the container to get its own IP address on your home network, making it accessible directly.

2. Create a Linux Bridge (if not already present): Proxmox typically sets up a bridge interface (vmbr0) during installation. If not, you can create one in the Proxmox web interface:

   • Go to your Proxmox node.
   • Navigate to "Network".
   • Click "Create" -> "Linux Bridge".
   • Name the bridge (e.g., vmbr0).
   • Select the physical network interface connected to your network (usually eth0, enpXsY, etc.) as the "Bridge ports".
   • Leave the IP address and Gateway fields blank for the bridge itself (the Proxmox host already has its own IP).
   • Click "Create".

3. Apply Network Configuration: After creating or modifying network settings, Proxmox will prompt you to apply the changes. Click "Apply Configuration".

Phase 3: Create and Configure the LXC Container

1. Create the LXC Container:

   • In the Proxmox web interface, select your node.
   • Click "Create CT" (Create Container).
   • General Tab:
     • Hostname: Choose a name for your VS Code Server container (e.g., vscode-server).
     • Password: Set a strong password for the root user in the container.
     • Unprivileged container: Strongly recommended for security. Check this box.
     • Template: Select a Linux distribution template (e.g., "ubuntu-22.04-standard").
   • Disks Tab:
     • Choose the storage location for the container's disk.
     • Set the disk size (e.g., 16 GB or more depending on your needs).
   • CPU Tab:
     • Allocate CPU cores to the container (start with 1 or 2).
     • Set the CPU limit (optional).
   • Memory Tab:
     • Allocate RAM to the container (start with 1024 MB or more).
   • Network Tab:
     • Bridge: Select the bridge interface you created or that already exists (vmbr0).
     • IPv4/CIDR: Assign a static IP address to the container within your home network's IP range, different from the Proxmox host's IP and outside the router's DHCP range. For example, if your router's DHCP is 192.168.1.100-200 and your Proxmox host is 192.168.1.50, you could assign the container 192.168.1.51.
     • Gateway (IPv4): Enter your home router's IP address.
     • DNS Domain: Leave this blank or enter your home network's domain (if you have one).
   • Confirm Tab: Review your settings and click "Finish".

2. Start the LXC Container:

   • Once created, the container will appear in the Proxmox web interface.
   • Select the container and click "Start".

Phase 4: Install and Configure VS Code Server in the Container

1. Access the Container's Console:

   • Select the running container in the Proxmox web interface.
   • Click "Console". This will open a terminal session to the container.

2. Update Package Lists:

   apt update

3. Install Dependencies (if needed):

   apt install curl gnupg apt-transport-https

4. Install VS Code Server: We'll use the official installation method from code.visualstudio.com.

   curl -fsSL https://code.headmelted.com/install.sh | bash

   This script will add the necessary repository and install code-server.

5. Configure VS Code Server:

   • Access the Configuration File:

     nano ~/.config/code-server/config.yaml

   • Bind to 0.0.0.0: By default, VS Code Server binds to 127.0.0.1, making it only accessible from within the container. Change this to 0.0.0.0 to allow external access:

     bind-addr: 0.0.0.0:8443 # Or any port you prefer

   • Set a Password or Disable Authentication (Carefully Consider Security):

     • Set a Password (Recommended): Uncomment the password: line and set a strong password.

       password: your_strong_password

     • Disable Authentication (Less Secure for External Access): If you are only accessing this on your local network and understand the risks, you can disable authentication by commenting out the password: line and uncommenting auth: none. Be very cautious about doing this if the server is exposed to the internet.

       # password: your_strong_password
       auth: none

   • Save and Exit: Press Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter to save the changes.

6. Start and Enable the Code-Server Service:

   • Start the Service:

     sudo systemctl start code-server@$USER

   • Enable the Service to Start on Boot:

     sudo systemctl enable code-server@$USER

7. Verify Code-Server is Running:

   sudo systemctl status code-server@$USER

   The output should indicate that the service is active and running.

Phase 5: Configure External Access via Your Home Router

1. Port Forwarding on Your Router:

   • Access your home router's web interface (usually by typing its IP address in a web browser).
   • Find the "Port Forwarding," "NAT Forwarding," or similar section.
   • Create a new port forwarding rule:
     • Service Name: (Optional) Give it a descriptive name (e.g., "VSCodeServer").
     • External Port: Choose an external port number that will be used to access VS Code Server from the internet. It's recommended to use a port number other than the default 80 or 443 for security reasons. For example, you could use 8443.
     • Internal Port: Set this to the port VS Code Server is listening on within the container (the one you configured in config.yaml, e.g., 8443).
     • Internal IP Address: Enter the static IP address you assigned to your LXC container (e.g., 192.168.1.51).
     • Protocol: Set this to TCP.

2. Access VS Code Server via DynDNS:

   • Open a web browser.
   • Enter your DynDNS hostname followed by the external port you configured:

     https://your-dyndns-hostname:your-external-port
     

     For example: https://myhome.example.com:8443
   • You should be prompted to log in to VS Code Server (if you set a password).

Important Security Considerations:

• Strong Passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for both the Proxmox server and the VS Code Server container (if you enable authentication).
• Keep Software Updated: Regularly update Proxmox, the container's operating system, and VS Code Server for security patches.
• Firewall (Optional): Consider configuring a firewall within the LXC container for added security.
• HTTPS: Accessing VS Code Server over HTTPS is crucial for encrypting the communication.
• Consider a VPN: For a more secure way to access your home network resources remotely, consider setting up a VPN server on your router or Proxmox. This avoids directly exposing services to the internet via port forwarding.
• Limit Access: If possible, restrict access to your DynDNS hostname using firewall rules on your router.
• Monitor Logs: Regularly check the logs of your Proxmox server and the VS Code Server container for any suspicious activity.

Troubleshooting Tips:

• Network Connectivity: Ensure the Proxmox server and the LXC container can ping each other and the internet.
• Firewall Issues: Check your home router's firewall settings to ensure they are not blocking the port you are using for port forwarding.
• VS Code Server Logs: Check the VS Code Server logs for any errors or issues.
• Proxmox Firewall: Proxmox has its own firewall. Ensure it's configured to allow traffic to the container's IP and port if needed.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully set up a Proxmox server on your home network with an LXC container running Visual Studio Code Server, accessible remotely via your DynDNS setup. Remember to prioritize security and keep your systems updated.