no-subscription: Proxmox suite auto-setup
No chores, no nags
A simple add-on that takes care of setting up original Proxmox ’no-subscription’ repositories and removing the marketing annoyances from first login. It requires no configuration, no interaction and no manual intervention to keep the setup in place when the upgrades are about to disrupt it. That said, it is specifically designed to fail gracefully, taking care NOT to damage your installation. Can be used on existing system, fresh Proxmox ISO install or Debian-first install scenarios alike.
Important
This tool does NOT add any third-party repositories to the system. Only Proxmox original repositories are used. The install as below is a one-off. Debian package is a specific type of archive file - please refer to a subsection on how to scrutinise this tool and why the approach can be trusted.
Quickstart
Download
Download just like any other file, directly onto your host, first without installing it:
wget -P /tmp https://dist.free-pmx.org/free-pmx-no-subscription_0.3.3.debInstall
To install (new versions can be safely installed over old):
apt install /tmp/free-pmx-no-subscription_0.3.3.debTip
If you are looking for the effects of GUI changes right after install, you may need to clean your browser cache (CTRL+F5). If unsure, access the GUI from alternative browser to rule out a caching problem.
On an existing Proxmox system, this will do everything you need upon the install already:
- set up no-subscription repository; and
- remove no-subscription popup and the other marketing-like visual artefacts.
Note
It is still up to you to perform updates - especially on fresh install - as it is your choice when and how.
Typical installation example
This is what you can observe in the course of the typical installation on a never-before patched PVE system:
The repositories setup:
free-pmx: NO-SUBSCRIPTION - 'No Subscription' Repositories Setup
Automatic run.
Detecting default sources ... pve ceph
Setting up for pve ...
+ Disabled original: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pve-enterprise.sources
+ Created new: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pve-no-subscription.sources
Setting up for ceph ...
+ Disabled original: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ceph.sources
+ Created new: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ceph-no-subscription.sources
Completed total 2 of 2.
Checking for Proxmox release key ...
~ Not present, retrieving: https://enterprise.proxmox.com/debian/proxmox-release-trixie.gpg ...
Retrieved: /etc/apt/keyrings/proxmox-release-trixie.gpg
pub rsa4096 2024-11-10 [SCEA] [expires: 2034-11-10]
24B30F06ECC1836A4E5EFECBA7BCD1420BFE778E
uid Proxmox Trixie Release Key <proxmox-release@proxmox.com>
sha256 1bcd2d5bab556076c9ea756a84fe2b7445b13f4ef6e97b2e412b68778377ba6d
sha512 8678f2327c49276615288d7ca11e7d296bc8a2b96946fe565a9c81e533f9b15a5dbbad210a0ad5cd46d361ff1d3c4bac5584
4bc296beefa4f88b86e44e69fa51The nags removal:
free-pmx: NO-NAG - 'No Subscription' Nags Removal
Automatic run.
Patches applicable to: /usr/share/javascript/proxmox-widget-toolkit/proxmoxlib.js ...
+ OK: [pwt-10|4.3.12] Common popup notice
+ OK: [pwt-20|4.3.12] Common summary 'non-production repository' warning
+ OK: [pwt-30|4.3.12] Common 'All OK' repos status
+ OK: [pwt-31|4.3.12] Common 'not recommended for production use' repos status message
+ OK: [pwt-32|4.3.12] Common 'no-subscription' repos line highlight
Patches applicable to: /usr/share/pve-manager/js/pvemanagerlib.js ...
+ OK: [pve-10|8.4.2] PVE Datacenter Summary Subscription panel
+ OK: [pve-11|8.4.2] PVE Datacenter Summary Nodes panel - Support columnAnd the manual pages added:
Processing triggers for man-db (2.13.1-1) ...Done. You would also notice the same happening during later updates when the tool needs to intercept updated files from Proxmox.
Removal
To remove the package:
apt remove free-pmx-no-subscriptionTip
Standard apt behaviour on remove is to keep the configuration file - in this case in /etc/free-pmx/. This is convenient if the package is later reinstalled. Use purge instead to remove the configuration files as well.
That’s all - no skeletons in the wardrobe left behind.
Advanced uses
Non-default install behaviour
The install itself runs both included tools - no-subscription and no-nag - as configured. It also fetches bespoke release key to associate with the Proxmox repositories. Further, it assumes desired Ceph version to be squid (as of latest version). All of these variables can be controlled via pre-creating the configuration file.
Install on plain Debian
If you are performing an install of top of Debian, you can install the free-pmx package first, but it will not know which Proxmox product you are about to install, so you have to manually ask it to auto-configure your system for the desired repository (or more, e.g. pve ceph), then proceed with installation of the Proxmox product. This is when the ability to manually invoke the tool comes handy - example for PBS:
no-subscription pbs
apt update
apt install proxmox-backup-serverIt also means that you do NOT have to set up the repositories manually, you also do NOT have to download Proxmox release key - it is downloaded from Proxmox servers, but you can certainly manually check its checksum as published on their website - it is conveniently displayed by the tool.
License
Free use of this tool is granted under the terms of the AGPL v3 License.
The modifications it helps you perform on Proxmox products are also permitted under the same license, as granted by Proxmox themselves.
Disclaimer
The tool of free-pmx-no-subscription sets up only original Proxmox repositories.
HOWEVER, DO NOTE:
- Proxmox expressly do NOT recommend use of ’no-subscription’ software packages for production use; and
- the authors of this tool are NOT in any way affiliated with Proxmox Server Solutions GmbH.
THE TOOL IS A THIRD-PARTY PRODUCT AND IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE.