How to Upgrade from Proxmox VE 8.3 to 8.4

Proxmox VE 8.4 has been released, offering significant updates for system administrators, including important security patches, performance improvements, and stability enhancements. So how can you safely upgrade from Proxmox VE 8.3 to 8.4?

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process step-by-step in the most secure way. By following it, you can bring your system up to date and ensure optimal stability.

What’s New in Proxmox VE 8.4?

• ⚙️ More stable Linux Kernel
• 📦 Improvements in LXC and QEMU
• 🚀 Web interface performance enhancements
• 🔐 New security updates

Pre-Upgrade Preparation

• 📦 Back up all VMs and containers (use vzdump if possible)
• 📸 Take snapshots (especially if you’re using ZFS)
• ⚠️ Back up critical configuration files (e.g., /etc, /var/lib/pve)

1. Update Your System

apt update
apt dist-upgrade
reboot

2. Check APT Repository Sources

Edit the main sources list:

nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Ensure it contains:

deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib
deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib
deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main contrib

Add Proxmox No-Subscription Repository:

Disable the enterprise repo:

mv /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pve-enterprise.list /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pve-enterprise.list.disabled

Create a new file:

nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pve-no-subscription.list

Add the following line:

deb http://download.proxmox.com/debian/pve bookworm pve-no-subscription 

3. Run the Upgrade Commands

apt update
apt dist-upgrade

After the upgrade completes:

reboot

4. Check Proxmox VE Version

pveversion

Expected output should look like:

pve-manager/8.4-...

💡 Tips

• If you’re using ZFS, make sure it’s compatible with the new version
• Pay attention to ifupdown2 updates in your network configuration
• Review your firewall rules after the upgrade

🎯 Conclusion: A More Powerful Infrastructure with Proxmox VE 8.4

Upgrading from Proxmox VE 8.3 to 8.4 is a smart move to make your infrastructure more secure, faster, and easier to manage. By following these steps, you can transition to the latest Proxmox version with minimal risk.