Enhance Your Proxmox Dashboard with Real-Time Temperature Monitoring
In an effort to improve system monitoring, a Proxmox user has successfully integrated real-time temperature readings into their dashboard. This enhancement allows users to track critical temperature data for server nodes directly from the Proxmox interface, addressing a common limitation in the platform.
The user, who frequently conducts experiments in a home lab environment, relies on various monitoring tools. Among these are Uptime Kuma, which oversees the operational status of containerized applications, and Beszel, which monitors server nodes. Recently, they incorporated Pulse to keep tabs on their Proxmox workstations, including Linux Containers (LXCs) and Virtual Machines (VMs). Despite these advancements, the user found the need to monitor system temperatures directly within Proxmox, a feature not readily available.
To tackle this challenge, the user initially explored the Glances monitoring tool. Glances, unlike other applications, operates as an add-on within a Proxmox LXC, offering a web interface that displays essential server statistics, including CPU temperatures. The integration process was simplified due to the availability of a dedicated add-on in the Proxmox VE Helper-Scripts repository, which eliminated the need for extensive manual configuration.
After establishing a Debian container, the user used a straightforward script to install Glances. The result was an intuitive dashboard that provided the desired temperature information. However, the user sought a solution that would allow temperature data to be displayed directly within the Proxmox interface, rather than having to switch between applications.
The user turned to the lm-sensors package, a tool designed to provide temperature readings from various hardware components. They initiated the installation through the Proxmox shell interface, using the command apt install lm-sensors. Following the installation, they configured the package to detect sensors on their dual-Xeon server, successfully identifying key temperature sensors for both the CPU and the NVMe SSD.
Despite this progress, the user wanted to integrate the temperature readings into the Proxmox web UI. They considered modifying the /usr/share/perl5/PVE/API2/Nodes.pm configuration file but were hesitant due to the potential risks involved. Fortunately, they discovered the PVE-mods repository, created by developer Meliox, which offers scripts designed to enhance Proxmox’s functionality.
One particular script from the repository, which provides node sensor readings, fit the user’s needs perfectly. The installation process was straightforward, involving a simple script download and execution. After completing the installation, the user cleared their browser cache and restarted it, resulting in the successful display of temperature readings from both processors and the NVMe drive directly within the Proxmox dashboard.
While the user attempted to extend this functionality to include DIMM temperature readings, they encountered challenges that prompted them to prioritize CPU and storage temperatures instead. The installation of the i2c-tools package and the subsequent loading of the appropriate kernel module yielded no results in detecting DIMM sensors, leading the user to focus on the more critical components.
This successful integration of temperature monitoring into the Proxmox dashboard illustrates not only the flexibility of the platform but also the innovation of its user community. The collaboration between individual developers and users fosters an environment where improvements can be made, ultimately enhancing the overall functionality of Proxmox systems for users worldwide. By leveraging tools like Glances and lm-sensors, users can now gain insights that were previously difficult to access, making home lab management more efficient and effective.
