Managing Proxmox subscription licenses at scale has always been a challenge. Especially in enterprise environments, manual assignment of licenses across hundreds of nodes can be inefficient and error-prone. Until now, there wasn't a supported, API-driven way to integrate license management directly into Ansible workflows.
The proxmox_node Module
The new proxmox_node module (merged into the community.proxmox collection) allows you to manage Proxmox nodes programmatically. Key features include:
o Bulk license import
o Power state control (shutdown/start/WoL)
o DNS configuration
o SSL certificate management
o Fully supports Ansible check_mode
This module integrates seamlessly into your automation pipelines, making licensing, node configuration, and other administrative tasks fully API-driven and repeatable.
Examples
Add a Subscription License
Adding a subscription license to a Proxmox VE node can be done like this:
- name: Place a subscription license on a Proxmox VE Node
community.proxmox.node:
api_host: proxmoxhost
api_user: root@pam
api_password: password123
validate_certs: false
node_name: de-cgn01-virt01
subscription:
state: present
key: ABCD-EFGH-IJKL-MNOP-QRST-UVWX-YZ0123456789
Start a Proxmox VE Node
To start a node (e.g., after shutting it down), you can use:
- name: Start a Proxmox VE Node
community.proxmox.node:
api_host: proxmoxhost
api_user: root@pam
api_password: password123
validate_certs: false
node_name: de-cgn01-virt01
power_state: online
Note: Ensure WoL (Wake-on-LAN) is configured for each node.
Update SSL Certificates
Adding or updating custom x509 certificates can now be done via the API:
- name: Update SSL certificates on a Proxmox VE Node
community.proxmox.node:
api_host: proxmoxhost
api_user: root@pam
api_password: password123
validate_certs: false
node_name: de-cgn01-virt01
certificates:
key: /opt/ansible/key.pem
cert: /opt/ansible/cert.pem
state: present
force: false
Conclusion
The proxmox_node module demonstrates how open-source communities can address gaps in enterprise tooling, such as bulk license management. By enabling fully automated node provisioning, license application, and configuration, this module reduces operational overhead, improves consistency, and promotes integration with modern infrastructure pipelines.
Open-source development allows rapid innovation without being tied to vendor roadmaps, fostering flexibility, transparency, and sustainability. With robust automation tools now available, migrating to Proxmox from proprietary virtualization platforms like VMware becomes easier, making Proxmox a more attractive option for enterprises seeking agility and control.
Resources:
o proxmox_node