Debian Install 3CX

[2kv]

Hi all,

Got a strange thing and I think it's related to Linux. I have a VPS with Strato (German provider) and a VPS with TransIP (Dutch provider). I'm installing a Linux Debian 9 3CX install. It works without a hitch with TransIP but not with Strato. I use the guide how to install it on a Linux system:
https://www.3cx.com/docs/manual/installing-debian-linux-pbx/
If I install it on the TransIP VPS, I can get to the configuration wizard:
https://www.3cx.com/docs/manual/configuring-your-pbx/
install it all, restore a backup and get it up and running. No problem at all. But I prefer it running on the Strato VPS (it's cheaper and best suited for my purposes). When I use the Strato VPS, the works fine, I get to the point I have to go online to configure and there it stops. It hangs on Resolving 3CX DNS names, see attached image.
I really don't know where to go from here, what I'm doing wrong.
Anyone ideas?

Kind regards,
Hans

 

[SteveITS]

Is the DNS server set correctly on that VPS? Can you SSH to it and do some testing at the command line?

 

[cobaltit]

The most likely reason why it's not working is due to the virtualization method. It looks like Strato uses Virtuozzo which is not a certified VM platform:

https://www.3cx.com/docs/recommended-hardware-specifications-for-3cx/

TransIP uses KVM which is certified.

 

[SteveITS]

Virtuozzo 7 is KVM, though 6 was not. We use 7 and have had no issues with 3CX.

 

[cobaltit]

So it appears Virtuozzo 7 is based on KVM but is not KVM, at least from their data sheet. They also say it has full compatibility with KVM which also seems to imply it's not KVM. The provider may also be using v6. But looking at the specs for both providers that is what jumped out at me. @2kv would have to check with Strato

Perhaps someone at 3CX can clarify if they've tested and certified any Virtuozzo version.
@JohnS_3CX

 

[SteveITS]

It may be a matter of semantics, for instance:
https://www.virtuozzo.com/connect/details/blog/view/top-7-reasons-to-upgrade-to-virtuozzo-7.html
"In Virtuozzo 7 we have replaced our proprietary hypervisor with KVM. .... Still, KVM lacks many required features, so we introduced over 200 improvements when adding KVM support..."

https://www.virtuozzo.com/products/hypervisor.html
"Our hypervisor uses the open source core of KVM... We pushed all of our enhancements to the upstream community, ensuring they will be supported in subsequent KVM versions and to ensure no lock-in."

Agreed, it'd be great if 3CX would bless it. If Strato does use Virtuozzo 6 then as I recall I had found a bunch of posts here from years back about various issues with Virtuozzo but we haven't had issues on 7. (also, 6 is past end of life, in extended support)

This thread https://www.3cx.com/community/threads/3cx-debian-installation-no-network-interface-to-select.59829/ talks about Strato but they don't list the Virtuozzo version.

 

[cobaltit]

Agreed, it may just be semantics, but I can't in good faith recommend something not blessed by 3CX. It's kinda like the Pi 4 discussion a while back. People say they have run 3CX or the SBC on a Pi 4 with small tweaks but it's not currently approved/certified by 3CX. Glad to hear it works with Virtuozzo 7 but until 3CX signs off on it it's best to stick with the approved platforms. It could very well be one of the 'enhancements' to KVM that 3CX doesn't like, who knows. But I would say from the OPs experience it would seem he's found a working provider that meets the 3CX requirements and he should stick with that one, even if it's slightly more expensive.

 

[2kv]

Hi SteveITS and cobaltit,
Thanks for you conversation.. it somewhat helped me but leaves me with questions. Here I go:
- is there a way to check the virtualization method from the command line?
- should I check with Strato what the used method is?
- can it really be that the method is preventing resolving the DNS names?
- I have access to ssh at Strato, what can I do to check if the DNS server is setup correctly?
And still it leaves me with the feeling that it is something very small, but that's me, always positive! It's not important to have a glass half full or half empty... you just have to know where the tap is...
Kind regards,
Hans

 

[SteveITS]

re: host OS, run "dmidecode |grep Version" or "...grep Manufacturer" and it should show, or at least ours shows Virtuozzo:

System Information
Manufacturer: Virtuozzo
Product Name: KVM
Version: Virtuozzo 7.10.0 PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996)

7.10 must be the VM version as we're on a later update version than that. If you run "lspci" (that's an L) it should show you the NIC. Ours shows "Ethernet controller: Red Hat, Inc Virtio network device."

DNS: run "dig google.com" and see if it resolves.

re: KVM, agreed it would be best if it was listed as supported, or alternatively if certain "types of KVM" are not supported/excluded, if that is the case. I had proceeded based on it being KVM, since no such conditions were listed.