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External SSD with VM application. Done for Navidrome music library setup

Step by step directions of attaching a SSD to a Proxmox host and adding a folder to it that is accessible by a VM on the Proxmox server. In this case, that was Navidrome on the Proxmox server with the music stored on the external ssd drive

Posted Updated
By Calabi Yau
2 min read
External SSD with VM application. Done for Navidrome music library setup

Here are the steps to properly set up the external SSD (e.g., Ext_T7_ssd) for sharing music from the Proxmox host to navidrome-vm.

ON THE PROXMOX HOST

1. Plug in the External SSD (if not already done)

Physically connect your Ext_T7_ssd drive via USB.

2. Identify the SSD device and partitions

Run:

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lsblk -f

This will show something like:

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NAME   FSTYPE LABEL       UUID                                 MOUNTPOINT  
sda
├─sda1 ext4   rootdisk    xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx /  
sdb
└─sdb1 ext4   Ext_T7_ssd  xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx

Let’s say sdb1 is your SSD partition.

3. Mount the partition

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sudo mkdir -p /mnt/Ext_T7_ssd  
sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/Ext_T7_ssd

Replace /dev/sdb1 with the correct device name from lsblk.

Edit /etc/fstab:

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sudo nano /etc/fstab

Add a line like:

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UUID=xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx /mnt/Ext_T7_ssd ext4 defaults 0 2

Replace the UUID with the actual one from lsblk -f.

Save and exit.

5. Create the music folder

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sudo mkdir -p /mnt/Ext_T7_ssd/music

6. Set ownership or permissions (if needed)

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sudo chown -R mark:mark /mnt/Ext_T7_ssd/music

Now you’re ready to proceed to the NFS export steps

ON THE PROXMOX HOST

1. Mount the external SSD (if not already mounted)

If Proxmox already sees the SSD (e.g. /dev/sdX), mount it like this:

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sudo mkdir -p /mnt/Ext_T7_ssd

sudo mount /dev/sdX1 /mnt/Ext_T7_ssd

Replace /dev/sdX1 with the correct partition (you can check with lsblk).

2. Create the music folder on the SSD

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sudo mkdir -p /mnt/Ext_T7_ssd/music

3. (Optional) Set permissions for Navidrome or a specific user

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sudo chown -R navidrome:navidrome /mnt/Ext_T7_ssd/music

Or, if using your user (e.g. mark):

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sudo chown -R mark:mark /mnt/Ext_T7_ssd/music

Now, the folder is ready to store music files.

Corrected, Precise Summary (with terminal context)

ON THE PROXMOX HOST

4. Install NFS server (if not already installed):

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sudo apt update && sudo apt install nfs-kernel-server

5. Configure the export:

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sudo nano /etc/exports

Add this line:

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/mnt/Ext_T7_ssd/music 192.168.1.0/24(ro,sync,no_subtree_check)

6. Reload NFS exports:

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sudo exportfs -ra

7. Verify NFS is exporting:

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sudo exportfs -v

You should see:

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/mnt/Ext_T7_ssd/music  192.168.1.0/24(...)

ON THE navidrome-vm (Ubuntu 24.04)

8. Install NFS client:

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sudo apt update && sudo apt install nfs-common

9. Create the mount point:

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sudo mkdir -p /mnt/navidrome/music

10. Mount the shared music folder:

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sudo mount -t nfs 192.168.1.125:/mnt/Ext_T7_ssd/music /mnt/navidrome/music


Verify:

```sh

ls -lah /mnt/navidrome/music

You should see your music folders.

11. Update docker-compose.yml:

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nano ~/navidrome/docker-compose.yml

Update volumes: section:

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   volumes:

      - "${HOME}/navidrome/config:/data"

      - "/mnt/navidrome/music:/music:ro"

12. Restart Navidrome:

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cd ~/navidrome

docker compose down

docker compose up -d

13. Verify in browser:

```sh

http://:4533

The full external music library should now be visible inside Navidrome.

This post is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by the author.