How to Setup Proxmox

Xavier Jimenez | May 21, 2025 min read
How to Setup Proxmox

What is Proxmox

Proxmox (specifically, Proxmox VE – Virtual Environment)

Proxmox VE is a free and open-source server virtualization platform. It allows you to run and manage virtual machines (VMs) and containers on a single or clustered system.

🔧 Key Features of Proxmox VE:

  • KVM-based virtualization: Uses the Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) for full virtualization.

  • LXC containers: Lightweight Linux containers for faster performance.term

  • Web-based management interface: Easy-to-use GUI for managing VMs, containers, storage, and networks.

  • Cluster management: Supports clustering multiple nodes and managing them centrally.

  • Backup and restore: Built-in tools for snapshot-based backup and restore.

  • Live migration: Move running VMs between nodes without downtime.

  • Storage options: Supports ZFS, LVM, Ceph, NFS, iSCSI, and more.

🧑‍💻 Use Cases:

  • Homelabs and personal projects

  • Small-to-medium business servers

  • Hosting web servers, game servers, and development environments

  • Virtualized testing environments

Installing Proxmox

🖥️ System Requirements (Minimum):

  • 64-bit CPU (Intel VT/AMD-V support recommended)

  • 2 GB RAM (8+ GB recommended)

  • 20 GB storage (SSD recommended)

  • Network interface (at least 1)

  • A computer to act as the host machine

🔧 Step-by-Step Installation Guide

✅ 1. Download Proxmox VE ISO

✅ 2. Create a Bootable USB Stick

Use a tool like:

  • Rufus (Windows)

  • balenaEtcher (Windows/macOS/Linux)

  • dd (Linux CLI)

Choose the Proxmox ISO as the source and your USB drive as the destination.

✅ 3. Boot the Target Machine from USB

  • Insert the USB into the machine where you want to install Proxmox

  • Enter BIOS/UEFI settings (usually with Del, F2, or F12) and choose to boot from USB

✅ 4. Install Proxmox VE

  1. Choose “Install Proxmox VE” from the boot menu.

  2. Accept the license agreement.

  3. Select the target hard disk for installation.

  4. Set:

    • Country, time zone, and keyboard layout

    • Administrator password and email

  5. Configure management network (hostname and IP address)

Then click Install.

✅ 5. First Boot

After installation:

  • Remove the USB drive

  • The system will boot into Proxmox

  • You’ll see a prompt telling you to connect via web interface:

    arduino

    CopyEdit

    https://your-ip-address:8006

✅ 6. Access Proxmox Web Interface

  • Open a browser on another machine

  • Go to https://your-ip:8006

  • Log in using:

    • Username: root

    • Password: (what you set during install)

    • Realm: Linux PAM standard authentication

💡 Optional Post-Install Tips:

  • You can join or skip the Proxmox subscription prompt

  • Update the system via the web UI or with:

    bash

    CopyEdit

    apt update && apt full-upgrade -y

  • Create VMs or Containers from the GUI

  • Upload ISO images to /var/lib/vz/template/iso/ or via the GUI