How to Install Proxmox

Proxmox VE is an open-source virtualization platform that allows you to run multiple virtual machines and containers on a single physical server. It’s a powerful tool for self-hosting, providing the ability to run multiple services on a single machine. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the process of installing Proxmox VE and setting up your first virtual machine.

Step 1: Download Proxmox VE #

The first step in installing Proxmox VE is to download the ISO file from the Proxmox website. Navigate to the download page and select the ISO image for the latest version of Proxmox VE.

Step 2: Create a Bootable USB Drive #

Once you’ve downloaded the ISO file, you’ll need to create a bootable USB drive. There are a number of tools you can use to create a bootable USB drive, but we recommend using Rufus. Rufus is a free and open-source tool that makes it easy to create a bootable USB drive from an ISO file.

1. Insert your USB drive into your computer.
2. Open Rufus and select your USB drive from the “Device” dropdown menu.
3. Click the “Select” button next to “Boot selection” and choose the Proxmox VE ISO file you downloaded in Step 1.
4. Ensure that the “Partition scheme” is set to “MBR” and the “File system” is set to “FAT32”.
5. Click the “Start” button to begin the process of creating a bootable USB drive.

Step 3: Boot from the USB Drive #

With your bootable USB drive ready, it’s time to boot your server from the USB drive. Depending on your server hardware, you may need to change the boot order in your BIOS settings to ensure that the server boots from the USB drive.

1. Insert the USB drive into the server and power it on.
2. Press the key to access your server’s BIOS settings (typically F2 or Del).
3. Navigate to the “Boot” tab and ensure that the USB drive is selected as the first boot device.
4. Save your changes and exit the BIOS settings.

Step 4: Install Proxmox VE #

With your server set to boot from the USB drive, Proxmox VE should start up and present you with the installation screen. Follow these steps to install Proxmox VE:

1. Select “Install Proxmox VE” from the boot menu.
2. Choose your language and keyboard layout.
3. Accept the license agreement.
4. Choose the hard drive where you want to install Proxmox VE.
5. Set a password for the “root” user.
6. Click “Install” to begin the installation process.

The installation process may take several minutes to complete. Once it’s finished, you’ll be prompted to reboot your server.

Step 5: Access Proxmox VE #

After your server has rebooted, you can access Proxmox VE by navigating to the IP address of your server in a web browser. The default username is “root” and the password is the one you set during installation.

Once you’ve logged in, you’ll be presented with the Proxmox VE web interface. From here, you can create and manage virtual machines and containers.

Conclusion #

Proxmox VE is a powerful virtualization platform that enables you to easily create and manage virtual machines. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can set up and configure Proxmox VE on your server and start creating virtual machines in no time. Whether you are an IT professional or just want to learn about virtualization, Proxmox VE is an excellent choice for self-hosting virtual machines.