Proxmox VE: Install a Free Virtualization Server From ISO

Proxmox VE turns a PC or server into a virtualization host. You manage virtual machines and Linux containers from a web interface, which makes it popular in home labs as well as in companies.

Licensing in short

Proxmox VE is open-source software and free to download and use. Paid subscriptions are optional and give access to the enterprise repository and support.

Hardware for testing

For evaluation, Proxmox lists:

• a 64-bit CPU (Intel 64 or AMD64), or a 64-bit Arm processor (Armv9-A or newer),
• on x86, an Intel VT or AMD-V capable CPU and motherboard for KVM virtualization,
• at least 1 GB of RAM, a hard drive and one network card.

Real workloads need much more memory, because each virtual machine uses its own.

Download and verify

The ISO page lists the current installer (9.2) with its SHA256 checksum, and an ARM64 build. Compute the hash of your download, for example with Get-FileHash in PowerShell, and compare it with the value on the page.

Write the USB correctly

The Proxmox wiki says Etcher works out of the box. Rufus is a lighter option, but it must use DD mode: decline the offer to download a different GRUB version, then choose DD image mode. The wiki warns not to use UNetbootin, which does not work with the Proxmox image.

Before you install

The installer takes over the disk you select, so use a dedicated machine or back up everything first. After installation, you reach the management interface from a browser on another computer. If you mainly want network storage rather than virtual machines, see TrueNAS Community Edition.