Proxmox VE is a user-friendly, open-source platform providing comprehensive management of virtual machines, containers, and storage. Its open-source nature makes it a cost-effective choice for those in search of a virtualization platform.

Unlike some alternatives, Proxmox provides a flexible solution free of vendor lock-in, support for a broad spectrum of hardware, and even includes a free tier.

Part 1: Installing the Proxmox VE Hypervisor

Proxmox VE can be installed directly onto a physical machine for optimized performance and control.

  1. Visit the official Proxmox VE website. Select and download the latest installer version.

While Proxmox VE can be used in a virtual machine for testing, it’s essentially a type 1 hypervisor, or a bare-metal installer, meaning it’s installed directly onto the server’s hardware. All data on the selected disks will be erased during installation, so ensure to backup critical data before proceeding.

  1. Create a bootable USB drive with the downloaded installer file. Tools like Rufus or Etcher can be helpful for this purpose.
  2. Boot your system from the USB drive.

Proxmox VE is compatible with a variety of systems, but it requires a 64-bit CPU, a motherboard capable of virtualization, 1 GB of RAM, and a 16 GB hard drive.

  1. At boot, choose “Boot from USB” to open the Proxmox VE menu. Select “Install Proxmox VE (Graphical)” to begin the installation process.
  2. Read and accept the End User License Agreement (EULA).
  3. Choose the hard disk where you want to install the software.
  4. Select your location, time zone, and keyboard layout when prompted.
  5. Set up the root password and provide an email address.

While a password of 5 characters long may be accepted, a stronger password is highly recommended.

The provided email address will be used to send notifications to the system administrator, such as information about available package updates and error messages from periodic cron jobs.

  1. Configure the network settings. For network interfaces that are active, a filled circle will appear next to their name in the dropdown menu. Specify an IP address.
  2. Review the summary of the selected options. If you need to change any setting, use the “Previous” button.
  3. Click on “Install” to start the installation process. The installer will format the disks and copy packages to the target disk.

The copying process can take several minutes, mainly depending on the speed of the installation medium and the target disk performance.

  1. Wait for the installation to complete, then remove the installation medium and restart your system.

Part 3: Web Interface Access and Initial Configuration

  1. Access the Proxmox VE web interface by navigating to https://<your_server_ip_address>:8006 in your web browser where you use the IP address chosen in step 9.
  2. Access the Proxmox platform using the username root and the password you selected during step 8 in the installation process.

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