Simple build of a ProxMox server

Author: A SelfHostedPro Member

August 24, 2022

Welcome, everyone; I wanted to make a quick tutorial on how to set up a ProxMox server. This tutorial assumes you know the basics of Linux, making a USB boot drive with Rufus, and getting around your PC. More in-depth tutorials will be coming at a later time.

Let’s not forget the links to download ProxMox and their documentation.

ProxMox Download Site

https://pve.proxmox.com/pve-docs/

For those who need it. I have included a link to Rufus below Rufus Download Site. I will also include a link to Etcher as well Etcher Download Site.

With the USB into the drive, press either Esc, F2, F10, F11, or F12. While the server is booting up, access the boot menu by pressing the required keyboard key(s). Most commonly, they are (this will differ on the actual type of pc you have and where you live in the world. It could also be f8 or f5 more rarely.

Press enter on the Install Proxmox VE to continue

Accepting the EULA to continue

Verify your target hard disk if you have multiple and continue

You can click the options button and set the drive and the format. Typically your want to format the system ext4. There are some experts who want to use ZFS; that’s perfectly fine but outside the scope of this tutorial.

Set the location, time zone, and keyboard layout. The installer autodetects most of these configurations. You will see a screen similar to the one below.

Set a password and confirm it; the email will not matter, but it can be natural or fake just don’t forget it on the next screen and then continue.

The last step in installing ProxMox is setting up the network configuration management interface, a hostname for the server, an available IP address necessary, the default gateway, and a DNS server. During the installation process, use either an IPv4 or IPv6 address. To use both, modify {AFTER RESTART} the configuration. The IP must be static on the local LAN’s subnet. If you’re starting off building a new LAN, you should have a subnet picked out; if you’re adding a machine, make sure the IP matches your existing LAN.

Below is the example of the page you SHOULD be seeing at this point.

When done, you should get something like this.

And off you go installing.

Once installed, you manage the system via your browser; please open it to HTTP://(theIPaddressyouset):8006

Because mine is an existing install, you won’t see the machines set up, only a similar picture to this. You will also be asked to log in, and use “root” and the password you entered during setup.

Congrats, your ready to set up your first VM; that will be coming in another tutorial soon.