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How to Create a Virtual Machine in Proxmox

Proxmox Virtual Environment (Proxmox VE) is an open - source server virtualization management platform that allows you to manage and run multiple virtual machines and containers on a single physical server. Creating a virtual machine in Proxmox is a powerful way to test new software, run different operating systems, or develop applications in isolated environments. This blog will provide you with a step - by - step guide on how to create a virtual machine in Proxmox.

2026-06

Table of Contents#

  1. Prerequisites
  2. Logging into Proxmox
  3. Navigating to the Virtual Machine Creation Wizard
  4. General Settings
  5. OS Template Selection
  6. System Configuration
  7. Hard Disk Configuration
  8. CPU and Memory Allocation
  9. Network Configuration
  10. Preview and Creation
  11. Starting the Virtual Machine

Prerequisites#

  • A running Proxmox Virtual Environment installation. This could be on a dedicated physical server or a virtualized server environment.
  • Access to the Proxmox web interface. You should have the IP address or domain name of the Proxmox server and valid login credentials (usually root or a user with appropriate permissions).
  • Appropriate ISO images or operating system templates. If you're installing an operating system from an ISO, make sure it's uploaded to the Proxmox storage. You can do this through the "Datacenter" -> "Storage" section in the Proxmox web interface.

Logging into Proxmox#

  1. Open your web browser and enter the IP address or domain name of your Proxmox server followed by port 8006 (e.g., https://your - server - ip:8006).
  2. You'll see a login screen. Enter your username (usually root if you're logging in as the administrator), your password, and select the realm (usually pam).
  3. Click the "Login" button. Once authenticated, you'll be taken to the Proxmox web interface dashboard.
  1. On the left - hand side panel of the Proxmox web interface, click on the node where you want to create the virtual machine.
  2. Right - click on the node name and select "Create VM" from the context menu. This will open the virtual machine creation wizard.

General Settings#

  1. VM ID: Proxmox assigns a unique identifier to each virtual machine. You can either let Proxmox auto - generate the ID or enter a custom one. The ID must be unique within the Proxmox environment.
  2. Name: Give your virtual machine a descriptive name. This will help you easily identify it later.
  3. Tags: You can optionally add tags to your virtual machine for better organization. Tags can be used for filtering and management purposes.

OS Template Selection#

  1. ISO Image: If you're installing an operating system from an ISO image, select the appropriate image from the dropdown menu under "ISO Image". The ISO images should be stored in one of your Proxmox storage devices.
  2. Guest OS Type: Select the type of operating system you'll be installing, such as Linux, Windows, or other. Select the appropriate version of the OS if available.

System Configuration#

  1. BIOS: Choose between SeaBIOS (the open - source BIOS) and OVMF (UEFI BIOS). Most modern operating systems support UEFI and can take advantage of its features like faster boot times and secure boot.
  2. Machine: Select the appropriate machine type. The default is usually fine for most use cases, but you might need to adjust it depending on the guest operating system.
  3. Clock: Decide whether the virtual machine will use the host clock or its own independent clock. For better time synchronization, it's often recommended to use the host clock.

Hard Disk Configuration#

  1. Storage: Select the storage device where you want to store the virtual machine's hard disk. This could be local storage or a network - attached storage device.
  2. Disk Size: Specify the size of the virtual hard disk. Consider the requirements of the operating system and the applications you'll be running. You can always expand the disk size later if needed.
  3. Format: Choose the disk format, such as raw or qcow2. qcow2 is a more flexible format that supports features like snapshots and thin provisioning.

CPU and Memory Allocation#

  1. CPU Cores: Allocate the number of CPU cores to the virtual machine. The number of cores you assign depends on the workload of the virtual machine. For light - weight tasks, 1 - 2 cores might be sufficient, while more resource - intensive applications may require more.
  2. CPU Type: Select the CPU type to emulate. You can choose to expose the host CPU features to the virtual machine for better performance.
  3. Memory: Allocate the amount of RAM to the virtual machine. Make sure to leave enough memory for the host system and other virtual machines running on the same server.

Network Configuration#

  1. Bridge: Select the network bridge to which the virtual machine will be connected. The bridge allows the virtual machine to communicate with the external network.
  2. Model: Choose the network adapter model. The default model should work for most operating systems, but you might need to change it if you encounter network issues.

Preview and Creation#

  1. Review all the settings you've configured in the previous steps. Make sure everything is correct.
  2. Click the "Finish" button to create the virtual machine. Proxmox will start the process of creating the virtual machine based on your settings.

Starting the Virtual Machine#

  1. Once the virtual machine is created, you'll see it listed under the node in the Proxmox web interface.
  2. Click on the virtual machine name and then click the "Start" button in the toolbar.
  3. You can then access the virtual machine's console by clicking the "Console" tab. This will open a window where you can interact with the virtual machine during the operating system installation process.

Conclusion#

Creating a virtual machine in Proxmox is a straightforward process once you understand the different steps involved. By following this guide, you can easily set up a new virtual machine, allocate the necessary resources, and start using it for your testing, development, or other purposes.

References#