Creating your first virtual machine in Proxmox

A virtual machine (VM) is a complete computer in software, with its own operating system. You use a VM for everything that needs its own system: Windows, Home Assistant OS, a TrueNAS, or a Linux server. Here you’ll create one with Linux as an example.

Step 1: upload the installation image

1. Download the ISO of the system you want to install, for example Debian or Ubuntu Server.
2. Click on local on the left (under your server) and choose ISO Images.
3. Click on Upload and choose your file. Or choose Download from URL and paste the download address: then Proxmox will fetch it itself, which is often faster.

Step 2: create the VM

Click on Create VM in the top right and go through the tabs:

• General: give the VM a name. Turn on Start at boot if the VM should start with the server.
• OS: choose the ISO you just uploaded and the type (Linux or Microsoft Windows).
• System: leave the graphics card on the default value. Choose Machine: q35, BIOS: OVMF (UEFI) and check Qemu Agent. UEFI requires an EFI disk; leave it as is.
• Disks: choose SCSI as bus and the storage local-lvm. Set the size. If the VM is on an SSD, check Discard and SSD emulation.
• CPU: choose the number of cores. Set the type to host for the best speed.
• Memory: choose the memory in MB (for example 2048 for 2 GB).
• Network: leave the bridge on vmbr0 and the model on VirtIO. This way the VM gets an address from your router, just like a regular computer.
• Confirm: check everything and click on Finish.

Step 3: start and install

1. Select the new VM on the left and click on Start.
2. Open Console. You’ll see the installation program of your operating system. Install like on a regular computer.
3. Remove the ISO after installation: go to Hardware → CD/DVD Drive and choose Do not use any media.

Step 4: install the Qemu Guest Agent

With the agent, Proxmox knows the VM’s IP address, can shut it down cleanly, and makes better backups. On Debian or Ubuntu:

sudo apt install qemu-guest-agent
sudo systemctl enable --now qemu-guest-agent

On Windows you install the VirtIO drivers and the agent from the virtio-win ISO from the Fedora project.

Handy tips

• Create a snapshot (VM → Snapshots → Take Snapshot) before you change something major. If it fails, you can go back with one click.
• Want to run Home Assistant? The commands for a VM are in our Home Assistant guide.
• Don’t give all your memory to VMs: leave at least 2 GB for Proxmox itself.