Member-only story
Step-by-Step Guide: Installing Proxmox VE

Introduction
Looking to set up a virtualization server? Proxmox is a popular choice for IT professionals and tech enthusiasts alike. With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, Proxmox makes it easy to run virtual machines on your own hardware. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of installing Proxmox on your server. Whether you’re new to virtualization or a seasoned pro, we’ve got you covered.
Step 1: Choose Your Hardware
Before you get started, it’s important to choose the right hardware for your Proxmox installation. You’ll need a server with plenty of RAM, CPU power, and storage space. Ideally, you’ll want a system with at least 8GB of RAM, a quad-core CPU, and multiple hard drives. Once you’ve chosen your hardware, it’s time to move on to the installation process.
Step 2: Download the Proxmox ISO
To install Proxmox, you’ll need to download the ISO file from the Proxmox website. This file contains the operating system and all the necessary software packages. Once you’ve downloaded the ISO, you’ll need to create a bootable USB drive.

A popular way to create bootable USB drive is via Etcher or Rufus. I’ve provided my instructions on how to use etcher below:
- Insert your USB drive into your computer’s USB port.
- Download and install Etcher, a free and open-source software used to create bootable USB drives. Etcher is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. You can download Etcher from its official website at https://www.balena.io/etcher/.
- Open Etcher on your computer.
- Click on the “Select image” button in Etcher and navigate to the location where you saved the Proxmox VE ISO file. Select the file and click on the “Open” button.
- Click on the “Select drive” button in Etcher and select your USB drive from the list of available drives. Make sure to select the correct drive as this process will erase all data on the drive.