Installation Guide

Overview

This guide covers the complete installation process of Proxmox Virtual Environment, from downloading the ISO to completing the initial setup and accessing the web interface.

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• CPU: 64-bit processor with virtualization support (Intel VT-x or AMD-V)
• RAM: 2GB (8GB+ recommended for production)
• Storage: 32GB (SSD recommended for better performance)
• Network: Ethernet connection for management

Recommended Production Setup

• CPU: Multi-core processor (8+ cores recommended)
• RAM: 32GB+ ECC memory for stability
• Storage: Multiple drives for redundancy (RAID 1/10)
• Network: Multiple NICs for redundancy and performance

Pre-Installation Checklist

Installation Process

Step 1: Boot from Installation Media

1. Insert installation media and boot from it
2. Select "Install Proxmox VE" from the boot menu
3. Wait for the installer to load (may take a few minutes)

Step 2: Accept License Agreement

1. Read the license agreement (GNU AGPL v3)
2. Click "I agree" to continue
3. The installer will proceed to disk selection

Step 3: Target Disk Selection

Step 4: Location and Time Zone

1. Select your country from the dropdown
2. Choose time zone (affects log timestamps and scheduling)
3. Select keyboard layout for console access
4. Click Next to continue

Step 5: Administration Password and Email

1. Set root password (use a strong password)
2. Confirm password by retyping
3. Enter email address for system notifications
4. Click Next to proceed

Step 6: Management Network Configuration

Step 7: Installation Summary and Confirmation

1. Review all settings:
   • Target disk and filesystem
   • Network configuration
   • Administrative settings
2. Click "Install" to begin installation
3. Wait for completion (typically 5-15 minutes)

Post-Installation Setup

Step 1: First Boot and Access

1. Remove installation media when prompted
2. Reboot the system
3. Note the management IP displayed on console
4. Access web interface at https://your-ip:8006

Step 2: Initial Web Interface Login

1. Open web browser and navigate to https://your-proxmox-ip:8006
2. Login credentials:
   • Username: root
   • Password: (set during installation)
   • Realm: Linux PAM standard authentication
3. Click "Login" to access the management interface

Step 3: Subscription Notice

You'll see a subscription notice popup:

Verification and Testing

System Health Check

# Check system status
pveversion --verbose

# Verify virtualization support
egrep -c '(vmx|svm)' /proc/cpuinfo

# Check memory and storage
free -h
df -h

# Test network connectivity
ping -c 4 8.8.8.8

Web Interface Tour

Common Installation Issues

Next Steps

Congratulations! You've successfully installed Proxmox VE. Here's what to do next:

Installation Checklist

• Hardware requirements verified
• Installation media created and tested
• BIOS/UEFI settings configured
• Proxmox VE installed successfully
• Web interface accessible
• Initial login completed
• System health verified
• Ready for post-installation configuration