After setting up Proxmox VE on my Dell PowerEdge T430, one of the first and most essential tasks was installing virtual machines using ISO images. Whether you’re deploying Linux servers, Windows desktops, or test environments, Proxmox makes this process smooth—but there are key steps and best practices to know.
Here’s my complete experience and step-by-step guide on how to upload and use ISO files in Proxmox VE.
1. Where to Get ISO Files
You can download ISO images from official sources:
• Ubuntu Server / Desktop: https://ubuntu.com/download
• Debian: https://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst
• CentOS / Rocky / AlmaLinux: https://almalinux.org
• Windows ISO: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/
Choose minimal or server versions for light VMs, or full desktop editions for GUI testing.
2. Uploading ISO Files to Proxmox
After downloading the ISO file on your computer, you’ll upload it to the Proxmox VE node using the Web GUI.
Step-by-Step:
1. Log in to the Proxmox Web Interface:
2. In the left sidebar, navigate to your Proxmox node (e.g., pve).
3. Expand Datacenter > pve > local (or local-lvm).
4. Go to the “ISO Images” tab.
5. Click Upload → select the ISO file from your computer → click Upload.
✅ Pro tip: ISO files must be uploaded to a storage configured with content: iso (usually local).
Alternatively, from the command line:
scp ubuntu-22.04-live-server-amd64.iso root@your-proxmox-ip:/var/lib/vz/template/iso/
3. Creating a VM Using the ISO
Once the ISO is uploaded, you can use it to create a virtual machine:
Step-by-Step:
1. Click “Create VM” in the top-right corner of the web UI.
2. General Tab:
• Node: pve
• VM ID: (auto)
• Name: ubuntu-server
3. OS Tab:
• Select the uploaded ISO image
• Choose the guest OS type (Linux, Windows, etc.)
4. System Tab:
• BIOS: Default (or UEFI for newer OS)
• Machine: Default
• SCSI Controller: VirtIO SCSI (recommended for performance)
5. Hard Disk Tab:
• Storage: local-lvm or local-zfs
• Disk size: 20–40 GB
• Bus/Device: VirtIO or SCSI (faster than IDE)
6. CPU Tab:
• Cores: 2 (or more if needed)
7. Memory Tab:
• RAM: 2048 MB (minimum for most OS)
8. Network Tab:
• Bridge: vmbr0
• Model: VirtIO (or Intel E1000 if compatibility issues)
9. Confirm and click Finish.
4. Boot and Install the Operating System
Once the VM is created:
• Select the VM in the left panel
• Click Start
• Open Console tab (NoVNC or SPICE)
• Proceed through the OS installation as usual
Make sure to configure network and disk partitions properly during installation. You may need to load VirtIO drivers for Windows guests.
5. Post-Installation Enhancements
After OS installation:
• Remove the ISO from CD/DVD drive to avoid boot loops
→ Hardware → CD/DVD Drive → Set to “Do not use any media”
• Install guest agents for better integration:
For Linux:
sudo apt install qemu-guest-agent
Then enable it in the VM’s Options tab:
→ Options → QEMU Guest Agent → Enable
• Enable backups or snapshots in Proxmox for safety
• Resize disk later using qm resize or GUI if needed
6. Advanced Tips
• Store ISO files on NFS or dedicated ZFS dataset to save space
• Group ISOs by OS/version for
