A Complete Guide to Setting Up Virtual Machines in Proxmox VE

• 18 November 2025
• Proxmox,Virtual Dedicated Servers
• Written by George Dockrell

Setting up virtual machines can quickly become complicated. Juggling multiple OS images, allocating resources, and keeping networks organised often turns a simple deployment into a logistical challenge. Proxmox VE makes that complexity manageable. With its sleek, web-based interface, you can spin up virtual machines and containers in minutes, keeping control without the headache.

Whether you’re building a testing lab, consolidating servers, or experimenting with new operating systems, Proxmox VE provides the tools to manage it all efficiently. This guide walks you through the entire process of how to create a VM in Proxmox, covering everything from uploading your OS image to configuring memory, CPU, storage, and networking. Along the way, you’ll see how Proxmox simplifies traditionally tricky tasks, so your VMs run smoothly and your environment stays organised. By the end, you’ll have a fully operational Proxmox VM and the confidence to expand your Proxmox deployment.

What You Need Before You Begin?

Before getting started with creating a virtual machine on Proxmox, make sure you have the following ready:

• A working Proxmox VE installation
• An ISO image of the operating system you plan to install

Creating and Configuring Your Virtual Machine in Proxmox VE

Once you’ve planned your virtual machine and prepared your ISO image, it’s time to get hands-on. This section walks you through the actual process of bringing a VM in Proxmox VE to life, from getting the OS image into your environment to making sure the machine boots correctly. By following these steps, you’ll understand how storage, CPU, memory, and networking all come together, giving you a VM that’s ready for testing, development, or production tasks.

Step One: Uploading the ISO Image to Proxmox VE

Before you can create a virtual machine, you’ll need to add an ISO to Proxmox storage. This involves uploading the operating system’s ISO image to your Proxmox storage.

1. In the Proxmox web interface, locate the Server View panel on the left and select local (pve) under your node.
2. Click the Content tab, then select Upload at the top of the screen.
3. In the pop-up window, click Select File…, choose your ISO image from your local computer, and click Upload.
4. Wait for the upload to complete—duration will depend on your internet speed and ISO size.

Once uploaded, your ISO will appear under the Content section of your local storage and be ready for use when creating a VM.

Step Two: Creating a Virtual Machine in Proxmox VE

Now that your ISO is available, you can create your virtual machine.

1. At the top-right of the Proxmox interface, click Create VM.
2. On the General tab, assign a unique name to your virtual machine, then click Next.
3. Under the OS tab, select the ISO image you uploaded earlier. (In this example, we’ll use Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS.)
4. Click Next to continue through the System tab—default settings work fine for most environments.
5. On the Hard Disk tab, specify how much storage space your VM will need based on your workload. Then click Next.
6. In the CPU tab, allocate the number of cores. For lightweight or general-purpose systems, 2–4 cores are typically sufficient.
7. On the Memory tab, set the RAM amount. For most Linux distributions, 2 GB or more is recommended.
8. Under the Network tab, you can leave default settings or customise them later depending on your setup.
9. Review your configuration in the Confirm tab, then click Finish to create the VM.

Your virtual machine will now appear in the left-hand Server View panel under your node.

Step Three: Installing the Operating System on Your VM

With your VM created, you can install the operating system directly through the Proxmox console.

1. Select your VM from the Server View panel.
2. Click Start on the top toolbar to power it on.
3. Click Console, then choose noVNC to open a virtual display window.
4. The ISO image will automatically boot. Follow the on-screen prompts to install your OS as usual.
5. When installation is complete, restart the VM if prompted.

Your virtual machine is now fully operational and ready for configuration or workload deployment.

Troubleshooting and Common Issues When Creating VMs in Proxmox VE

While Proxmox VE simplifies virtualisation, users sometimes encounter minor issues during setup or VM creation. Here are a few common ones and how to address them:

• ISO Image Not Appearing: Check that the ISO was uploaded to the correct storage location (e.g., local (pve) or another defined storage). Refresh the web interface if necessary.
• VM Not Booting After Creation: Verify that the ISO is correctly selected as the boot device in the VM settings. If using UEFI, ensure Secure Boot is disabled unless your OS supports it.
• Console Not Loading: The noVNC console may fail to load if your browser blocks pop-ups or if there’s a temporary connection issue. Try refreshing the console or using the SPICE option as an alternative.
• Network Connectivity Issues: If your VM cannot access the internet, verify bridge settings and firewall configurations in the node’s network setup.

If these steps don’t resolve your issue, Apps4Rent can help. As an experienced Proxmox reseller with over five years of hands-on expertise, we assist clients with setup, troubleshooting, and optimisation. Whether it’s networking, backup configuration, or resource tuning, our support team is well-versed in every aspect of the Proxmox environment.

Building Reliable Proxmox VE Deployments with Apps4Rent

Creating and managing virtual machines in Proxmox VE is a straightforward process that offers flexibility, performance, and control for various use cases. With just an ISO image and a few simple configuration steps, you can build an efficient virtualisation setup tailored to your needs.

As a certified Proxmox Reseller, Apps4Rent provides a complete suite of Proxmox VE and Proxmox Backup Server solutions to help businesses deploy, manage, and secure their virtual environments with confidence. Our team has years of experience assisting organisations in implementing Proxmox-based infrastructures, ensuring stability, scalability, and smooth integration.

Whether you’re setting up your first VM or building a multi-node cluster, Apps4Rent can provide the right guidance, hosting options, and technical support to help you get the most out of your Proxmox platform.