12 – Installing Proxmox

In this training video, I show how to install Proxmox VE on a mini PC from start to finish. We walk through the full installer, configure the storage and management network, set the hostname and administrator credentials. Then we complete the first boot of a brand-new Proxmox host. We begin with the Proxmox VE graphical installer and look at the first checks it performs before installation. I also point out an important storage consideration for mini PCs, especially if your system shipped with Windows 11. The Proxmox installation process will overwrite the selected disk, so I explain why I prefer installing a separate NVMe drive if I want to preserve the factory drive for future use.

From there, we select the target disk and configure the basic installation settings, including country, time zone, keyboard layout, administrator password, and email address. I also show a few of the validation checks built into the installer so you can see what Proxmox expects before it will let you continue. Next, we configure the Proxmox management network. I show how the installer detects the connected network adapter, how to enter a fully qualified domain name for the host, and how to configure the management IP address, gateway, and DNS server. We also look at how DHCP-provided settings can be changed if you prefer to use a static configuration for your Proxmox host.

Once the networking and system settings are in place, we look at the installation summary and make sure everything looks correct before starting the install. Proxmox then partitions the disk. It creates the logical volumes, installs the operating system, and automatically reboots the host when the process is complete. Finally, we verify the first successful boot of Proxmox VE and confirm that the new management IP address is displayed and ready for access through the Proxmox web interface on port 8006.

By the end of the video, you will understand how to install Proxmox VE on a mini PC, choose the correct installation disk, configure the hostname and management network, and get a new Proxmox server ready for its first web login.