Baremetal Setup

Hardware installation and initial Proxmox VE setup procedures.

📋 Hardware Requirements

Recommended specifications for Proxmox VE:

  • CPU: 64-bit processor with virtualization support (Intel VT-x or AMD-V)

  • RAM: Minimum 2GB, recommended 8GB+ for production

  • Storage: SSD recommended for OS, additional drives for VM storage

  • Network: Gigabit Ethernet, multiple NICs recommended

🔧 Installation Process

Baremetal Installation Guide

Follow this comprehensive video guide for hardware setup:

Key Installation Steps:

  1. Download Proxmox VE ISO - Get latest version from Proxmox Downloads - Create bootable USB with Rufus, Etcher, or dd

  2. Boot from Installation Media - Configure BIOS/UEFI for virtualization support - Enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V - Set boot priority to USB/DVD

  3. Installation Configuration - Select target disk for Proxmox installation - Configure timezone and keyboard layout - Set root password and email - Configure network settings (IP, gateway, DNS)

  4. Initial Network Setup - Configure management interface - Set static IP or DHCP as needed - Ensure network connectivity for web interface

📊 Post-Installation Verification

After installation, verify the setup:

# Check system status
pveversion

# Verify network configuration
ip addr show

# Check storage
df -h

# Test web interface access
curl -k https://localhost:8006

🌐 Web Interface Access

Access the Proxmox web interface:

  • URL: https://your-server-ip:8006

  • Username: root

  • Password: Set during installation

  • Realm: Linux PAM standard authentication

🔧 Hardware Optimization

BIOS/UEFI Settings

Essential BIOS settings for optimal performance:

  • Virtualization: Enable Intel VT-x or AMD-V

  • IOMMU: Enable for GPU/device passthrough

  • Power Management: Disable C-states for stability

  • Boot Mode: UEFI recommended over Legacy BIOS

Network Interface Configuration

For multiple network interfaces:

  • Management: Dedicated interface for Proxmox web access

  • VM Traffic: Separate interface(s) for virtual machine networking

  • Storage: Optional dedicated network for storage traffic (iSCSI, NFS)

📝 Installation Notes

Important considerations during installation:

Storage Layout - Use SSD for Proxmox OS installation - Reserve additional drives for VM storage - Consider ZFS for advanced storage features

Network Planning - Plan IP addressing scheme - Consider VLAN requirements - Document network configuration

Security - Use strong root password - Plan firewall configuration - Consider SSH key authentication

🚀 Next Steps

After successful baremetal installation:

  1. Post-Install Configuration: Follow Post-Install Configuration

  2. Storage Setup: Configure Storage Configuration

  3. Network Configuration: Set up bridges and VLANs

  4. Service Deployment: Deploy services using Media Automation Stack

📚 Additional Resources