A spare desktop or a small server doing nothing is a home lab waiting to happen, and Proxmox VE is the free, open-source platform that turns it into a proper hypervisor. From a blank USB stick to a working web dashboard where you spin up virtual machines and containers, the whole thing takes well under half an hour on supported x86 hardware. The interface lives at a port people always forget, so we will flag it clearly.

Quick Answer

Install Proxmox VE by flashing the ISO to a USB drive, booting from it, running the guided installer, then opening the web dashboard at https://your-server-ip:8006 from another machine. On supported x86 hardware the full process, USB creation to first login, takes under 20 minutes. The web interface uses port 8006, not 80 or 443.

Step 1: Create the bootable USB

  1. Go to the official Proxmox downloads page and grab the latest Proxmox VE ISO.
  2. Flash it to a USB drive of at least 2GB using balenaEtcher, which works across Windows, macOS, and Linux, or Rufus on Windows.
  3. Write the image and wait for the tool to verify it before ejecting.

Use a drive you are happy to wipe, since flashing erases whatever is on it. A cheap 8GB stick is more than enough.

If you are choosing hardware to run this on, a low-power always-on box is ideal, and the mini PC range at Evetech covers the small-footprint machines that make excellent quiet home-lab hosts.

Step 2: Boot the installer

  1. Insert the USB into your server and power it on.
  2. Enter the BIOS or UEFI, usually by tapping F2, F10, or Del during startup, and set the USB drive as the first boot device, then save and exit.
  3. At the Proxmox boot menu, select Install Proxmox VE and press Enter.

If the system boots back into its old OS, the boot order did not stick or secure boot is interfering. Re-enter the firmware and confirm the USB is genuinely first in the order.

Step 3: Run the guided installation

The installer is short and mostly self-explanatory.

  1. Accept the licence agreement.
  2. Choose the target disk. Select Use entire disk for a clean, simple setup, or Manual if you want custom partitioning. For a first build, the guided option is the right call, but understand it will wipe the chosen disk.
  3. Set your country, time zone, and keyboard layout.
  4. Set a strong root password and a valid administrator email.
  5. Configure networking: hostname, a static IP address, gateway, and DNS. Write the IP down, you need it to reach the dashboard.
  6. Confirm the summary and let it install, then reboot when prompted and remove the USB.

Why a static IP matters

The web dashboard is reached by IP address, so if the host pulls a new address from DHCP after a reboot, your saved bookmark stops working. Setting a static IP during install, or reserving one on your router, saves a recurring headache.

Step 4: Reach the web dashboard

Once the server reboots, leave the USB out and go to another computer on the same network. Open a browser and enter https://your-server-ip:8006, using the IP you set during install. The port is the part people miss, plain http or the standard https ports will not reach it.

You will see a certificate warning because Proxmox ships with a self-signed certificate. That is expected on a fresh install, so proceed past it. Log in with the username root and the password you set, leave the realm as the Linux PAM option, and you land on the management interface.

First login housekeeping

A new install shows a subscription notice, which simply means you are on the free repository rather than a paid support plan, and the platform works fully without it. From here you can create your first VM or container, upload installation ISOs, and configure storage. If you would rather centralise lab storage, the best selling desktops at Evetech include machines with the drive bays to act as a capable host or backup target.

Frequently Asked Questions

What port does the Proxmox web interface use?

Port 8006, over https. You reach it at https://your-server-ip:8006, not on port 80 or 443. This is the single most common reason a fresh install seems unreachable.

Why does my browser warn about the certificate?

Proxmox installs with a self-signed certificate, so browsers flag it as untrusted. On a local home lab this is normal and safe to proceed past. You can install a proper certificate later if you want the warning gone.

Can I install Proxmox on any PC?

It runs on most x86-64 hardware, and virtualisation support in the BIOS, Intel VT-x or AMD-V, makes VMs run properly. Enable that feature in firmware if your VMs refuse to start.

Does the installer erase my disk?

Yes, if you choose Use entire disk it wipes the selected drive completely. Back up anything important first, and use Manual partitioning if you need to preserve existing data on the machine.

How long does the whole install take?

On supported x86 hardware, under 20 minutes from creating the USB to your first dashboard login. The installer itself runs in a few minutes once you have booted from the USB.

Proxmox turns spare hardware into a flexible virtualisation host for free, and the only step people trip on is remembering port 8006. Pick a quiet, low-power machine to run it on from the mini PC range at https://www.evetech.co.za/PC-Components/mini-pcs-194 and your home lab is a USB stick away.