First Things to Do After Installing Proxmox A Complete Beginner’s Guide

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You’ve Installed Proxmox… Now What?

So, you’ve just installed Proxmox VE.
The installer finished successfully, the server rebooted, and now you’re staring at the Proxmox web interface.

Congratulations 🎉 but also… now what?

For many beginners, this moment feels confusing:

  • Should I create a VM right away?
  • Do I need to change anything first?
  • Is Proxmox already “ready” to use?

The short answer is: Proxmox works out of the box, but there are several important things you should do before running real workloads.

This guide walks you through what to do the first time you run Proxmox, step by step, in a relaxed and beginner-friendly way.

Step 1: Access the Proxmox Web Interface Properly

After installation, Proxmox tells you something like:

https://your-ip-address:8006

Things to Know

  • The web interface uses HTTPS
  • The certificate is self-signed
  • Your browser will show a security warning

This is normal.

What You Should Do

  • Click Advanced
  • Proceed anyway
  • Log in using:
    • Username: root
    • Password: the one you set during installation

You’ll spend most of your time here.

Step 2: Understand the Proxmox Interface Layout

Before touching any settings, take a moment to understand the UI.

Main Sections

  • Datacenter – global settings
  • Node – your physical server
  • Storage – disks and storage pools
  • VMs / Containers – your workloads

Proxmox uses a tree structure on the left, which makes navigation logical once you get used to it.

Step 3: Fix the “No Subscription” Warning

If you’re using the free version (most people do), you’ll see a popup saying:

You do not have a valid subscription

This does not affect functionality.

What You Can Do

  • Simply click OK
  • Or later switch to the no-subscription repository

This warning is harmless and very common.

Step 4: Update Proxmox Immediately

This is one of the most important first steps.

Even fresh installs can have outdated packages.

Why Updates Matter

  • Security fixes
  • Bug fixes
  • Better hardware support
  • Stability improvements

How to Update Proxmox

From the web UI:

  1. Select your node
  2. Go to Updates
  3. Click Refresh
  4. Click Upgrade

Or via SSH if you prefer the terminal.

Always update before creating VMs.

Step 5: Configure Proxmox Repositories Correctly

By default, Proxmox may use enterprise repositories that require a subscription.

For Home Users

Most home users switch to:

  • No-Subscription Repository

This gives:

  • Community-tested updates
  • No cost
  • Regular security patches

This step prevents update errors later.

Step 6: Set Correct Time and Time Zone

Time issues cause:

  • Backup problems
  • Certificate errors
  • Log confusion

What to Check

  • Go to Node → System → Time
  • Set:
    • Correct timezone
    • NTP enabled

This ensures:

  • Logs make sense
  • Scheduled tasks run correctly

Step 7: Configure Networking Properly

Networking is the backbone of Proxmox.

Default Setup

Usually, Proxmox creates:

  • One bridge (vmbr0)
  • Connected to your physical NIC

This is perfect for most home servers.

What You Should Verify

  • Your Proxmox server has:
    • Static IP
    • Correct gateway
    • Proper DNS servers

Avoid DHCP for servers whenever possible.

Step 8: Set a Strong Root Password and SSH Settings

Security matters even at home.

Root Password

Make sure:

  • It’s strong
  • Not reused elsewhere

SSH Best Practices

If you use SSH:

  • Disable password login (optional)
  • Use SSH keys
  • Limit access to trusted IPs

Proxmox is powerful protect it.

Step 9: Review Storage Configuration

Storage is where many beginners make mistakes.

Default Storage

By default, Proxmox creates:

  • Local storage (OS)
  • Local-lvm (VM disks)

This works, but may not be optimal long-term.

Questions to Ask Yourself

  • Do I want ZFS?
  • Do I have multiple disks?
  • Do I need separate storage for backups?

Planning now saves pain later.

Step 10: Decide on ZFS (If You Haven’t Already)

ZFS is popular with Proxmox users.

Benefits

  • Data integrity
  • Snapshots
  • Compression
  • Replication

Downsides

  • Uses more RAM
  • Slight learning curve

If you care about data safety, ZFS is worth considering early.

Step 11: Configure Backups Before Creating VMs

This sounds backward but it’s smart.

Why Backup First?

Because:

  • You will break something
  • Snapshots are not backups
  • Accidents happen

Proxmox Backup Options

  • External disk
  • NAS
  • Proxmox Backup Server
  • NFS storage

Set at least one backup target early.

Step 12: Create Your First Test VM (Not Production!)

Before hosting important services, create a test VM.

Good First Choices

  • Ubuntu Server
  • Debian
  • Alpine Linux

Use this VM to:

  • Learn the interface
  • Test snapshots
  • Practice backups

Break it on purpose it’s how you learn.

Step 13: Learn Snapshots and Rollbacks

Snapshots are one of Proxmox’s superpowers.

What Snapshots Do

  • Save VM state
  • Allow quick rollback
  • Perfect before updates

Best Practice

  • Snapshot before:
    • System upgrades
    • Configuration changes
  • Delete old snapshots regularly

Step 14: Decide Between VMs and Containers

Proxmox supports both but when to use which?

Use VMs When

  • Running Windows
  • Running different kernels
  • Maximum isolation needed

Use Containers (LXC) When

  • Running Linux services
  • Want efficiency
  • Want fast startup

Most home servers use both.

Step 15: Configure Firewall Settings

Proxmox includes a built-in firewall.

You Can Enable Firewall At:

  • Datacenter level
  • Node level
  • VM/Container level

For beginners:

  • Start simple
  • Don’t lock yourself out

Even basic firewall rules improve security.

Step 16: Enable Email Notifications (Optional but Useful)

Proxmox can send emails for:

  • Backup failures
  • Disk issues
  • System alerts

This is very useful for unattended servers.

Even at home, alerts save headaches.

Step 17: Monitor Resource Usage

Before running many services:

  • Watch CPU usage
  • Watch RAM usage
  • Watch disk IO

This helps you:

  • Avoid overcommitting
  • Plan upgrades
  • Understand system behavior

Proxmox’s built-in graphs are excellent.

Step 18: Create a Naming Convention

This sounds boring but it helps.

Example

  • vm-ubuntu-web
  • ct-pihole
  • vm-backup

Good names make management easier as your setup grows.

Step 19: Document Your Setup

Even a simple text file helps.

Write down:

  • IP addresses
  • Storage layout
  • Backup locations
  • Special configs

Future-you will thank you.

Step 20: Resist the Urge to Overbuild

Many beginners:

  • Create too many VMs
  • Overcomplicate networking
  • Use too many services at once

Start small.

Proxmox grows with you no rush.

Common First-Time Mistakes to Avoid

  • Skipping updates
  • No backups
  • Using weak passwords
  • Running everything as root
  • Ignoring logs

These are easy to avoid with a little patience.

A Simple First-Week Proxmox Plan

Day 1

  • Update system
  • Fix repos
  • Configure networking

Day 2

  • Configure storage
  • Set backups

Day 3

  • Create test VM
  • Learn snapshots

Day 4–7

  • Deploy first real service
  • Monitor performance

Slow and steady wins.

Why These First Steps Matter

Proxmox is incredibly forgiving but:

  • Bad habits grow into big problems
  • Early decisions affect long-term stability

Doing things right from the beginning makes Proxmox a joy to use.

Conclusion: A Strong Start Makes Proxmox Shine

The first time you run Proxmox is exciting but also critical.

By:

  • Updating early
  • Securing access
  • Planning storage
  • Setting backups first

You build a foundation that lets Proxmox shine as a powerful, reliable home server platform.

Once these basics are done, you can experiment freely, break things safely, and truly enjoy what Proxmox has to offer.

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