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Download the Proxmox VE ISO, write it to a USB flash drive with an image-writing utility, then boot the target server from that drive. Proxmox’s official download page provides the installer image; its installation page says to copy the ISO to a USB flash drive or CD/DVD for use as installation media.
What you need
- The Proxmox VE ISO downloaded from the official Proxmox download page.
- A USB flash drive you can use as the installer destination. The writing process targets that drive, so select it carefully.
- An image-writing utility. Proxmox’s Administration Guide names Etcher and Rufus for Windows; Rufus must write the image in DD mode.
Proxmox’s published installation information does not establish a minimum USB capacity, brand, or speed. You do not need to buy a new drive if you already have one that can serve as installation media. Proxmox also documents CD/DVD as an alternative when the server can boot from optical media.
Create the USB installer in Windows
Option 1: Use Etcher
- Download the Proxmox VE ISO from the official download page.
- Insert the USB flash drive and open Etcher.
- Select the Proxmox VE ISO as the image and the USB flash drive as the target, then start the write process.
- Wait for the utility to finish writing before removing the drive.
Proxmox’s Administration Guide describes Etcher as guiding you through selecting the ISO and USB drive.
Option 2: Use Rufus
- Open Rufus, select the Proxmox VE ISO, and choose the correct USB destination.
- If Rufus prompts you to download a different GRUB version, decline that prompt.
- When Rufus asks how to write the image, choose DD mode.
- Start writing and wait for the operation to complete before removing the drive.
Rufus’s DD-mode requirement comes from the Proxmox VE Administration Guide’s Windows instructions. Take care to choose the USB drive rather than another disk; writing the installer targets the selected media.
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Boot the server from the USB drive
- Connect the prepared drive to the server where you plan to install Proxmox VE.
- Start or restart the server and use its firmware boot menu to select the USB installation medium.
- If the USB drive is not offered as a boot option, check the server firmware settings to confirm that booting from USB is enabled, then try again.
- When the Proxmox installer starts, follow its prompts to select the installation disk and continue.
The USB drive is only the installer medium; it is not necessarily the disk on which Proxmox VE will be installed. Proxmox’s installation overview warns that existing data on the disk selected for installation will be removed. Verify the selected disk carefully before proceeding.
USB or CD/DVD: which should you use?
| Installation medium | When it makes sense | Documented detail |
|---|---|---|
| USB flash drive | Use it when you can write the ISO to a drive and the server can boot from USB. | Proxmox documents copying the ISO to a USB flash drive for installation. |
| CD/DVD | Use it if you have optical media and the server can boot from its optical drive. | Proxmox also lists CD/DVD as an installation-media option. |
The documented options do not establish a performance advantage for either medium; choose one the target server can boot from.
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