:lastproofread: 2026-02-02

.. _proxmox:

##################
Running on Proxmox
##################

Proxmox is an open-source platform for virtualization.

Deploy VyOS from CLI with qcow2 image
=====================================

1. Download the ``.qcow2`` image from https://support.vyos.io/. 
   Official images are available to users with a valid subscription.

2. Copy the ``.qcow2`` image to a temporary directory on the Proxmox server.

3. The following commands assume that virtual machine (VM) ID `200` is unused
   and that the imported disk will be stored in a storage pool named ``local-lvm``.


    .. code-block:: none

      $ qm create 200 --name vyos --memory 4096 --net0 virtio,bridge=vmbr0
      $ qm importdisk 200 /var/lib/vz/images/vyos-<version>-proxmox-amd64.qcow2 local-lvm
      $ qm set 200 --virtio0 local-lvm:vm-200-disk-0
      $ qm set 200 --boot order=virtio0 


4. When using a ``qcow2`` image on Proxmox, the system
   **does not include any preconfigured user accounts**.
   You must define a user account using **Cloud-Init** before the
   first boot. Otherwise, login access is not possible.

   Attach a Cloud-Init data source to the VM. For example, using
   ``local-lvm`` storage:

   .. code-block:: bash

      $ qm set 200 --ide2 local-lvm:cloudinit

   Alternatively, add a Cloud-Init drive using the Proxmox GUI:

   #. Open the VM and navigate to **Hardware**
   #. Click **Add** → **CloudInit Drive**
   #. Select a storage (for example, ``local-lvm``)
   #. Click **Add**


5. Start the virtual machine using the Proxmox GUI or by running ``qm start 200``.



Deploy VyOS from CLI with rolling release ISO
=============================================

1. Download the rolling release ISO from
   https://vyos.net/get/nightly-builds/.
2. Prepare the VM for ISO installation.
   The commands below assume that the ISO image is available in the
   `local` storage, a VM ID `200` is unused, and a 15GB disk will be
   created on storage pool `local-lvm`.

.. code-block:: none

  qm create 200 --name vyos --memory 4096 \
  --net0 virtio,bridge=vmbr0 \
  --scsihw virtio-scsi-pci \
  --scsi0 local-lvm:15 \
  --ide2 local:iso/vyos-<version>.iso,media=cdrom \
  --boot order=ide2

3. Start the VM using ``qm start 200`` or by clicking the **Start**
   button in the Proxmox GUI.
4. In the Proxmox GUI, open the virtual console for your new VM.
   The login username and password are ``vyos``/``vyos``.
5. After booting into the live system, type ``install image`` and follow
   the prompts to install VyOS to the virtual drive. 
6. After installation completes, remove the installation ISO using the
   GUI or run ``qm set 200 --ide2 none``, then set the boot device
   with ``qm set 200 --boot order=scsi0``.
7. Reboot the virtual machine using the GUI or run ``qm reboot 200``.





For more information about downloading and installing Proxmox, visit
https://www.proxmox.com/en/.