ISO & cloud-init Proxmox templates

ISO & cloud-init templates on Proxmox

The Proxmox templates accelerate deployment by cloned a pre-configured VM. Combined with cloud-init, they inject hostname, IP, SSH keys and users at the first boot. This guide covers template conversion, clone linked/full and cloud-init variables.

Prepare a VM template

1. Install minimal OS (Debian/Ubuntu cloud image recommended)
2. Install qemu-guest-agent and cloud-init: apt install qemu-guest-agent cloud-init
3. Clean : truncate logs, machine-id, history
4. Stop VM → right click → Convert to Template

Clone from template

• Full clone, independent copy, more space, more flexible
• Linked clone, common base, disk economy, dependency template
• When cloned: Cloud-Init tab for IP, DNS, SSH key, password

Cloud-init, useful fields

Parameter	Use
User	Initial Linux account
Password / SSH keys	Authentication
IP Config	Static or DHCP
DNS	Resolvers datacenter
Search domain	Optional

Cloud-init applies to the first boot only on most images. To reprove, recreate the VM or erase the cloud-init state in the guest.

Manual ISO

Upload ISO via Proxmox → Storage → local → ISO Images → Upload. Attach to a new VM for manual installation, see create VM KVM.

Advanced automation

API Proxmox and Terraform provider allow CI/CD pipelines; out of scope of this guide but compatible with your VDS resources.

FAQ

Windows to template? Possible with sysprep before conversion. More complex than Linux cloud images.