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Linux VM scripts provide a quick way to deploy general-purpose Linux virtual machines with common distributions.

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Available Linux VMs

Debian

Stable, well-tested distribution

Ubuntu

Popular, user-friendly distribution

Arch Linux

Rolling release, cutting-edge packages

Docker VM

Pre-configured for container workloads

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Debian Virtual Machines

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Debian 12 (Bookworm)

Debian 12 “Bookworm” is the current stable release, perfect for production servers. Script: debian-vm.sh 
bash -c "$(wget -qLO - https://github.com/community-scripts/ProxmoxVE/raw/main/vm/debian-vm.sh)"
  • Default CPU: 2 cores
  • Default RAM: 2048 MB
  • Default Disk: 10 GB
  • SSH: Enabled by default
  • Cloud-init: Supported

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Debian 13 (Trixie)

Debian 13 “Trixie” is the testing release with newer packages. Script: debian-13-vm.sh 
bash -c "$(wget -qLO - https://github.com/community-scripts/ProxmoxVE/raw/main/vm/debian-13-vm.sh)"
Debian 13 is currently in testing. Use Debian 12 for production systems.

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Ubuntu Virtual Machines

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Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish)

Long-term support release, supported until 2027. Script: ubuntu2204-vm.sh 
bash -c "$(wget -qLO - https://github.com/community-scripts/ProxmoxVE/raw/main/vm/ubuntu2204-vm.sh)"

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Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat)

Latest LTS release with modern packages and extended support. Script: ubuntu2404-vm.sh 
bash -c "$(wget -qLO - https://github.com/community-scripts/ProxmoxVE/raw/main/vm/ubuntu2404-vm.sh)"
  • Linux kernel 6.8
  • Updated systemd
  • Modern security features
  • Support until 2029 (standard)
  • Support until 2034 (with Ubuntu Pro)

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Ubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin)

Non-LTS release with cutting-edge features. Script: ubuntu2504-vm.sh 
bash -c "$(wget -qLO - https://github.com/community-scripts/ProxmoxVE/raw/main/vm/ubuntu2504-vm.sh)"
Ubuntu 25.04 is a short-term release. For production, use an LTS version (22.04 or 24.04).

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Arch Linux

Rolling release distribution with the latest packages and software. Script: archlinux-vm.sh 
bash -c "$(wget -qLO - https://github.com/community-scripts/ProxmoxVE/raw/main/vm/archlinux-vm.sh)"
1

Run the Script

Execute the command above from Proxmox VE shell.
2

Configure VM Settings

Set VM ID, hostname, resources, and network settings.
3

Wait for Installation

The script downloads the latest Arch Linux image and configures the VM.
4

Complete Setup

Access the VM console to finish Arch Linux configuration.

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Arch Linux Characteristics

  • Rolling Release: Always up-to-date packages
  • Minimal Base: Install only what you need
  • AUR Access: Arch User Repository for additional software
  • Documentation: Excellent Arch Wiki
  • Flexibility: Full control over system configuration

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Docker VM

Pre-configured Linux VM optimized for running Docker containers. Script: docker-vm.sh 
bash -c "$(wget -qLO - https://github.com/community-scripts/ProxmoxVE/raw/main/vm/docker-vm.sh)"
  • Docker Engine pre-installed
  • Docker Compose included
  • Optimized kernel settings for containers
  • Pre-configured storage drivers
  • Ready for container deployments

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Use Cases for Docker VM

  • Running containerized applications
  • Docker Swarm clusters
  • Development environments
  • CI/CD pipelines
  • Microservices architecture

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Common Post-Installation Tasks

# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -Syu

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Choosing the Right Distribution

  • Rock-solid stability
  • Long release cycles
  • Conservative package updates
  • Excellent for servers
  • Large community support
  • User-friendly
  • LTS versions with long support
  • Large software repository
  • Commercial support available
  • Good hardware compatibility
  • Cutting-edge packages
  • Minimal base system
  • Build exactly what you need
  • Excellent documentation
  • Rolling release model
  • Pre-configured for containers
  • Optimized performance
  • Docker and Docker Compose ready
  • Ideal for microservices
  • Development and production use

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Resource Recommendations

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Minimal Configuration

  • CPU: 1 core
  • RAM: 1 GB
  • Disk: 8 GB
  • Use case: Testing, learning, lightweight services

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Standard Configuration

  • CPU: 2 cores
  • RAM: 2-4 GB
  • Disk: 20-32 GB
  • Use case: Web servers, databases, general applications

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Performance Configuration

  • CPU: 4+ cores
  • RAM: 8+ GB
  • Disk: 50+ GB
  • Use case: Docker hosts, development environments, heavy workloads

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Troubleshooting

  • Check if the image download completed successfully
  • Verify sufficient storage space
  • Check Proxmox logs: journalctl -xe
  • Try starting manually from Proxmox web UI
  • Ensure SSH service is running: systemctl status sshd
  • Check firewall rules
  • Verify network configuration
  • Check VM has correct IP address
  • Verify cloud-init is installed: cloud-init --version
  • Check cloud-init status: cloud-init status
  • Review logs: cat /var/log/cloud-init.log

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Next Steps

Network Appliances

Set up routers and firewalls

Home Assistant

Deploy home automation

VM Overview

Back to all VM scripts

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