My Journey of Automating Proxmox on Arch Linux

Automating Proxmox installs can be a time-saver, but the official Proxmox Automated Installer is built specifically for Debian-based systems, leaving Arch and other distros out in the cold. This project emerged out of my frustration with the limitations of the Proxmox installer.

Why I Built This Solution

I was using Arch Linux as my primary system, and I needed to deploy Proxmox VE multiple times in a virtualized environment. The official installer was only available for Debian-based systems, so I decided to find a way to make it work on Arch. After trying several workarounds and encountering issues along the way, I decided to package the installer in a Docker container.

This containerized version of the Proxmox Auto Installer made it possible to use the installer on any Linux distribution, including Arch Linux, without relying on the Debian-based tools.

The Real Challenge: Automation and Compatibility

The biggest hurdle in this project was getting the installer to work on a non-Debian system. It involved tweaking configurations and working around compatibility issues. Docker became the perfect solution to this problem, as it allowed me to isolate the necessary Proxmox tools and create a working environment that could run on Arch Linux and other distros.

The container I built uses the Proxmox auto-install assistant and can generate fully automated Proxmox ISO images with your own pre-configured settings, allowing for hands-off installation.

What Does This Solution Do?

  • Run the Proxmox Auto Installer in a Docker container.
  • Create custom, automated Proxmox ISO images.
  • Works on Arch Linux and other non-Debian distros.
  • Bypass Debian-only tooling limitations.

Now, with just a few commands, you can run a Docker container that packages the Proxmox auto installer and generate your own customized ISOs.

Reference: proxmox-auto-install-assistant-docker

The official Proxmox Automated Installer is only available for Debian-based systems — but what about Arch and other distros? This project packages the installer in a Docker container, making it usable on Arch Linux and other non-Debian distributions. I needed this for my own Arch setup — so I built it. Now you can, too.

This solution eliminates the need for complex workarounds and allows anyone on Arch or similar distros to benefit from Proxmox’s automated installation system.

Stay tuned for more updates on this project and how you can get your hands on the Dockerized Proxmox Auto Installer for Arch Linux and beyond!