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// VIRTUALIZATION | July 7, 2026 | 4 min read

Create a Debian VM in Proxmox

Turn one dedicated server into many by running Debian in its own Proxmox virtual machine.

Create a Debian VM in Proxmox
H
Hanna Taoufik The Hostner team writes about servers, Linux, security, and everything that comes with running your own infrastructure, so you can skip the support ticket.
user@server:~
user@server ~ $ uptime && df -h / | tail -1
14:22:37 up 847 days, load: 0.08
/dev/sda1 1.8T 420G 1.3T 25% /
user@server ~ $ free -h
total used free
Mem: 32Gi 4.2Gi 27Gi
user@server ~ $

Here is how to create a Debian VM in Proxmox on your Hostner dedicated server. Debian’s reputation for stability makes it a common pick for the VMs people actually rely on long-term, databases, internal tools, anything that should keep running quietly in the background. Proxmox, a free and open source hypervisor, lets you carve out that VM without touching the rest of your server. One physical machine, several isolated environments, no extra hardware.

What you need

  • A Hostner dedicated server with Proxmox VE installed
  • A Debian ISO file
  • The primary IP address of your server (find this in your Hostner dashboard)

Step 1: Open the Proxmox web interface

Open your browser and go to https://your-server-ip:8006. Use https, not http. Proxmox only works over a secure connection. Your browser may warn you that the certificate is not trusted. That is normal for a fresh install. Click through the warning to continue.

You will land on a login screen with the Proxmox logo. Log in with the root credentials from your Hostner dashboard.

Step 2: Upload the ISO

On the left side, you will see your node (your server’s name). Click the arrow next to it to expand the list. Click on “local” storage, then click the “ISO Images” tab in the main panel.

Click the “Upload” button. A window opens. Click “Select File”, pick the Debian ISO you downloaded, then click “Upload”. Wait for the progress bar to reach 100%. Your ISO now shows up in the list.

Step 3: Create a Debian VM in Proxmox

Click the “Create VM” button in the top right corner. A setup window opens with several tabs.

  • General tab: give the VM a name. Any name works, this is just for you to recognize it later.
  • OS tab: select “local” as storage, then pick the Debian ISO you uploaded.
  • System tab: leave the defaults unless you know you need something specific.
  • Memory tab: set how much RAM this VM gets. Leave room for your other VMs and the host itself.
  • Network tab: leave the default bridge (usually vmbr0).

Click through each tab with “Next”, then click “Finish” on the confirmation screen. The VM now appears in the list on the left.

Step 4: Install the OS

Select your new VM in the list, then click “Start” at the top. Click the “Console” dropdown and select “noVNC”. A console window opens, showing the Debian installer, exactly as if you had a monitor plugged into a physical machine.

Follow the installer’s steps like you would on any fresh install. If you see a warning about network configuration during install, ignore it. You will set up networking after the OS is installed.

Step 5: Set up networking

Once Debian is installed and running, log into the VM through the console. Debian uses a plain text file for network configuration. Open it:

~ $ sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces

Add these lines, matching the network details from your Hostner dashboard:

~ $ auto ens18 ~ $ iface ens18 inet static ~ $ address YOUR_IP ~ $ netmask 255.255.255.0 ~ $ gateway YOUR_GATEWAY

Save the file, then restart networking:

~ $ sudo systemctl restart networking

Step 6: Test the connection

From inside the VM, run:

~ $ ping google.com

A response means your VM is online. No response means the network setup in Step 5 needs another look.

If it does not work

Most connection issues come from the network bridge. Check that your VM’s network device is attached to the same bridge as your server’s main interface, and that the IP you assigned is correct and not already in use.

No ticket needed to spin up a new VM. It is your server, your hypervisor, your call. That Debian VM you just created runs the same way any other Debian install does, so everything you already know about managing Debian applies.

Also available for: Ubuntu, AlmaLinux. See all guides in Docs.

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Hanna Taoufik

The Hostner team writes about servers, Linux, security, and everything that comes with running your own infrastructure, so you can skip the support ticket.

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