Here is how to create an AlmaLinux VM in Proxmox on your Hostner dedicated server. AlmaLinux fits VMs meant for enterprise-style workloads, the kind of setup that used to need CentOS. Proxmox, a free and open source hypervisor, gives you a place to run that VM on your existing hardware, fully isolated from anything else on the server, without buying a second machine.
What you need
- A Hostner dedicated server with Proxmox VE installed
- An AlmaLinux 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 AlmaLinux 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 an AlmaLinux 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 AlmaLinux ISO you uploaded. Under Guest OS type, select “Linux”.
- 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 AlmaLinux 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 AlmaLinux is installed and running, log into the VM through the console. AlmaLinux uses NetworkManager. Configure a static IP with:
~ $ sudo nmcli con mod “System ens18” ipv4.addresses YOUR_IP/24 ~ $ sudo nmcli con mod “System ens18” ipv4.gateway YOUR_GATEWAY ~ $ sudo nmcli con mod “System ens18” ipv4.dns “8.8.8.8 1.1.1.1” ~ $ sudo nmcli con mod “System ens18” ipv4.method manual ~ $ sudo nmcli con up “System ens18”
Replace "System ens18" with your actual connection name if it differs. Check it first with nmcli con show.
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. Once the VM is running, it behaves like any other AlmaLinux install, nothing about it knows or cares that it lives inside Proxmox.