What Is Proxmox and Why Do I Use It in My Homelab?

If you follow my stories about my homelab, you will often come across the name Proxmox.

But what exactly is Proxmox?

And why do I use it?

I started out with separate computers and servers. As my homelab grew, more and more devices were added. At some point, it became interesting to explore how I could run multiple systems on a single server.

That is where Proxmox came in.

What Does Proxmox Do?

Proxmox is a platform that allows you to run multiple virtual machines and containers on a single physical server.

That might sound complicated, but the basic idea is quite simple.

You have one physical server.

You install Proxmox on that server.

Then you can create different systems within Proxmox.

For example, one can run Windows while another runs Linux.

For me, this means I do not need a separate physical computer for every application. That saves space, electricity, and, above all, a lot of separate equipment.

My Proxmox Server Is Called ANNA

In my homelab, Proxmox runs on my Dell R415.

That server is called ANNA.

ANNA has become one of the important parts of my homelab.

I can manage my virtual machines and containers through Proxmox using a web browser on another computer. I do not have to sit next to the server itself.

I find that very convenient, especially as my homelab continues to grow and I want to keep track of everything that is running.

What Is a Virtual Machine?

A virtual machine is essentially a computer inside another computer.

The physical server provides the processor, memory, and storage.

Proxmox then allocates those available resources to the different virtual machines.

This allows me to run multiple systems alongside one another on a single physical server.

I find this particularly useful when I want to test something. I can create a new virtual machine and experiment with it without having to set up another physical computer.

And Then There Are Containers

Proxmox can run more than just virtual machines.

You can also use containers.

Containers are lighter than full virtual machines, which makes them useful for certain applications.

I use both options in my homelab.

Sometimes a virtual machine is better suited to what I want to do.

At other times, a container is the better solution.

Fortunately, I do not have to know the perfect answer in advance. That is one of the things I enjoy about having a homelab: I can experiment and learn along the way.

Why Do I Use Proxmox?

For me, flexibility is the main reason.

I can use a single physical server for several different purposes.

Want to test something new?

I create a new virtual machine.

Want to try something out?

I can do that in a separate environment.

And if something does not work, I can investigate the problem without bringing my entire homelab to a standstill.

This gives me far more possibilities than using a separate computer for every application.

It Also Fits the Way I Build My Homelab

I try to make the most of the equipment I already have.

I do not immediately buy something new if existing hardware is still perfectly usable.

That fits with my approach to reusing equipment and giving it a second life.

I already had my Dell R415.

With Proxmox, I can get much more out of that server than I could by dedicating it to just one application.

I feel that I am making much better use of the hardware I have.

I Did Not Start Out as a Proxmox Expert

I do not want to pretend that I know everything about Proxmox.

I certainly do not.

I am still learning.

Sometimes everything works straight away.

Sometimes I spend quite a while trying to work out why something is not working.

And sometimes I have to start again.

But that is exactly what I enjoy about my homelab.

You do not learn only by getting things right.

You can also learn a great deal from things that go wrong.

One Step at a Time

During my recovery, I have started looking at these things differently.

In the past, I would probably have tried to work faster whenever something did not go as planned.

Now, I try to break things down into smaller steps.

One problem at a time.

One setting at a time.

And if something does not work, I take a break and try again later.

The same approach works well with Proxmox.

I do not have to understand everything today.

If I learn just one thing today, that is progress too.

My Homelab Continues to Grow

My homelab is still a work in progress.

At the moment, I use my Dell R415 as my Proxmox server. It already allows me to do quite a lot, but I am also noticing that my plans for the homelab are becoming more ambitious.

That is why I am gradually looking for a more powerful server with additional storage capacity.

Not because my current server has suddenly become unsuitable, but because I want to be able to expand my homelab further.

More storage, for example, would give me additional opportunities to experiment with virtual machines, containers, and other projects.

I do not want to buy just any server. As with the rest of my homelab, I prefer to take my time, see what is available, and find something that suits my situation.

I am also slowly changing the layout of my homelab. For example, I am looking for a rack to bring my servers, storage, switches, and other equipment together in a more organised way. I wrote about this in my article Looking for a Rack: More Organisation in My Homelab and in My Head.

The rack and the search for a more powerful server are both part of the same next step.

Not everything has to happen at once.

First, work out what I need.

Then, take my time looking for the right solution.

And eventually, keep building step by step.

What Comes Next?

My homelab is far from finished.

And that is perfectly fine.

New ideas keep coming along.

Home Assistant, for example, is still on my list.

There will undoubtedly be other things I want to try in the future.

That is one of the things I enjoy most about a homelab.

You are never completely finished.

There is always something new to discover, build, or improve.

Why I Will Keep Using Proxmox

Proxmox allows me to run different systems and experiment with new ideas using the hardware I already have.

But perhaps even more importantly, it gives me the freedom to learn.

I can build something.

See what happens.

Make a mistake.

Try again.

And eventually, take another small step forward.

That fits perfectly with my homelab.

And, in many ways, with my recovery too.

Not everything has to be right the first time.

You can make progress one step at a time.

Do you use Proxmox in your own homelab? Or have you only just started exploring it? Feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear how others use Proxmox and what they have built with it.