---
title: "RMU Build: Proxmox Setup"
slug: rmu-build-proxmox
description: Install and configure Proxmox VE on the Gen-1.5 RMU — installation, repositories, container templates, ISO images, and LAN bridge networking.
tags:
  - node-provider
  - rmu
  - gen-1
  - proxmox
  - networking
  - infrastructure
  - runbook
date: 2026-05-04
related:
  - node-provider-documentation
  - gen-1-to-gen-1-5-rmu-build
  - rmu-build-prerequisites
  - rmu-build-teleport
---

This page covers section II of the
[Gen-1 to Gen-1.5 RMU build runbook](/wiki/gen-1-to-gen-1-5-rmu-build/).
Complete the [prerequisites](/wiki/rmu-build-prerequisites/) before
starting.

Once Proxmox is installed and reachable (step **A. Install Proxmox**),
the rest of the steps below can be completed remotely.

## A. Install Proxmox

A short
[instructional video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvieZdDwSug)
based on these steps is also available.

1. Insert the Proxmox USB drive you prepared earlier into the RMU.
2. Ensure the RMU is powered off.
3. Plug the USB into the RMU.
4. Start the server and press **F11** repeatedly to reach the boot
   menu.
5. Select the flash drive and press Enter (the screen may differ
   between systems).
6. Select **Install Proxmox VE (Terminal UI)** and press Enter.
7. Select **I agree** to the EULA and press Enter.
8. Select **Advanced options** and press Enter.
9. Change the filesystem from `ext4`. For SuperMicros with two
   internal drives, select **ZFS (RAID 1)**. For SuperMicros with one
   drive, select **ZFS (RAID 0)**.
10. Select **OK** and press Enter.
11. Select **Next** and press Enter.
12. Select your country, timezone (UTC recommended), and keyboard
    layout. Select **Next**.
13. Enter a [strong password](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Password_policy#Password_length_and_formation)
    and store it in your password manager.
14. Enter an email address to receive alerts. Select **Next**.
15. These instructions assume you followed the
    [RMU cabling reference](/wiki/gen-1-to-gen-1-5-rmu-build/#vi-reference-information).
    Set the **Management Interface** to `eno1` and press Enter.
16. For **Hostname (FQDN)**, enter `<dc>-rmu.<domain>` (if supporting
    multiple sites). This is the fully qualified domain name added in
    DNS during the [prerequisites](/wiki/rmu-build-prerequisites/#domain-name).
17. For **IP address (CIDR)**, enter the `External IP` and `Netmask`
    determined in the prerequisites.
18. For **Gateway address**, enter the public `Gateway` from the
    prerequisites.

    > [!NOTE]
    > If you are unsure of the IP address, netmask, or gateway,
    > contact your ISP.

19. For **DNS Server address**, enter `1.1.1.1`.
20. Select **Next** and press Enter.
21. Verify all values are correct.
22. Select **Install** and press Enter. Make sure the option to reboot
    after installation is checked.

    > [!TIP]
    > If you set the boot order to boot off the USB, remove the USB
    > stick before the reboot.

23. After reboot you will see the login screen. Log in as `root` with
    the password you set, and take note of the IP address and port
    shown on the screen.

## B. Update Proxmox

1. Browse to the public IP address of Proxmox (the one set during
   installation). Once Proxmox is installed and reachable, the rest
   of the build can be done remotely.
2. Sign in with username `root` and the password you set during the
   Proxmox install.
3. If you do not have a Proxmox subscription, disable the enterprise
   repositories and add the **No-Subscription** repository.
4. Select your RMU device on the left panel.
5. Expand **Updates** and select **Repositories**.
6. Select the `enterprise.proxmox.com/debian/pve` repo and click
   **Disable**.
7. Disable the `enterprise.proxmox.com/debian/ceph-quincy` repo.
8. Click **Add**, choose the **No-Subscription** option from the
   **Repository** drop-down, and confirm.
9. On the **Updates** tab, click **Refresh** and dismiss the
   "no license" dialog if it appears. Close the dialog window when
   the refresh completes.
10. Click **Upgrade** and enter `Y` in the resulting terminal window
    to apply system updates.
11. When the update completes, reboot the node:

    ```bash
    shutdown -r now
    ```

12. Wait a few minutes for the machine to come back online before
    proceeding.

## C. Download CT templates

1. In the Proxmox WebUI, expand the RMU in the left panel, select
   `local (rmu)`, then **CT Templates**.
2. Click **Templates**. In the dialog, select
   `ubuntu-22.04-standard` and click **Download**.
3. Close the window when the download completes.

## D. Download ISO images

1. In the Proxmox WebUI, expand the RMU in the left panel, select
   `local (rmu)`, then **ISO Images**.
2. Click **Download from URL** and enter:

   ```text
   https://cloud-images.ubuntu.com/jammy/current/jammy-server-cloudimg-amd64.img
   ```

   Click **Query URL**. The filename should auto-populate. Click
   **Download**. Close the dialog when complete.

   > [!NOTE]
   > If you encounter a "connection error timeout", paste the URL
   > into your browser to download the image manually, then upload
   > it via the Proxmox UI. This takes longer but works around
   > network issues.

## E. Add LAN network device

1. Select **RMU** > **Network**.
2. Select **Create** > **Linux Bridge**.
3. Configure the first bridge:
   - Name: `vmbr1`
   - IP: `10.10.100.1/24` (CIDR is required)
   - Bridge port: `eno2`
   - Comment: `LAN`
4. Create another bridge:
   - Name: `vmbr2`
   - IP: empty
   - Bridge port: `eno5`
   - Comment: `WAN`
5. Click **Apply Configuration**.
6. Select your RMU device on the left side. (The remaining steps are
   not needed when creating the `vmbr2` bridge.)
7. Click **Shell**.
8. Open `/etc/network/interfaces` with your editor of choice (`vi`,
   `nano`, `emacs`, etc.).
9. Add the following lines at the end of the `vmbr1` section, before
   the `LAN` comment. Make sure the indentation is correct:

   ```ini
   post-up   echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
   post-up   iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -i vmbr0 -p tcp --dport 443 -j DNAT --to 10.10.100.22:443
   post-up   iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s '10.10.100.0/24' -o vmbr0 -j MASQUERADE
   post-down iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s '10.10.100.0/24' -o vmbr0 -j MASQUERADE
   ```

10. Save and quit the file.
11. In the shell, verify and apply:

    ```bash
    cat /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
    # Result should be: 0

    ifup vmbr1
    cat /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
    # Result should be: 1
    ```

## Continue

Proceed to [Create Teleport CT](/wiki/rmu-build-teleport/#a-create-teleport-ct).

## Related

- [RMU build — Gen-1.5](/wiki/gen-1-to-gen-1-5-rmu-build/) — the parent runbook index.
- [RMU Build: Prerequisites](/wiki/rmu-build-prerequisites/) — what to gather before starting.
- [RMU Build: Teleport Setup](/wiki/rmu-build-teleport/) — the next section.