# What is Proxmox?

##### <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**Introduction**</span>

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Virtualization is a technology that allows you to create and run multiple "virtual" computers inside a single physical computer. Instead of needing multiple separate machines, virtualization lets you run multiple operating systems (like Windows, Linux, or macOS) on the same hardware at the same time. At its core, virtualization uses special software called a hypervisor to create and manage virtual machines (VMs). The hypervisor acts as a middleman between the physical hardware and the virtual machines, making sure each VM gets the resources (CPU, RAM, storage, etc.) it needs. ૮₍ ˶•⤙•˶ ₎ა</span>

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A Proxmox server is a powerful open-source </span>[Type 1 hypervisor](https://www.techtarget.com/searchitoperations/tip/Whats-the-difference-between-Type-1-vs-Type-2-hypervisor)<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> (also known as "bare-metal" hypervisor) that allows you to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) and containers on a single physical server. It combines two main technologies: KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) for full virtualization and LXC (Linux Containers) for lightweight container-based virtualization. Proxmox is widely used for enterprise-level virtualization, home labs, and small to medium-sized businesses looking for an efficient and cost-effective way to manage virtualized workloads.</span>

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">One of the awesome things about Proxmox is its ability to cluster (╯✧▽✧)╯. Clustering is the process of grouping multiple independent servers (or nodes) into a single logical unit. This allows you to manage them together as if they were a single entity, making tasks like resource allocation, failover, and load balancing much easier. In Proxmox, clustering involves connecting multiple Proxmox Virtual Environment (PVE) nodes together, enabling them to communicate and share resources. Proxmox uses its PVE Cluster feature to integrate and synchronize nodes into one unified management interface.</span>

##### <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**Minimum Requirements:**</span>

- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**CPU:** 64-bit processor with virtualization support </span>
- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**RAM:** 2 GB (absolute minimum; recommended is at least 8 GB)</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**Storage:** 16 GB+ boot drive (SSD recommended for performance)</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**Network:** 1 Gbps network adapter</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**OS:** Proxmox VE is installed as a bare-metal hypervisor (based on Debian Linux)</span>

##### <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">**Capabilities of Proxmox VE**</span>

- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Virtualization Options</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Web-Based Management Interface</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Storage Flexibility</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Networking Features</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">High Availability and Clustering</span>
- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Backup and Disaster Recovery</span>

*Last Updated: 2/20/2025  
BY: Lilian*