Here’s how I set up Proxmox VE on my Dell OptiPlex 3060 to start my homelab journey.
I picked up a Dell optiplex 3060 and wiped it with Proxmox 8.4. I chose Proxmox due to its popularity, support, and compatibility with virtual machines. Vms and containers offer a low-risk way to experiment with different operating systems and use-cases.
Why am I homelabbing? My goal is to deepen my knowledge about hypervisors, networking, and storage management.
I wiped the windows operating system and installed proxmox on bare metal. I created a bootable USB using BalenaEtcher (an ISO burner for macOS). I installed proxmox GUI while keeping an eye on the network configuration.
I went on easy mode installing the proxmox with the GUI. I’ve tried installing Arch Linux in the past, but this time I wanted to dive into using the system rather than worry about the big task of getting Arch up and running.
What surprised me was the ease of installing proxmox but I struggled a bit with the networking. Linux can be a different beast. There’s none of the hand-holding you’d get with a Windows install. But that’s what makes for a great opportunity to learn more.
What should you watch out for? Make sure you give yourself time to work through any installation quirks and pick the right hardware. Your goals will shape your homelab’s design. Next up: installing some VMs
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