Why Use a Windows Server 2025 Template in Proxmox?
If you regularly deploy Windows servers inside Proxmox, creating a cloud-init Windows Server 2025 Template in Proxmox is a huge time saver. Instead of repeating installs and configurations, you prepare one optimized image and clone it as needed.
This guide walks through setting up a Windows Server 2025 Proxmox cloud-init template using Cloudbase-Init.
Step 1: Install Windows Server 2025 on Proxmox
Create a new VM in Proxmox. For this example, the smallest workable disk size was 12 GB, but you can adjust as needed. Install Windows Server 2025 just like you would on bare metal.
Step 2: Download Cloudbase-Init for Windows
To enable cloud-init support on Windows, download and install the Cloudbase-Init package from Cloudbase Solutions. This is what allows Proxmox to automatically configure settings like:
- Hostname
- Administrator password
- Networking
Step 3: Configure Windows Settings
Before capturing your template, tweak Windows Server 2025 to your standards. Some common adjustments include:
- Firewall and security policies
- Remote Desktop settings
- Performance tuning
- Windows Update preferences
Step 4: Install Required Applications
If you want every cloned server to include specific software (like monitoring agents, drivers, or utilities), install them now. This ensures all future VMs are ready to go from the first boot.
Step 5: Install Cloudbase-Init
Run the Cloudbase-Init installer and select the options that best fit your environment. This integrates your Windows VM with Proxmox’s cloud-init system.
Step 6: Sysprep and Shutdown
When the Cloudbase-Init installation completes, choose to run sysprep. This generalizes the Windows image, removing unique machine details so it can be safely cloned. After sysprep finishes, shut down the VM.
Step 7: Convert VM into a Proxmox Template
In the Proxmox interface, right-click your VM and convert it into a template. This locks the VM into a master image you can clone from.
Step 8: Clone New Windows Server 2025 VMs
To deploy a new server, simply clone the template. On first login, Proxmox cloud-init will ask you to set a new Administrator password. From there, your VM is ready to use.
Conclusion
By creating a Windows Server 2025 cloud-init template in Proxmox, you streamline your workflow, reduce repetitive setup, and ensure consistent configurations across all deployments.
This method is quick, reliable, and highly scalable perfect for labs, production, or hosting environments.