Cloud-init VM templates

March 3, 2026

proxmoxcloud-initvm

Cloud-init templates let you clone a pre-configured VM in seconds instead of stepping through an OS installer every time.

Build the template once

Download a cloud image (Debian example):

wget https://cloud.debian.org/images/cloud/bookworm/latest/debian-12-genericcloud-amd64.qcow2

Create a VM (9000 is a conventional ID for templates):

qm create 9000 --name debian-12-template --memory 2048 --cores 2 --net0 virtio,bridge=vmbr0

Import the disk into local-lvm storage:

qm importdisk 9000 debian-12-genericcloud-amd64.qcow2 local-lvm

Attach the imported disk:

qm set 9000 --scsihw virtio-scsi-pci --scsi0 local-lvm:vm-9000-disk-0

Add the cloud-init drive:

qm set 9000 --ide2 local-lvm:cloudinit

Set boot order and enable QEMU guest agent:

qm set 9000 --boot c --bootdisk scsi0 --agent enabled=1

Set cloud-init defaults (these can be overridden per-clone):

qm set 9000 --ciuser your-username --sshkeys ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub --ipconfig0 ip=dhcp

Convert to template — this is irreversible:

qm template 9000

Clone and use

qm clone 9000 101 --name my-new-vm --full

qm resize 101 scsi0 +20G

qm start 101

The VM boots with your SSH key already authorized.

Per-clone overrides

In the Proxmox UI, each clone has a Cloud-Init tab where you can set a static IP, different user, or additional SSH keys before first boot.

Keep the template updated

Templates don’t update themselves. Periodically download a fresh cloud image and rebuild the template, or maintain a post-clone ansible playbook that runs apt upgrade on first boot.