Windows provisioning
Cloudbase-Init on Proxmox for Windows VPS Provisioning
Cloudbase-Init guidance for Windows VPS templates on Proxmox VE, including provider workflow, template preparation and VMNexor provisioning considerations.
VMNexor documentation is actively evolving. Some features, wording, and screenshots may change during beta.
Why Cloudbase-Init matters
Cloudbase-Init helps automate first-boot configuration tasks for Windows VPS templates on Proxmox VE. For hosting providers, it is part of making Windows provisioning repeatable instead of relying on manual console setup after every deployment.
Typical provider workflow
- Create a clean Windows VM
- Install VirtIO drivers
- Install QEMU Guest Agent
- Install and configure Cloudbase-Init
- Run Sysprep where appropriate
- Shut down and convert the VM to a Proxmox template
- Test the template through VMNexor before selling it
Windows account behaviour
- Windows desktop templates should usually use a dedicated local admin user such as Admin
- Windows Server templates may standardise on the built-in Administrator account if that matches the provider support model
- Password behaviour should be documented per template
- Do not publish templates with unclear first-login behaviour
What to validate
- Windows boots after clone
- Network comes up after first boot
- DNS works inside the guest
- QEMU Guest Agent reports running
- Expected administrator account exists
- Password or first-login behaviour matches the provider documentation
- Reinstall behaviour matches the original provisioning behaviour