Download the installer ISO image from: https://www.proxmox.com/en/downloads/proxmox-virtual-environment/iso

The Proxmox VE installation media is a hybrid ISO image. It works in two ways:

- An ISO image file ready to burn to a CD or DVD.

- A raw sector (IMG) image file ready to copy to a USB flash drive (USB stick).

Using a USB flash drive to install Proxmox VE is the recommended way because it is the faster option.

## Prepare a USB Flash Drive as Installation Medium

The flash drive needs to have at least 1 GB of storage available.

| Do not use UNetbootin. It does not work with the Proxmox VE installation image.

| Make sure that the USB flash drive is not mounted and does not contain any important data.

## Instructions for GNU/Linux

On Unix-like operating system use the `dd` command to copy the ISO image to the USB flash drive. First find the correct device name of the USB flash drive (see below). Then run the `dd` command.

    # dd bs=1M conv=fdatasync if=./proxmox-ve_*.iso of=/dev/XYZ

| Be sure to replace /dev/XYZ with the correct device name and adapt the input filename (if) path.

| Be very careful, and do not overwrite the wrong disk!

### Find the Correct USB Device Name

There are two ways to find out the name of the USB flash drive. The first one is to compare the last lines of the `dmesg` command output before and after plugging in the flash drive. The second way is to compare the output of the `lsblk` command. Open a terminal and run:

    # lsblk

Then plug in your USB flash drive and run the command again:

    # lsblk

A new device will appear. This is the one you want to use. To be on the extra safe side check if the reported size matches your USB flash drive.

## Instructions for macOS

Open the terminal (query Terminal in Spotlight).

Convert the `.iso` file to `.dmg` format using the convert option of `hdiutil`, for example:

    # hdiutil convert proxmox-ve_*.iso -format UDRW -o proxmox-ve_*.dmg

| macOS tends to automatically add .dmg to the output file name.

To get the current list of devices run the command:

    # diskutil list

Now insert the USB flash drive and run this command again to determine which device node has been assigned to it. (e.g., /dev/diskX).

    # diskutil list
    # diskutil unmountDisk /dev/diskX

| replace X with the disk number from the last command.

    # sudo dd if=proxmox-ve_*.dmg bs=1M of=/dev/rdiskX

| rdiskX, instead of diskX, in the last command is intended. It will increase the write speed.

## Instructions for Windows

### Using Etcher

Etcher works out of the box. Download Etcher from https://etcher.io. It will guide you through the process of selecting the ISO and your USB flash drive.

### Using Rufus

Rufus is a more lightweight alternative, but you need to use the DD mode to make it work. Download Rufus from https://rufus.ie/. Either install it or use the portable version. Select the destination drive and the Proxmox VE ISO file.

| Once you Start you have to click No on the dialog asking to download a different version of GRUB. In the next dialog select the DD mode.

## Boot your Server from the USB Flash Drive

Connect the USB flash drive to your server and make sure that booting from USB is enabled (check your servers firmware settings). Then follow the steps in the installation wizard.