Overview
Proxmox VE is installed on my Lenovo M920q, providing virtualization for multiple services. This allows me to efficiently run isolated environments for my network controller, gaming servers, and experimental services without impacting my main OS.
Why Proxmox?
- Open-source virtualization platform
- Supports both KVM virtual machines and LXC containers
- Web-based management interface
- Snapshots and backups built-in
- Efficient resource allocation for home lab use
Hardware
- Lenovo M920q Mini PC
- 16-32GB RAM (I have 16GB)
- NVMe SSD for fast storage
- Intel CPU with virtualization support
- Compact footprint but capable of multiple VMs
VMs & Containers
Key services running as VMs on Proxmox include:
- UniFi Network Application VM (manages my APs)
- Multiple Minecraft server instances for testing and personal play
- Optional test VMs for Docker, media servers, or other experiments
Proxmox Setup Snippet
Example commands to create a VM for the UniFi controller:
Key Features
- Resource isolation between services
- Snapshots allow safe testing
- Web UI for easy management
- Efficient use of compact hardware
- Ability to run multiple Minecraft instances without conflicts
Use Cases
- Home lab virtualization
- Centralized service hosting (UniFi, game servers, experiments)
- Testing Linux/Windows configurations safely
- Consolidating hardware with minimal footprint
Future Improvements
- Expand RAM for more concurrent VMs
- Add a SATA SSD into the extra slot available
- Integrate additional network services
My Thoughts & Opinions
Proxmox is an extremely useful product. It makes managing multiple VM's a breeze. I would say the experience is different compared to any type 2 hypervisor that I have used. I get to manage it all from my browser or ssh.
I love that I can snapshot before testing anything experimental, letting me tweak settings without risk. For a small form factor desktop, this setup delivers enterprise-grade virtualization capabilities at home. I have 2 of these mini PC's, they are great.