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Ubuntu Cloud-Init VM Template on Proxmox

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Goal

Spin up new Ubuntu VMs fast using the official Cloud-Init images. These images simplify SSH keys, networking, user creation, and automation.

Unlike standard ISO installations, Cloud images are pre-installed and “cloud-ready,” allowing near-instant cloning and automated config without manual steps.

Two options are included:

  • A VM template with “sane defaults” for cloning manually via the Proxmox UI
  • A minimal template meant for automation tools like Terraform

Download Official Ubuntu Cloud Image

The official Ubuntu Cloud images already include the optimized kernel and cloud-init.

Download the Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble Numbat) .img into Proxmox’s ISO/template directory:

cd /var/lib/vz/template/iso
wget https://cloud-images.ubuntu.com/noble/current/noble-server-cloudimg-amd64.img

Create and Configure VM Template

Option A: VM Template with sane defaults (Web UI Optimized)

This version includes useful baseline settings: virtio drivers, DHCP networking, Q35 machine type, OVMF firmware, and qemu-guest-agent.

Perfect for cloning manually through Proxmox’s web UI

# Create VM
qm create 9000 --name "ubuntu-noble-24-04-template" \
  --machine q35 --memory 2048 --cores 2 --cpu x86-64-v2-AES \
  --net0 virtio,bridge=vmbr0 --agent enabled=1 --tablet 0  \
  --bios ovmf --efidisk0 local-zfs:0,efitype=4m,pre-enrolled-keys=1,size=1 \
  --scsihw virtio-scsi-single
 
# Import the disk and attach it
qm importdisk 9000 noble-server-cloudimg-amd64.img local-zfs
qm set 9000 --scsi0 local-zfs:vm-9000-disk-1,discard=on,iothread=1,ssd=1
 
# Add the Cloud-Init drive and set boot options
qm set 9000 --scsi1 local-zfs:cloudinit
qm set 9000 --boot order=scsi0 --serial0 socket --vga serial0
 
# Set default network to DHCP so clones get an IP immediately
qm set 9000 --ipconfig0 ip=dhcp
 
# Convert to template
qm template 9000

Option B: Barebones VM Template (Terraform Optimized)

Use this version when the VM will be fully configured by automation. Eg: Terraform will manage the full life cycle of the VM (CPU/RAM/disk settings, etc).

# Create a basic VM
qm create 9000 --name "ubuntu-noble-24-04-template"
 
# Import the disk
qm set 9000 --scsi0 local-zfs:0,import-from=/var/lib/vz/template/iso/noble-server-cloudimg-amd64.img
 
# Convert to template
qm template 9000

Next

Once the template is created, clone it and apply Cloud-Init settings (SSH key, hostname, IP config, etc.) per VM. → 20251222 Proxmox VM from Cloud-Init template with Terraform

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